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    Den Gyldene Freden

    4.3 (89 reviews)
    PriceyScandinavian
    Open 11:30 am - 2:30 pm, 5:00 PM - 10:00 PM

    Den Gyldene Freden Photos

    DEN GYLDENE FREDEN ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Classy
    Outdoor seating
    Good for groups

    Recommended Reviews - Den Gyldene Freden

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    Lager Pifs
    Tara O.

    Best cod I have ever had. So fresh it tasted like lobster. Beets were delicious too and the shrimp toast was best I have had since getting here.

    Fantastic swedish meatball plate!  The cucumbers were deliciously pickled and potatoes went perfectly with the meatballs and sauce.
    Pat L.

    We had a very pleasant dinner of authentic swedish food and a bit too much authentic swedish schnapps last night. The swedish meatballs were definitely the star, 3 of us got them and we were all practically licking our plate clean. In addition we got skagen toast and steak tartare appetizers, which were both also quite good. Lastly, we paired swedish schnapps with each course, and while it's perhaps not my favorite liquor, it fit the moment, and the waitress did a very good job explaining the different ones to us and helping to pair them with what we were eating. It was a very cozy restaurant with fantastic service, highly recommend!

    Andrew P.

    While we didn't order any food here, we did order a lot of drinks! We were a party of 5 and they were able to accommodate us slowly overtime as more of us joined the table. We were lucky that on a Friday night in October the place wasn't absolutely packed to the point of not having any seating for us. The service was great - our many servers were attentive and brought out our drinks in a timely manner every time. The aesthetic of this place is awesome and it truly does feel like the oldest bar in Stockholm (as they claim). The server told us that this is their 300 year anniversary (in 2022) so that was pretty awesome and a cool feeling of being in there. Getting to the bathroom requires you to walk downstairs but the passage way to get down there is very cool. It's almost eerie but in a good way. Overall I loved the experience and glad that I came here!

    Bar and dining main floor
    Stormy M.

    This place has it all!! I'll tell you first that the food was excellent, more on that later. This restaurant is over 300 years old in this location. There is some historical references that may date the restaurant name back even further, but not at its current location. We were able to take a tour of all the nooks and crannies of this place and it is fascinating. Upstairs they have a room that is always used when the council members of the Nobel Prize for Literature meet, which they have been doing for years. They have a main floor for dining and the bar. Then they have a lower floor for part of the kitchen, dining and restrooms and then finally they have the lowest level. At one point in time, this level was unknown and completely covered. They had to excavate this cellar and they turned it into a dining room. Interspersed throughout this property are the stories of the famous people that would routinely visit, and where they would sit each time they came. There is so much history here! Needless to say the service was very good as our server was kind enough to give us this tour and recount the stories of old. And finally the food. I really wanted Swedish Meatballs to round out my visit to Sweden. I had tried some at a different restaurant that could have been pulled out of a frozen bag. Dining here, I found the real deal. These meatballs were fresh, tender and nicely flavored. The gravy was perfect, again freshly prepared. The lingonberry, the cucumber had exceptional flavor. It was so delicious and I was thrilled to finally have found excellent Swedish meatball in Sweden!!

    Fish roe
    Christopher N.

    A wonderful experience to have our first group dinner at this historic place. We were wow'd by the decor and historical significance. We occupied the private dining area upstairs. The room has high ceilings and beautiful candle light chandelier. We had a three-course dinner. The most memorable was the starter. An uniquely Swedish plate with fish roe on top of sour cream and served with the best tasting toasts. The second course was beef Wellington paired with an excellent 2016 vintage Brunello. The final desert course was a chocolate cake paired with an aromatic Sauternes.

    Truffle stuffed rooster
    Julia B.

