Room-bed & Breakfast in Stockholm

After travelling the world, two friends opened this restaurant to showcase their experiences through food, yet with a decidedly imaginative streak. The cooking is characterised by bold, surprising flavours and creativity – what appears to be savoury may in fact be sweet, and vice versa. The chefs delight in subverting expectations with their playfully named dishes that reference global food traditions, like 'Surf and Turf' and 'Afternoon Tea Party'.

With its white tiled walls and compact counter seating, this restaurant couldn't look simpler, but it is not a place to be underestimated. Classic Japanese sushi preparations soar to a high level thanks to the exceptional quality of the local seafood ingredients. Diners are all served at the same time, omakase style, with the signature soy-cured egg and the sake tasting menu proving the highlights.

Essence is the perfect spot for social types who like to mingle. Everyone is seated around a big counter and served at the same time, with Chef Stefan Taylor centre stage preparing the dishes and explaining their make-up. He works alone, so there’s a slight pause between courses, and it’s here when the atmosphere becomes animated. Stefan has an intuitive way of combining flavours and spends hours each week drying, pickling and preparing various elements in advance, including the likes of fiskpinnar trout, where he cooks and dries the bones, creates a biscuit and later fills it with a pâté of t

With its pared-back feel, rustic exposed brickwork and buzzy vibe, this is just the place for a lively night out. It remains one of the hottest tickets in town, so try for a counter seat overlooking the kitchen if you haven’t booked. The concise menu includes modernised Swedish classics that are robust, well-composed and certainly deliver on flavour. Service is accommodating, warm and efficient.

A stylish, red-brick former factory dating back to 1916, set beside the water, is home to this brasserie-style restaurant that has a welcome brightness to both its décor and its atmosphere. Local produce is key to their ethos, including the likes of Östergötland lamb and Ängsö pike-perch, along with plenty of seasonal ingredients such as asparagus and rhubarb. Unfussy, classically based dishes allow this fresh produce to shine, with the flexible courses ranging in size from 'mini' to 'large'. There's also a set Kitchen Menu available for those that can't quite decide.

Overseen by passionate chef-owner Johan Jureskog, this buzzy neighbourhood spot has been a staple of the Stockholm dining scene for nearly 40 years. The industrial-style décor comes courtesy of architect Thomas Sandell and designer Jonas Bohlin, and isn’t the only thing to take a bold approach; generously proportioned dishes have a classic heart and big flavours, and are a perfect match for their surroundings. Enjoy dishes like fish stew with shrimps, mussels, cream and aioli or red-wine braised ox cheek with truffle and potato purée – then walk it off with a stroll around Tegnérlunden Park.

Chic and sultry, this Södermalm spot delivers the look and vibe of a bar, with the added bonus of flavoursome small plates. The cooking is bang on-trend, blending Nordic and French influences with pan-Asian elements including Korean kimchi, Chinese wontons and a daily selection of Japanese mochi for dessert. If you’re an indecisive diner, go for the keenly priced tasting menu to appreciate the full breadth of the kitchen's talents. Well-versed, professional service is the icing on the cake.