Stockholm Restaurants

The culinary whirlwind that swept through Stockholm's restaurant scene some 15 years ago continues to whip up innovation. What was once a dour landscape of overpriced, uninspiring eateries is now a creative hotbed of culinary achievement to rival any major European capital. Industry investment in training, receptivity to international influence and a flair for creativity all mean that Stockholm's best chefs have stayed way ahead of the game. Increasingly, this achievement is rubbing off on their mid-price colleagues and in terms of culinary experience per Krona, mid-range restaurants represent the best value for money in town. Two recent trends have seen many of the city's better restaurants pick up on this and offer more set-priced tasting menus and increasing numbers of wine by the glass—making even the most expensive restaurants relatively affordable. In terms of food, New Swedish remains the buzzword, with chefs looking no farther than their backyards for fine, seasonal, traditional ingredients, served with a modern twist. Of course, there are also many less-expensive restaurants with traditional Swedish cooking. Among Swedish dishes, the best bets are wild game and fish, particularly salmon, and the smorgasbord buffet, which usually offers a good variety at an inexpensive price. Reservations are often necessary.