    I'm not exaggerating when I say that this restaurant is in my top dining experiences EVER! I would go back to Stockholm just for an opportunity to dine here again. It is the oldest restaurant in the country (nestled in the heart of gamla stan) and among the oldest in the world, and dining in the original underground vaults is definitely the best ambiance choice. You start the night surrounded by candlelight with a glass of cava. The staff are extremely knowledgeable and helped us have a traditional Swedish dining experience - especially starting with a trio of herring preparations, house-made dill & fennel snaps, & a mini beer & eating it all in the traditional fashion. I followed that up with a truffle stuffed rooster that was heavenly. The restaurant also has an extensive wine list, and an old organ serves as the bar for the vaults. Further, the price points are surprisingly less expensive than expected for a restaurant of this quality. This place is a MUST visit if you ever find yourself in Stockholm! Food: A+ Drinks: A Service: A Ambiance: A+

    Joe B.

    I am sad to say, because this restaurant has been around for hundreds of years, that 'Den Gyldene Freden' is no more. The outer shell is there. The food is not. My wife and guest could not finish their Swedish meatballs. Too dry and too salty they said. I sampled and the meatballs seemed baked in a oven (what they might do at a school cafeteria) and texture and taste-wise, much like the frozen meatballs you buy at a Swedish supermarket. The potato purée was salty to the point where you wonder if it had been done for sake of preservation. And my food? Well I ordered the fish soup. It had little fish in it: small awkward pieces of salmon and cod - not the fillet, but more like the tail of the fish. Shrimp was used to garnish the soup but none found "in it". Instead most of the content was boiled potatoes(!). The soup itself (see image) was clearly 'separated' - most likely from aggressive or repeated reheating as a layer of fat was floating around like a tanker oil spill on the top of the bowl. It tasted like salt with a touch of dill. I could not finish it. Service was a bit slow starting out and not very enthusiastic, but still OK. Waiters were clearly trained professionals, but at one point I noticed one of the waiters pouring a bottle of wine into another bottle to consolidate them into one. I get that this is something they might do with non sparkling wine, but to do that in the presence of guests (this was in the middle of the restaurant floor) to me seemed to show a great disregard toward the guests. And he clearly knew better. I think that, more than the poor quality of the food exemplifies what this restaurant has become: a classic tourist trap just looking to serve guests that are never to return. Now, I'm not much for state intervention, but given the heritage of this restaurant I think it would be appropriate to assume ownership of it and ensure quality. Lastly, if you're in this area looking for high end but traditional Swedish food: go a bit further (15-20 min) and go to Sturehof instead. It is ALWAYS good.

    Adrian B.

    Again somewhere we have been many times since 1989 but not for some 17 years It is touristy, yes but you have to go there (or Fem Sma Hus)...class act too But we looked at the menu, looked at each other and said...we are struggling to choose something whether starter or mains....so re-review...and with a lot of help from our very knowledgable waitress, we chose The charcuterie platter...she explained that their ex chef who runs their place directly across the road had put this dish together...some German sausage, sliced pork, and a few other choices...to share...very nice though not either so keen on the sausage in terms of consistency, bit soft Poached salmon and gravadlax...with potato, one creamed and sliced, the other boiled...excellent...could not manage the last few mouthfuls of gravadlax A very nice bottle of Cotes du Rhone Vidal-Fleury but also with the salmon, 4cl of their house schnapps and also of Hallands Flader...the first inoffensive, the latter very refined and delicate...elderflower....very nice 1,407 sek before tip A good evening in the end after the initial "we are going to have to leave because we can't eat any of this" feeling. Fortunately not and most enjoyable

    Stuffed Cabbage Rolls, came with a bowl of their amazingly creamy buttered mashed potatoes.
    Miika M.

    My Europe travels came at a slightly higher cost since I wanted to eat at a Michelin rated establishment in every country. So it was very unfortunate that I had to cancel out of the Frantzén and the second backup at Mathias Dahlgren because our flight times had changed, which sent me scurrying to the Michelin site to select another restaurant. Given that I would be exploring Gamla Stan, I was lucky to land last minute reservations at Den Gyldene Freden via the Bib Gourmand list. Den Gyldene Freden is located conveniently in the heart of Gamla Stan and is very accessible by foot. We were seated immediately given that I scheduled in right at the start of the lunch period. The restaurant is a nod to the past in keeping the structure and interior very much what it may have looked like 300 years ago. Add in the warm and comfortable wood furnishings and I felt right at home. The menu is reflective of Swedish cooking: simple, clean, and local produce and meats and fish are utilized extensively. I opted for the cabbage rolls while the other opted for the classic meatballs. We also ordered the smoked salmon as an appetizer, which came accompanied with copies slices of their local bread, which was amazing, by the way. Entrees ordered were Zorn's meatballs and the stuffed Cabbage rolls. Both came accompanied with local produce which was incredibly fresh. The food was incredibly simple and good. It was an interesting way to experience local Swedish fare. I am appreciative of their clean approach to food: straightforward and no frills. Add in kind service and the rating of 5 stars is no contest. Thank you for our wonderful experience!

