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What was once a dour landscape of overpriced, uninspiring eateries is now a creative hotbed of culinary achievement to rival any major European capital. Industry investment in training, receptivity to international influence, and a flair for creativity all mean that Stockholm's best chefs have stayed way ahead of the game. Increasingly, this achievement is rubbing off on their mid-price colleagues and in terms of culinary experience per krona, mid-range restaurants represent the best value for money in town. Two recent trends have seen many of the city's better restaurants pick up on this and offer more set-price tasting menus and increasing numbers of wines by the glass—making even the most expensive restaurants relatively affordable. In terms of food, New Swedish remains the buzzword, with chefs looking no further than their backyards for fine, seasonal, traditional ingredients, served with a modern twist. Of course, there are also many less expensive restaurants with traditional Swedish cooking. Among Swedish dishes, the best bets are wild game and fish, particularly salmon, and the smorgasbord buffet, which usually offers a good variety at an inexpensive price. Reservations are often necessary. Some restaurants close for a month or more for summer vacation, so be sure to confirm opening hours if visiting between June and August.
AIRA's dark and moody exterior, tucked away on the island of Djurgården, belies its light, airy interior, scattered with white-clothed tables and seats and banquettes of chocolate-brown velvet. The cuisine from one of Sweden's best known chefs, Tommy Myllymäki, skews toward local ingredients infused with international flavors, offering the best of land and sea, all prepared in an open kitchen alongside the high-ceilinged dining space.
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.
