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    Kvarnen

    3.5 (62 reviews)
    Open 12:00 pm - 1:00 am (Next day)

    Kvarnen Photos

    KVARNEN ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Loud
    Casual
    Good for groups
    Outdoor seating

    Recommended Reviews - Kvarnen

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    David K.

    Kvarnen has an old-world Swedish beer hall atmosphere but made for a surprisingly calm setting for a traditional Swedish meal. We started with a basket of complimentary flatbread with butter, as well as SOS, a platter of four different kinds of pickled herring (paired with pickled onions, sour cream, and two different mustards), Västerbotten cheese, spiced cheese, and boiled potatoes. But my favorite dish (and one of the most unique on the menu) was the Reindeer Stew, made of shaved reindeer meat and mushrooms in a hearty, sweet, savory cream sauce, topped with lingonberries and chunky mashed potatoes. The reindeer meat had a somewhat dry, jerky-like flavor that went nicely with the decadent cream sauce, while the lingonberries added a contrasting brightness. Overall, the food here was decent for what it was, though on the heavy side like many traditional Swedish dishes.

    Meatballs
    Veronica O.

    This was our first time trying official Swedish meatballs and they were delish. We arrived around 1pm and the restaurant wasn't very busy at all. We thought they were closed, but it could have been an off time. Regardless, if you happen to go here and its not busy don't let that deter you. The service was fantastic. Our waitress was very helpful, attentive and kind. The food itself was very good. The flavor on the meatball sauce was very flavorful and everything tasted wonderful together. I would highly recommend if you are wanting Swedish meatballs.

    Beef Rydberg | Beef, fried potatoes, onion, raw egg yolk, Dijon cream
    Woolie T.

    Kvarnen's been around since the early 1900's (more on their history can be found here: http://www.kvarnen.com/index.php/en/about-kvarnen) and was a former beer hall--and as most of the guys on our trip are huge beer drinkers, we thought we'd kill two birds with one stone: traditional Swedish bites and local beer. We originally had a reservation for 5 people, at 7p on a Thursday, but two other friends joined us at the last minute and Kvarnen was more than accommodating, happily updating our reservation to a party of 7. Most of us were visiting Sweden for the first time, and we wanted to try a bit of everything traditional Kvarnen had to offer, so almost everyone ordered a different dish: Fried Herring, Swedish Smoked Sausage from Vaggeryd, Pytt i Panna, Kvarnens Meatballs, Reindeer Stew, and Beef Rydberg. Of all the dishes we had ordered and tried, the Reindeer Stew was my least favorite--I didn't enjoy the gamey taste, especially not in combination with the lingonberries. The Fried Herring was a bit too oily, otherwise crunchy and flavorful. The Swedish Smoked Sausage from Vaggeryd was okay; it tasted like any other sausage, and I actually preferred the ones we bought from the vendors on the streets. The Kvarnens Meatballs were mouthwatering and 100x better than the ones at IKEA in the states. I would definitely order the Pytt i Panna and Beef Rydberg again (these two dishes have yet to disappoint or fail us at any of the restaurants we've visited on this trip). I didn't enjoy most of the food, and especially not the Reindeer Stew, but with that being said, I'm still very glad we made a stop at Kvarnen because we got a taste of authentic Swedish foods.

    Seto E.

    A classic Swedish delicacies If you wanna taste the real Swedish restaurant experience, this place is one of the best. I ordered Isterband, but I think you should get another one, haha. It's okay, but it's just sausage with potatoes. The staffs were friendly and helpful. Don't hesitate to ask them for recommendation

    Meatballs with lingon berries and mashed potatoes
    Ana C.

    This is an old beer hall that was featured in the book "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo." The food is decent but overpriced and service is quite terrible. They do have a a very good beer selection though! And there is a club in the back in case you want to extend the dinner into a party. Food: 3/5 This is a good place for traditional Swedish food such as reindeer, meatballs, etc. I found the food to be too salty but overall decent (though overall, Swedish food tends to be too salty to me). Service: 2/5 We waited almost an hour for our food and when we asked one of the waitresses about it, she said "it will get here when it gets here". Seriously?!?! Talk about having a bad attitude. However, when we asked another waitress, she kindly checked on it for us and turns out there was a mistake in the kitchen. She gave us free desserts as compensation. Lesson learned: avoid old lady waitresses, they are mean! Also there is a mandatory coat check in the front where they force you to pay them to store your coats. If you refuse, you cannot enter (very strange...) Atmosphere: 5/5 It is a really cool looking beer hall. The interiors is all wood and very rustic. Plus it has a club in the back - food and clubbing without having to go out in the Swedish cold, what is there not to love? Value: 3/5 Food was normally priced, around 200kr/person.

    Brunch buffe
    Joana G.