    Mai-Anh H.

    This is a must if you're staying in Old Town (Gamla Stan). We scoped out this restaurant before we came and were so intrigued by the classic Swedish meatballs. Eats: Crab cake Pate Steak tartare Swedish meatballs The gin and tonics had a slightly sweet (fruity?) flavor. If you want something a little stronger, my friend's vodka blueberry lemonade will be up your alley.

    Complimentary Soup
    Kenneth Y.

    We made a reservation for lunch at 1 PM, and the restaurant was quite empty. Walking in, it's like going into a house. The interior was decorated nicely, and there were candles on every table. The food and service here are great; our waitress was really nice. I decided to come here because of its Michelin Bib Gourmand status, and it didn't disappoint at all. [FOOD] We each got a complimentary starter soup that was made of pumpkin, orange, and some other stuff in a chicken broth. It was pretty good and had a subtle tangy taste Yellow Split Pea Soup with Pancakes (Dish of the Day; Pancakes are Dessert): The soup was pretty good; it was light, and the peas gave some texture to it. The dish comes with a side of mustard (really good) and pork (super good). The two sides with the soup came together very well. It was a solid dish. The pancakes were also really good. You get 3 crêpe-like pancakes and a side of cream and lingonberry jam. The cream is very light and not sweet at all. The jam was a little tart but still good (honestly I liked eating it better by itself). And for only 135 SEK, this dish was definitely worth it. Zorns Meatballs: Probably the most well-known dish here, I really enjoyed it. The meatballs are pretty perfect and flavorful. The pickles are light and sweet. The mashed potatoes are buttery and smooth. The lingonberries on the side give a small bit of sweetness to the dish. It was really good and worth the rave. Caramel Custard: This was pretty much just flan, but it was a sweet and light. I enjoyed it. [OVERALL] Come here for lunch. There's pretty much no reason not to. The bill came out to 440 SEK (~$52), and that's pretty cheap for the type of restaurant and the amount of food we got. Tip: hot water is free! It was a great experience, and I would definitely come again if I ever get the chance.

    Holiday dinner
    Mats C.

    This is probably one of the best known restaurants in Stockholm for historical reasons (founded in 1722 and with famous artists having been there over the centuries). The milieu and ambience are amazing where you really can feel the centuries of history, expecting to see Carl Michael Bellman playing on his lute in a corner. The staff working were nice and attentive all the time. I was there with a larger group so we had had to preorder the food based on a couple of set menus. I had picked the main course with fish. I have to say that the food overall underwhelmed me, it definitely didn't meet my expectations. My starter was a cold meat plate, Brawn of pork from "Rocklunda" with lemon poached apple & potato cream. Nice flavors, some classical holiday seasoning. My fish entre was arctic char (röding) with confetti on crab, roe, cabbage, potatoes & shellfish vinaigrette. The meal was quite tiny, and would have benefited with some potato/rice/polenta served with it. The "confetti" that supposedly included potatoes was very flat and unsubstantial besides the roe. This was just a true meh as I left hungry, and felt that this was not a place to write home about... The dessert, vanilla cooked pineapple with blood orange sorbet, almond & caramel cake, had a very nice combination of flavors!

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    Rustic, classic food. The restaurant isn't even labeled, and still highly popular among locals. That really says something.

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    Den Gyldene Freden Reviews in Other Languages

    Review Highlights - Den Gyldene Freden

    It's really difficult to find good Swedish food in the capital, surprisingly, but this place makes up for the dearth of other options.

