Looking for the perfect spot to sweep your date off their feet? In a city overflowing with stylish eateries and swoon-worthy nooks, choosing the right place can be a daunting task. But worry not, we’ve done the legwork (and possibly gained a few pounds along the way) to put together this list of the most romantic restaurants in Stockholm that are sure to make a lasting impression. Whether you’re planning a first date or celebrating an anniversary with your ride-or-die, these six spots offer the ideal setting for a memorable and delicious outing.
Teategrillen
If romance had a physical address, it would be Teatergrillen. Opening its doors in 1945, this historic haunt has one of the oldest preserved restaurant interiors in the city, which ooze an intoxicating bygone charm: think red velvet seating, immaculate white tablecloths, and an assortment of theatrical props and candles setting the scene.
Known for attracting Stockholm’s media and cultural elite, this popular restaurant in the upscale Östermalm district offers a sophisticated menu of classic Swedish dishes with French influences, like salt-baked entrecôte, soused herring, and osetra caviar on butter-fried toast. For wine connoisseurs or those of you who might need a little ‘liquid confidence’ on a first date with that special someone, you’ll be pleased to know that Teategrillen also has a voluminous wine list that will have you both spoilt for choice.
Restaurang J
If you really want to go the extra mile (or six) for your date or sweetheart, get them on a boat and set sail to this charming maritime brasserie on the waterfront of Nacka Strand.
Restaurang J serves up contemporary, locally-inspired dishes in nautical Newport-style interiors with stunning archipelago views, all just a 30-minute boat ride away from central Stockholm. Friends, lovers, and soon-to-be lovers flock here year-round to savour classics like Toast Skagen and smash burgers beside a variety of fish and shellfish dishes like lobsters, oysters, and crayfish of course. In summer, enjoy alfresco dining on the deck, while in winter, cosy up with lunch or dinner by the open fire. And if you’re feeling particularly indulgent, consider spending the night at the adjoining Hotel J. After all, nothing says “best date ever” quite like breakfast in bed with sea views.
The Hills
Great food? Check. Cosy ambience? Check. Gay-owned? Double check. If you’re looking for a romantic restaurant in Stockholm that ticks all the right boxes, The Hills has got you covered.
Perched at the highest point in the hipster neighbourhood of Götgatsbacken, Södermalm, this brasserie and bar is a plum choice for lovebirds seeking a dinner date experience that is both relaxed and polished, with a fantastic team of friendly staff who make you feel like an old friend the moment you walk in. The menu here is a tour of European cuisine, emphasising fresh, locally sourced ingredients: start your evening off with the Paté de Campagne then move on to the succulent steak frites with French fries, and finish with a decadent Basque cheesecake. Be sure to explore their fabulous wine list for the perfect pairing.
Giro Pizzeria
Who says that romance always has to be a 5-course, white tablecloth affair? Sometimes, a cute and casual night with great pizza and even better company is all you need. For those nights, Giro Pizzeria fits the bill perfectly.
Set on Sveavägen, Giro is the love child of Stockholm’s Nobis Hospitality Group and Naples’ legendary L’Antica Pizzeria Da Michele – yes, the very pizzeria that Julia Roberts couldn’t get enough of in ‘Eat Pray Love’. With that pedigree, how could we not include it in our list of the most romantic restaurants in Stockholm?
The pizzeria brings authentic Neapolitan pizza to Stockholm, with dough that’s fermented and matured to perfection, and ingredients imported directly from southern Italy. Watching the pizzaiolos at work in the open kitchen is also as captivating as the pizzas are delicious.
AIRA
If you want your date to gush about you to all their friends in their group chat, then do yourself a favour and book a table at AIRA.
Helmed by expert chefs Tommy Myllymäki and Pi Le, this 2-star Michelin restaurant is known for its unique modernist facade and exquisite menu that moves with the seasons and transforms the humblest of ingredients into works of edible art. Start with dishes like dill croustade with langoustine and browned butter or choux au craquelin (cream puffs) with black truffle, and let the dinner date unfold with dishes like Halibut with fermented melon, sesame and jalapeno, before finishing off with the Cloudberry fudge.
Each course at AIRA is an all-encompassing experience that lingers with you long after the last bite. If this restaurant doesn’t impress your date, we don’t know what will!
Is date number two already in the works? After dining at one of these romantic restaurants in Stockholm, why not take your sweetheart to a couple of the city’s fantastic museums and attractions? It’s a surefire way to keep the sparks flying and make even more unforgettable memories in the Open City.