Was tasked to find a cool, intimate Scandinavian restaurant for a big family dinner while in…read moreStockholm last week and did what I always do--took to Yelp! We were all staying in Gamla Stan and I was able to find this little gem less than a block from our hotel. With solid reviews and photos and an easy reservation system on their website, this was a win-win-win for sleepy, hungry travelers. We made our way to dinner at 7 pm and had almost the whole restaurant to ourselves. They had reserved a lovely, long table for our group of six that gave us ample room to spread out, even in this fairly small restaurant. The ambiance here is totally on point--modern yet cozy with gorgeous Swedish touches. The menu is simple, which I like while traveling. It featured a handful of small plates, six mains, and two desserts--between all six of us, we tried almost everything they had to offer. We started out with the pickled herring three ways, because, well, Sweden. This portion is big enough for 2-3 people depending on how hungry you are--we got two orders for the table. Even if you're not a huge pickled fish fan (I am), I definitely suggest giving this a go since it's such a staple in Stockholm. The plate comes with some crackers, butter, and cream for topping your herring, although I was a fan of the fish by itself as well. For my main dish I ordered the ox cheek, which I'm not sure I've ever tried up until now. This was surprisingly so tender and delicious--I gave my fiancé's meatball dish a try and was super happy with my choice. The meal paired with great company, yummy wine, and killer ambiance made for an incredible evening. Definitely suggest giving Brinken a try!

We loved this place! Small, well decorated, great service, wonderful food and very affordable…read more I would highly recommend this place for dinner, we had the reindeer stew and steak. Both were outstanding! The beer menu is great, and the staff are friendly, engaging, speak excellent English and made the meal even more enjoyable!

5 star times ten!…read more This will be he next new Michelin rated restaurant in Sweden. Beautiful restaurant and the food is AMAZING! Presentation of the appetizer plus the main course was spot on. The manager (owner maybe?) William was amazing with his treatment of us. The wine recommendation was SPOT ON! I will most definitely take the misses back. The risotto I had was amazing as was the lamb my coworker had. Everything was perfect.

Amazing tiny restaurant tucked next to the Royal Opera. When I say tiny, I mean tiny. There is…read moreoutdoor sidewalk seating, but inside is three two person tables and a bar. We heard it can be difficult to get a table, so we went in the middle of the afternoon. When I say we had an incredible, traditional Swedish meal, I am really underselling the experience. We had the pickled herring starter and it was so unique and interesting. Each bit of herring was prepared a different way. I was full from that, but we pressed on. Meatballs and gravad lox were to die for. After that, I'm not sure why anyone eats a berry other than lingonberry. We joked with our server that it can be hard to serve an American a meal they can't finish, but they were clearly up to the task. She smiled and said they were proud to stay true to traditional Swedish food and it was a hot spot for locals. We haven't had a bad meal in Stockholm yet, so hard to compare, but a must stop if you're visiting.

Meatballs reminded us of IKEA meatballs. Like an exact duplicate. Don't get me wrong, we are a huge…read morefan of them. This just so happened to pop in our head after taking the first bite. Fish was not memorable compared to the meatballs.

I brought my husband here for a quick bite and some people watching. We sat outside and had…read moreamazing views of the street and people of Sodermalm, the Brooklyn of Stockholm. It's definitely worth a trip to this part of the city to walk around and get a different feel. We each had the shrimp sandwich which came with a really nice side salad and extra crispy toast. The shrimp salad sandwiches in summer and super good, and this was probably the best we had all trip. This place is an institution. The food is really good and the service is also on point. I visited this restaurant on a previous trip and had a really good lunch with complimentary bread and salad bar. We will definitely return here when we visit our friends in Stockholm again.

This was our first meal upon arriving in Stockholm and it didn't disappoint! The skagen toast was…read morefresh and light, the bookmaker was delicious with a delicate blend of honey mustard and horseradish, and we couldn't even finish the Caesar salad with big and fresh slabs of bacon! Highly recommend!

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.

Nomad is a nice venue within an easy walk of the Haymarket. It offers indoor and outdoor seating…read more I noticed that the outdoor area had thin blankets folded over the backs of several seats. It was a thoughtful touch for those who choose to sit outdoors while it's still warm, then linger into the cooler hours. My wife was very happy with her salad. Our Swedish friend liked her meatballs. I was disappointed with my smoked salmon. I expected an actual smoked salmon filet. I got a generous pile of the kind of smoked salmon one might find at a nice breakfast buffet: a mound of died, floppy fish slices that'd be great on a bagel but not as an entree. Our service was thoughtful and our food arrived promptly. Had I ordered a different dish, we'd easily be in 4-star territory. As things stand, there are too many restaurants in Stockholm for me to return to this one.