    Kvarnen is a name you hear during the day but also at night. It is known by its center-european food and decor which then turns into a bar/pub and a small sized club, open until 3am on fridays/saturdays. The best I have to recommend is the brunch buffe during weekends, for 250kr. Fine variety of food (continental breakfast, main courses and desserts) of decent quality which is very well attended by the staff who keeps it constantly clean and restocked. There are two sittings, one at 12:00 and other at 14:30. Can also recommend the lunch on weekdays if you crave a good sized meal!

    Strangest meat platter ever...
    Joe B.

    Entering "Hospodské Dvere" is through the 'Kvarnen' restaurant and you're forced to pay a wardrobe fee of 20 SEK, immediately imposing on you the sensation of being at a cheap disco or nightclub. The starter, meat platter, is a jungle mix of mushrooms, pickles, dry ham (like in really dry!) and goat cheese. It says "pate" but that's not on there. Main course is a ham and cheese schnitzel which resembles something from the frozen food section of a supermarket. Beer is good though...

    Veal with lemon.
    Aaa B.

    I liked the food quite a bit. I got the breaded veal with a slice of lemon and some anchovies, husband got the meatballs (köttbullar). Tasty. Decent wine. Nice atmosphere. Also has the interesting feature that it was a location in The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo. Times visited: 1

    Swedish Meatballs
    Katti W.

    We went to Kvarnen for lunch while visiting Stockholm and we are glad we did! This was our only time spent in Sodermalm and we wish we could've had more time in this area. It seems very hip and has a local feel. Kvarnen had lunch outside and the weather was perfect. Food was pricey but I think it was "normal" for Stockholm. We ordered (American interpretation of the dishes, sorry if incorrect) the Swedish meatballs, Caesar salad, fish stew type dish, and the special of the day- shrimp sandwich. Everything was very tasty and service was good as well. The waiter was patient enough to explain each item on the menu in English for us.

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    Great hipster Swedish buffet breakfast. Not cheap, but a great variety. Fun place - been there a while.

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    Kvarnen Reviews in Other Languages

    Review Highlights - Kvarnen

    The pickled herring was great, and great with the vodka shots; as was the reindeer stew.

    Mentioned in 4 reviews

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    Älskade Traditioner - Lyx Skagen

    Älskade Traditioner

    4.6(77 reviews)
    0.6 kmSöder
    $

    This is such a cute homey place. Yes it is touristy, but hey that's what I am and it does have a…read morelot of local Swedes as well. As I am a tourist, I got that crazy milkshake with a cinnamon bun on top of it just for good measure of course. The cinnamon buns in Sweden are obviously exceptional as they originated from there- crunchy on the outside and warm, melted, soft cinnamon goodness on the inside. The waffles are delicious as well, regardless of which waffle you get. All in all, this is a great place to go to if you're visiting Stockholm!

    Super adorable little spot, furnished with thrifted furniture and decorated with vintage ads and…read moreitems. The wait staff all wear vintage style outfits as well. I'm not sure what Swedish waffles and 1950s diners have in common, but this place makes it work for sure. We came in on a Sunday morning, and were able to get seated right away. My cousin and I both had the raspberry waffle with whipped cream (75 sek, approx $8USD.). The waffle was perfectly crispy and the jam was delicious, but it wasn't a particularly filling for the price, really just a treat. They had fancier offerings as well, for a bit more money, as well as savory combinations. I overheard from a neighboring table that you can order a waffle with both whipped cream and ice cream. Where was this information when I was ordering? Oh well, next time. I would visit Älskade Traditioner again, but perhaps only for dessert. Alternatively I may try one of their savory options for a full meal.

    Photos
    Älskade Traditioner
    Älskade Traditioner - Blueberry dream milkshake (129 SEK)

    Blueberry dream milkshake (129 SEK)

    Älskade Traditioner - Hallon waffle

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    Hallon waffle

    Stockholms Gästabud - Swedish sausage

    Stockholms Gästabud

    4.6(104 reviews)
    1.2 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!!

    Stockholms Gästabud is a charming, small restaurant with a cozy vintage atmosphere. We waited in…read moreline for about 15 minutes to get in, but it was definitely worth the wait. Our waitress was amazing--very friendly, welcoming, and attentive throughout the meal. We ordered the Swedish meatballs and the ribeye. The food was good overall, though not the strongest part of the experience. Food: 3/5 Service: 5/5 Ambience: 5/5 The excellent service and wonderful atmosphere made the visit memorable. Highly recommended for anyone looking for a cozy and authentic dining experience in Stockholm.

    Photos
    Stockholms Gästabud
    Stockholms Gästabud - Buttered salmon

    Buttered salmon

    Stockholms Gästabud

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    Kvarnen - breakfast_brunch - Updated July 2026

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