    Mentioned in 3 reviews

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    Strömmingsvagnen

    Strömmingsvagnen

    4.4(132 reviews)
    0.2 kmGamla stan
    $

    Back again. As good as ever. And how DO the Swedes enjoy sitting at the picnic tables? It is 22…read moredegrees. Got the usual, the herring with mashed potatoes, three sides,and a piece of rye crisp. We had the pickled cucumber, lingonberries and cremefreche salad. Nice serving but I wanted more. IT IS SO GOOD. But we are here for a month so I WILL be back. I meant to take pictures of the food but I was too anxious to eat. Friendly service as always. Nicely packed to go. We have been coming here for years and I highly recommend.

    This unassuming food cart offered me one of the best meals I had in Stockholm. Simple, yet…read moredelicious. I'd never had fried herring like this before. I'm so glad I tried it. It's pretty much a one person show from what I could see. The owner attended to me efficiently and without the slightest hesitation. I'm sorry to say that I don't speak Swedish (I wish I did I can tell you) but he was able to communicate with me and for that I will always be grateful. My plate had, if I recall correctly, four breaded and fried herring fillets. It had a coleslaw (which I found a surprising addition, creamy mashed potatoes, pickled cucumbers, red onions, and a little wedge of crispbread. I loved every bite. It was a generous plate. I particularly enjoyed eating a combination of the potatoes, cuke, onion, and fish on a corner of the crispbread as I munched away. There are a few nearby picnic type tables. So there was a place I could sit and enjoy this meal overlooking the water and a corner of the old town. If you find yourself in Stockholm, do yourself a favor and go to here. Even if you think you don't like herring, try it this way. I bet you'd be surprised.

    Photos
    Strömmingsvagnen
    Strömmingsvagnen
    Strömmingsvagnen - Exterior

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    Exterior

    Stockholms Gästabud - Swedish sausage

    Stockholms Gästabud

    4.6(103 reviews)
    0.3 kmGamla stan
    $$

    This was our favorite dinner from our entire time in Stockholm. It had everything -- cozy/romantic…read morevibes, outstanding service, and delicious food. Everything you'd need for the perfect meal out! They do not accept reservations and we went on a Sunday evening around 8:30 pm. We waited about 30 minutes, but boy was it worth it! We were seated at a cute little corner table that had pads on the benches, right next to a window to see the street. Lighting was dim and cozy. Service was the best I've had in recent memory. Our waitress was peppy despite having to deal with a long line and probably a long day. She was friendly, attentive, and so cheerful! 100/10. We started with the reindeer salad since my bf had never had reindeer before. While the reindeer seemed less cooked than expected, by the end he really liked the mix of flavors and thought it paired well with the salad. We both got the Swedish meatballs for our entrees and loved them! We both loved the pickled cucumbers and lingonberries. The lingonberries pair so well with the meat! While there are only 3 meatballs, they were so huge neither of us could finish all of them. Especially because I wanted to save room for dessert: the sponge cake! While it didn't look like much on presentation, it was surprisingly moist and the cream and berries were absolutely delicious. My bf said he was only going to have one bite (he's not a big dessert guy) but instead ended up eating half! Highly recommend! Overall would come back again just for the vibes, service, dessert, and to probably try another entree, which I'm sure would be good as well! If you don't know where to eat and want a memorable night out, come here!!

    Such a cute little restaurant in the middle of old town. They don't take reservations so we did…read morehave to wait outside about 15-20 minutes during prime dinner time. It's very cozy and homey inside, great for a date night or dinner with a few friends. My husband and I ordered a bottle of wine and shared the reindeer fillet mixed salad which was so good. It was light and refreshing and not gamey at all. For entrees we both ordered the Swedish meatballs which were delicious. Glad I didn't have to share my plate! We were stuffed afterwards so didn't try dessert. I would definitely come back here again next time I'm in town!

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    Stockholms Gästabud
    Stockholms Gästabud - Buttered salmon

    Buttered salmon

    Stockholms Gästabud

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    Den Gyldene Freden - scandinavian - Updated July 2026

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