Sturehof
There’s a lot going on in Stockholm, the biggest city in the Nordic region.
In late 2022, the city experienced the simultaneous closure of four of its most cherished dining establishments, which collectively held five Michelin stars. These restaurants — Oaxen Krog, Agrikultur, Gastrologik, and Ichi — are surely missed by their loyal guests. But their closures have left space for new ventures to flourish, including relaxed, neighborhood-style restaurants led by young, seasoned, technically proficient chefs. Their emergence is one of the most significant culinary trends in Stockholm over recent years. Places like Triton, Gaia Matbar, Bistro Bacchanale, Lilla Ego, Bar Montan, and Prospero offer relatively affordable menus and modern interpretations of Nordic cuisine, characterized by expert craftsmanship and strong relationships with small-scale, local farmers. While diners may be buzzing around new openings, Stockholm’s restaurant scene also benefits from generations of successive waves of immigration, which have not only added to the kitchen workforce but also infused many of the city’s most esteemed establishments with a mishmash of cultural influences.
Stockholm residents are enthusiastic about dining out. No matter which neighborhood or type of restaurant you choose, you’ll be sharing the space with locals.
Per Styregård lives in Stockholm with his wife and son. He is the author of three books in Swedish, including Smakens makt, about the amazing power of the sense of taste, and is a wine columnist for the Swedish business newspaper Dagens Industri.
