First Hotel Stockholm North

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.

Two chefs, one Swedish and one Australian, are behind this homage to Japanese cuisine which sports the uncluttered, pared-back décor common to both Nordic and Japanese restaurants. Prime Swedish produce powers dishes that come from an ‘osusume’ menu and have a meticulous, delicate construction. Expect the eponymous broth to make several appearances – like as a marinade for amberjack – while desserts such as their take on a classic Mont Blanc are a highlight. Completing the Japanese culinary experience is a varied sake list that includes some rare selections.

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.

The very definition of a neighbourhood restaurant, Babette is a lively, bustling spot with a buzzing atmosphere; arrive expecting to squeeze past chairs without stepping on dogs and to sit elbow-to-elbow with your fellow guests. The vibe is chilled, the music is good and the two chefs work away in the tiny kitchen completely unphased. Whether you’re popping in for a glass of wine and the pizza of the day or spending the evening over some ever-evolving small plates – such as ricotta Babette with mushrooms and potatoes or veal tartare with colatura and parmesan – you’ll have a great time.

The residents of Östermalm can count themselves lucky to call this charming restaurant run by a husband-and-wide duo their local – but whether you’re a regular or not, you’ll instantly feel the warmth of the team’s hospitality. The fully open-plan layout adds a unique touch, as it blurs the line between dining room and kitchen, where Lotta prepares unfussy, flavour-packed dishes such as blue mussels with onion, jalapeno and bergamot or ling with browned butter, hazelnuts and Brussels sprouts. Great value is to be found on the ‘Kvällens Fyra Favoriter’ menu, a four-course ‘Favourites of the Nig

You’re guaranteed a warm welcome at this sweetly run bohemian bistro. A communal table is at the heart of proceedings, but there are a few smaller tables and some counter seating available too. Starters merge into mains on the daily menu of unfussy, pared-back dishes, where skilful Mediterranean-inspired cooking keeps the focus firmly on the top-quality ingredients. They make their own ricotta on-site and the wood-fired oven is used to great effect, from baking bread in the morning to gratinating langoustines in the evening. Dinner is the main event, but they also open on Saturdays for lunch.

There’s a slightly ‘underground’ feel to this small bistro, both figuratively and literally; you enter via a few steps down from street level, into a ‘half-cellar’ dining room where the windows look out at pavement level. The concise, keenly priced tasting menu lists dishes that offer an impressive level of restraint and control, where sauces are a focus. You might find the likes of trout with tomato and langoustine sauce or onglet with ramson and fish sauce, followed by rhubarb with yoghurt and chamomile.