I knew I needed to try an authentic Swedish meatball directly from the motherland. We visited Nomad…read moreon a late night and were treated to a live band. For those who prefer a quieter meal where you can hold a conversation, I recommend arriving before the band starts or dining inside-- reservations highly encouraged! I started with the Herring Sample, which included three different styles of herring, and for my entrée, I ordered the dish my heart had been yearning for: the Swedish meatballs. As a huge fan of lingonberries over cranberries, I was delighted to see them served on the side. Overall, the meatballs were similar to what I've had back in the States, but as with all European meals, tasted more elevated and wholesome. It felt like a Thanksgiving celebration--Swedish style! The gravy was delicious, and the potato puree were comforting.

Great Viennese schnitzel dinner! The fries were a delightful surprise, as well! Nice drink…read moreselection and reasonably priced. The other German dishes were also popular among the diners. Dining is comfortable and cosy. Would highly recommend! Location is great. You can have a leisurely walk after your meal and explore a pleasant part of Stockholm.

Maybe I have a slight obsession with Toast Skagen, but if I…read morelived around the neighborhood, I would prob pop in here daily for a nice drink along with my toast skagen. Pretty satisfied tonight with my meal and the host is very friendly. Beautiful and cosy decor for a chilly night in Stockholm.

Amazing food and quality serving, in a true Scandinavian ambience restaurant, we enjoyed everything…read more Potatoe dumbing, salmon, meatballs, tomato salads, green salads

This is one of those Stockholm institutions that feels like it should be part of the itinerary if…read moreyou're trying to experience traditional Swedish food. Unfortunately, for most of the meal, the food itself didn't fully live up to the reputation. We ordered a pretty broad range of dishes. The herring was a bit of a miss for us and felt messy rather than memorable. The girls had the meatballs and a mushroom dumpling dish, but neither one really enjoyed their meal. Both dishes leaned very salty, to the point where it took away from the overall experience. I ordered the venison, which was fine, but not particularly special. It was one of those dishes that was technically okay, but didn't make me want to keep eating. I honestly didn't finish it. Mia ordered the cod, which looked good, but again, it didn't feel like anything spectacular or especially memorable. What completely changed the tone of the experience was the service. Toward the end of the meal, our server noticed that I hadn't eaten much. Without making a big deal out of it and without me asking for anything, he brought over a steak with potatoes and fries. That dish was excellent, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. More importantly, the gesture itself was incredibly thoughtful. That kind of hospitality is rare. He didn't have to do it. I wasn't complaining, and I wasn't expecting anything. I was prepared to leave the meal as-is. But the fact that he noticed and cared enough to make the experience better says a lot about the service and the professionalism of the staff. So while the original food we ordered was hit-or-miss, the service elevated the evening in a major way. The meal itself may not have been excellent across the board, but the hospitality was. For me, this ends up being a four-star experience: not because every dish landed, but because the staff turned what could have been a disappointing dinner into something memorable.

My husband has a knack for picking the best restaurants just by randomly walking by and suggesting…read morethem, 0 research and just vibes. This was probably my favorite meal in Sweden. We had just arrived that afternoon and were walking around our hotel to look for an early dinner. The dining room is lovely but not too stuffy or formal. We ordered the brown bread for starters, along with some wine and beer. I ordered the Arctic char (parsnip, chili, hazelnuts, browned butter and a soy glaze) and Paul G. went with the meatballs (hand-rolled and with cream sauce, mashed potatoes, lingonberries and pickled cucumber). We had the traditional Swedish meatball dish a few more times during the trip and they all came with the same components, but Bistro Bestick's was my fave. The sauce was heavier, velvety and creamy, and the potatoes were oh so fluffy. The berries were tart and fresh. I loved my fish, too... the hazelnuts, brown butter and soy were such a bright, unexpected combination. I enjoyed every bite. Don't sleep on dessert here! I couldn't even finish my dinner but still wanted to try the chocolate rum cake (salty caramel sauce, roasted peanuts, vanilla ice cream and crispy sesame) and what a delightful flavor explosion! It was beautifully presented and the sesame "cracker" on top was the perfect contrast to all the sweetness. I'd highly recommend BB!

We arrived in Stockholm after a long train ride and found this restaurant through a quick search of…read morenearby restaurants. We were hungry and just wanted a decent dinner prior to going out that night. Dining here was one of the best decisions during our time in Stockholm. The meatballs were absolutely amazing and one of the most memorable meals of my life. The presentation of the dishes was also impressive. We came here tired and left satisfied and ready to explore Stockholm nightlife. If you're in Stockholm, visit this restaurant and try the Swedish meatballs.