6 Best Restaurants in Sweden

Don't let the concrete exterior of this small restaurant fool you: Bleck is a light, airy oasis in one corner of Blecktornspark, with an extensive summer terrace and a cozy, intimate atmosphere in the cooler months, enhanced by a wood-burning stove and faux fur rugs. The evening menu of small dishes satisfies vegetarians and meat lovers both, offering modern Swedish cuisine in a charming setting.

Located in the center of Leksand, GC (Gårdscafeet) Bar and Lounge offers breakfast (weekdays), lunch, and dinner in an informal setting, decorated with photographs and contemporary graphics, and with a choice of seating options—regular tables, bar tables, and cozy armchairs.

Calling itself a "neo-bistro," this restaurant located down a short flight of steps is anything but gloomy, with cream-colored walls, sage-green paintwork, and contemporary art and photography gracing the walls. The menu takes its influence from France but applies a Swedish twist with choices of meat, fish, and vegetarian dishes alike. Guests are seated at marble-topped tables or at seats by the bar under green bistro-style lamps.

Inside a lovely cross-timbered inn, this restaurant brews its own beer—there are two large copper boilers near the bar. It has a pleasant garden, and the brick vaulting of the dimly lighted interior gives it the appearance of an underground cavern. Juicy steaks are a specialty.

This popular spot on Nynäshamn’s waterfront is part fish shop, part casual restaurant, with seafood sourced from local fishermen. The shop sells smoked and pickled fish, shrimp, and sauces. Around the corner is the restaurant, which is simple and casual. Order from the takeout window and grab a seat at one of the outdoor tables with a view of the harbor—perfect for soaking up the sun and the atmosphere. Rökeriet ("The Smokery"), as it’s popularly known, draws big crowds in the summer, so it’s best not to be in a hurry.

This Gamla Stan favorite avoids the tourist-trap label, attracting both visitors and locals, with its broad and reliably good menu of small sharing dishes, burgers, and classics. In the summer, meals can be enjoyed outside on the terrace while watching the world pass by along the cobblestone streets.