Norrtullsgatan 61 +46 8 32 50 95A rustic little Italian that manages to stand out in an area filled with restaurants. The portions are as big as Sardinia, the romance quotient is as high as a Friulian mountaintop and the service as warm as a day on the Italian Riviera. What more can you ask of a trattoria this far north of the Mediterranean?www.visomkanmat.se
Engelbrektsgatan 37+46 8 21 20 25At the moment, nothing is quite as popular in Stockholm as Lebanese cuisine - and rightly so. The combination of high taste and low calories is unique, and Beirut Café was among the first to introduce mezes, small dishes, consisting of heavenly dips and sauces, mini casseroles and grilled goodies. Part of the deal is the Middle East aesthetic - with its lavish decorations - and so is the glamour. For example Shakira had dinner here during her visit to Sweden.
Stureplan 13+46 8 611 49 59A Stockholm culinary pioneer. East has been serving first-class Asian cuisine since 1989, and they are still going strong, with a scientifically drilled staff, a heated outdoor café and a bar full of well known names and faces in the Stureplan entertainmentdistrict. For private dinners, there is a pleasant VIP room.www.east.se
Döbelnsgatan 45tel: +46 8 673 52 36A Kurdish-Persian success story in a former garage, stylishly draped in floor-to-ceiling fabric, with an airy ceiling and artistic exhibitions by the city’s leading young photographers. Eyubi serves up tasty meze (little Middle Eastern dishes) and grand lamb and chicken meals.
Karlavägen 28+46 8 611 02 69A few samples from the menu - truffle risotto and ravioli with duck’s liver - give away that the prized Divino belongs among the more luxurious Italian restaurants. The maitre d’ is Nicola Ingrosso, known in the celebrity mags as pop singer Charlotte Nilsson’s partner. The interior is off-white with chandeliers, and the establishment boasts a highly potent wine list and a newly opened deli. The sample menus are especially good value. www.divino.se
Hantverkargatan 76 C+46 8 650 17 72Don’t be scared by the rough, unglamorous surface - this is where the best sushi in town is served. Which is a poorly kept secret, so booking in advance is recommended. www.roppongi.se
Stora Nygatan 20+46 8 21 04 04Experience Russian kitsch in Gamla Stan. A waiter in stone-washed Versace jeans serves up tasty traditional Russian fare while a bartender in classic Cossack garb pours a measure of vodka. Spassiba! www.tsarskijsad.se
Timmermansgatan 24Tel: +46 8 84 12 00This is the place to find the largest selection in the Nordic countries of Hemingway’s favourite tipple – rum. The restaurant doesn’t necessarily serve seaweed (as its name suggests), but it does offer cuisine that blends Scandinavian and more exotic influences. The setting is modern and relaxed, with DJs in the basement playing a wide selection of music. The food combines Nordic elements with the cuisine of countries you need a visa to visit. For example, a Swedish pike-perch might be jazzed up with some Caribbean flavours and served with pumpkin. www.sjogras.com
Skånegatan 57Tel: +46 8 642 68 65Thailand is an extremely popular destination for Swedes, and when we are not travelling there we make sure we can enjoy the country’s cuisine at home. The Thai restaurant Koh Phangan adds a touch of the exotic to the selection of restaurants on Skånegatan. The interior is in a class of its own – step into a Thai jungle, complete with lightning and rain. Sip a beer in the Bamboo Bar while you wait for your spicy food. Koh Phangan has a lot of regulars, so you may need to write your name up on the blackboard and wait for your table. www.kohphangan.se
Scheelegatan 6+46 8 650 20 24The chief characteristic of Stockholm’s Indian restaurants – besides the fact that they are usually run by Pakistanis – is their shabbiness. The food doesn’t suffer, though. India Curry House on Scheelegatan’s restaurant row is as popular as it is inexpensive. The ultraspartan décor and often plain unfriendly staff are mostly a gimmick.
Hantverkargatan 76 Tel: +46 8 653 90 23 Fancy a pizza? At Primo Ciao Ciao, the menu is Italian all the way. A wide selection of mouth-watering stonebaked pizzas and pasta dishes are on offer for lunch and dinner. www.primociaociao.nu
Observatoriegatan 13+46 8 33 34 82The logo looks like it was drawn by a colorblind child. The address is anonymous. The premises are too bright, and space is at a premium. Never mind. Because Ki-Mama has the best sushi in the city. If you’d rather fumble with your chopsticks somewhere more stylish, try Roppongi, located at Tegelbacken 2.