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Stockholm

Låden Flippin' Burgers
Photograph: Courtesy Flippin' Burgers | Låden Flippin' Burgers
Photograph: Courtesy Flippin' Burgers

How to eat like a local in Stockholm

Eat your way through a heaping plate of Swedish meatballs, loaded burgers and more worthwhile grub at these local joints

Madeleine Hyde
Written by Madeleine Hyde
Local expert, Stockholm
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You’ve probably tried Swedish meatballs at IKEA, and you may have even heard of Swedish cinnamon buns. But asides from that, what is Swedish cuisine? Ask most locals, and they’ll respond saying that a typical dish at one of the best restaurants in the city is one that starts off simple, then gets unexpected flavors added in—think cardamom, saffron and spoonfuls of jam in unusual places. And then there’s the fast food; Swedes love it, and Stockholmers especially—as such an international city, we have some of the best take-away restaurants in the land. Stockholm is also leading the street food scene with artisan burgers and craft pizzas; even the humble hot dog has had a makeover, and you can easily grab these snacks on the go on your way to the city's top attractions or before hopping on a local tour. When eating like a local in this city, the trouble is not in deciding where to start, but where to stop!

How to eat like a local in Stockholm

1. Meatballs

  • Swedish
  • Stockholm
  • price 2 of 4
Meatballs
Meatballs
Photograph: Courtesy Meatballs For The People

At the heart of Swedish cuisine are meatballs (or köttbollar, to locals, where the ‘k’ is pronounced ‘sh’). Swedish meatballs have enjoyed international fame, thanks mostly to IKEA—but no good meatballs will come for under €3 in Stockholm. The dish has now gone high-end; and, of course, vegetarian. Supermarket freezers are packed with “green balls” off all kinds of weird and wonderful flavours (ginger and carrot balls, anyone?). Restaurants have got in on the act too, so you’ve no excuse not to sample some köttbollar whilst you’re in the Swedish capital.

Where to get it: Meatballs for the People

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2. Cinnamon buns (bulle)

  • Cafés
  • Stockholm
  • price 2 of 4
Cinnamon buns (bulle)
Cinnamon buns (bulle)

Maybe you’ve heard of fika, the ultimate Swedish social ritual involving a long break with friends, coffee and cakes. There are many different treats you can “fika” with, but it’s the buns, or “bulle,” that are the centrepiece. Kanelbullar, or cinnamon buns, are the most typical flavour, but there are plenty more on offer. In the lead-up to Christmas, bakeries sell Lucia bulle, saffron-flavoured versions of this traditional bun. Various cafes also experiment with more unorthodox flavours: rhubarb crumble, blueberry and even brownie buns, to name a few.

Where to get it: Il Caffè

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3. Burgers

  • Burgers
  • Stockholm
  • price 2 of 4
Burgers
Burgers
Photograph: Courtesy Lådan Flippin' Burgers

Less than ten years ago, a group of burger enthusiasts crowd-funded a trip to the US to find out how to make the best patty and bring it to Stockholm. They opened up Flippin’ Burgers on Kungsholmen in 2012 and since then, the burger scene here has exploded. This Nordic capital is now a major burger city, with the central district of Norrmalm crammed with burger bars. With local rappers even opening up their own burger branches at gas stations, burgers are not just an indie scene here anymore, but part of everyday life in Stockholm.