Food · Stockholm · Sweden
What to eat in Stockholm
The dishes, drinks and food experiences that define Stockholm, and where locals actually eat them.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Steven Lek, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Start with Swedish meatballs, Cinnamon bun and Gravlax. The Swedish coffee break with a pastry is a daily ritual, not a snack; settle into a konditori or neighbourhood café in the mid-afternoon and take your time. Stockholm is almost entirely cashless; carry a contactless card or phone, as some places do not accept cash at all.
Key facts
- Signature dish
- Swedish meatballs
- Vegetarian-friendly picks
- 4
- Tipping
- Service is included in Swedish prices.
- Food experiences
- 4
11 foods to try
Dish
1.Swedish meatballs (Köttbullar)
Small meatballs in a cream gravy served with mashed potatoes, lingonberry jam and pressed cucumber; the everyday Swedish classic.
Where: Traditional restaurants (krogar) in Gamla Stan and Södermalm, and food halls such as Östermalms Saluhall.
Breakfast · Vegetarian
2.Cinnamon bun (Kanelbulle)
A knotted bun of cardamom-scented dough filled with cinnamon and butter and topped with pearl sugar; the cardamom bun (kardemummabulle) is a favourite variation.
Where: Bakeries and cafés everywhere; independent bakeries in Södermalm and Vasastan are especially good.
Dish
3.Gravlax
Raw salmon cured with salt, sugar and dill, sliced thin and served with a sweet mustard-dill sauce and potatoes or rye bread.
Where: Swedish restaurants, food halls and breakfast buffets; also sold in delis to take away.
Dish
4.Pickled herring (Inlagd sill)
Herring pickled in sweet vinegar with onions, mustard, dill or other flavours, served with boiled new potatoes, soured cream and chives. It is central to the Midsummer and Christmas tables.
Where: Traditional restaurants and food halls; a herring plate with several flavours is the best way to try it.
Street food
5.Fried Baltic herring (Stekt strömming)
Small Baltic herring fillets pan-fried in breadcrumbs and served with mashed potatoes and lingonberries, or in a soft bread wrap as a quick lunch.
Where: Street-food stands and traditional lunch restaurants on Södermalm, and food halls in the centre.
Dish
6.Toast Skagen
Peeled prawns in mayonnaise with dill and lemon, piled on butter-fried toast and topped with fish roe; a classic Swedish starter.
Where: Classic restaurants and brasseries in Östermalm and Gamla Stan.
Snack
7.Shrimp sandwich (Räksmörgås)
An open sandwich generously stacked with hand-peeled shrimp, egg, mayonnaise, lettuce and dill on bread, eaten with a knife and fork.
Where: Cafés, food halls and harbourside restaurants, especially in summer.
Dessert · Vegetarian
8.Semla
A cardamom bun filled with almond paste and whipped cream and dusted with icing sugar, eaten in the weeks before Lent and above all on Shrove Tuesday.
Where: Bakeries and cafés from early in the new year until Easter.
Dessert · Vegetarian
9.Princess cake (Prinsesstårta)
Layers of sponge, jam, custard and whipped cream under a dome of green marzipan topped with a pink rose.
Where: Traditional konditori cafés and bakeries across the city.
Dessert · Vegetarian
10.Kladdkaka
A sticky, gooey chocolate cake with a crisp top, served with whipped cream; Sweden's favourite home-baked cake.
Where: Almost every café's fika counter.
Dish
11.Pyttipanna
A hash of diced potatoes, onion and meat fried together and topped with a fried egg and pickled beetroot, the classic way to use leftovers.
Where: Traditional lunch restaurants and pubs, often on the weekday lunch menu.
Food experiences
Fika
The Swedish coffee break with a pastry is a daily ritual, not a snack; settle into a konditori or neighbourhood café in the mid-afternoon and take your time.
Weekday lunch (dagens lunch)
Many restaurants serve a fixed lunch dish on weekdays with salad, bread and coffee included, the best-value way to eat well in an expensive city.
Food hall lunch
Östermalms Saluhall and Hötorgshallen gather fishmongers, delis and counter restaurants where you can try herring, shrimp and Swedish classics in one place.
Crayfish party season
In August, Swedes gather for kräftskiva parties with boiled crayfish, paper hats and drinking songs; some restaurants serve crayfish menus at that time.
Quick bites and street food
- Cinnamon bun — Bakeries and cafés everywhere; independent bakeries in Södermalm and Vasastan are especially good.
- Fried Baltic herring — Street-food stands and traditional lunch restaurants on Södermalm, and food halls in the centre.
- Shrimp sandwich — Cafés, food halls and harbourside restaurants, especially in summer.
Vegetarian options
Of the 11 foods in this guide, 4 are usually vegetarian: Cinnamon bun, Semla, Princess cake and Kladdkaka. Check preparation with staff, as stocks and fats vary.
Eating out: tips and etiquette
- Stockholm is almost entirely cashless; carry a contactless card or phone, as some places do not accept cash at all.
- Strong alcohol, wine and full-strength beer are sold in shops only at the state-run Systembolaget; supermarkets sell only low-alcohol beer.
- Tap water is excellent and free in restaurants; often you serve yourself from a jug or tap.
- Swedes eat early: lunch from about 11am and dinner from about 6pm, and some kitchens close by 10pm.
- Book dinner at popular restaurants a few days ahead, especially from Thursday to Saturday.
Tipping
Service is included in Swedish prices. Rounding up or adding about 5–10% for good restaurant service is common but entirely optional, and tipping in bars and cafés is not expected.
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Hej | Hello |
| Tack / Tack så mycket | Thanks / Thank you very much |
| Ursäkta | Excuse me |
| Skål! | Cheers! |
| Hej då | Goodbye |
| Fika | Coffee break with something sweet |
Questions travellers ask
+What food is Stockholm famous for?
Swedish meatballs, Cinnamon bun, Gravlax and Pickled herring. Small meatballs in a cream gravy served with mashed potatoes, lingonberry jam and pressed cucumber; the everyday Swedish classic.
+Is Stockholm good for vegetarians?
Several local staples are meat-free, including Cinnamon bun, Semla and Princess cake.
+Do you tip in restaurants in Stockholm?
Service is included in Swedish prices. Rounding up or adding about 5–10% for good restaurant service is common but entirely optional, and tipping in bars and cafés is not expected.