What you can get for lunch in Stockholm for 100Kr or about $12USD?
Interesting fact: the krona has been the currency of Sweden since 1875. The plural form of krona is kronor. In English, the currency is sometimes referred to as the Swedish crown, as krona literally means crown in Swedish.
Stockholm is expensive, and that’s a fact. Satisfying your appetite without going broke might require some research and planning. I can’t vouch for the entire city, but, based on personal experience, in Gamla Stan restaurants have a special lunch menu. Usually, it’s around 100Kr for which you get one dish and self-serving salad bar. It is a substantial meal that would easily sustain you through a business day. Naturally, you do not need to work in the Old Town – restaurants would gladly serve it to hungry tourists or anybody who happened to wander on their premises around noon.
The only negative thing is that most of the times the dish would be a variation of meat and potatoes. Usually, it is tasty but not super exciting. After couple weeks you will be longing for anything maybe even broccoli. Hence, if you are not going to stay for more than half a month, you would be fine. Otherwise, you will need a plan B or just curb your expectations about lunch: the only thing you will get is a full stomach.
Since a picture is worth a thousand words, let me show you what you can expect.
Slingerbulten
According to their website, Slingerbulten is a small and charming place in the Old Town of Stockholm. The kitchen focuses on traditional Swedish dishes that are well prepared and reasonably priced. The decor is simple and elegant, which guarantees a relaxed environment. Here you will not have unnecessary frills or extravagant, unnecessary things. Come in, eat and drink, and enjoy.
According to my experience, you will not have any frills at all, necessary or unnecessary. The lunch would fill your stomach, but wouldn’t provide any excitement for your taste buds. Solid cooking, very traditional. Good choice for 100Kr.
Borgmästar’n Bistro & Bar
Borgmästar’n menu offers something for all tastes and occasions. Food, drinks, ambiance, and music is what you find inside. The interior is a fusion of old and modern.
According to my experience, Borgmästar’n has an extensive selection of drinks (after all, it’s a proper bar). Most of the time, it also has a choice of seafood and vegetarian dishes on their menu.
S:ta Clara Restauran Bierhaus
The Food. The Beers. The Music. – their motto says it all
According to my experience, this place is different. It offers a lunch menu just once a week on Fridays (dinner-only for the rest of the week). The crown jewel of the menu is schnitzel. It was the best meat+potato dish I found in Gamla Stan for lunch. BTW, there is no music during lunch.
Mosebacketerrassen
Technically, outside of Gamla Stan, but views justify short uphill walk. This is the perfect spot for lunch during warm clear days.
According to my experience, you go there on a beautiful spring sunny day to taste a typical Swedish Smörgåsbord and enjoy the view of the city.
Paganini
According to their website, Ristorante Paganini is an Italian restaurant right in the heart of Old Town. Lunch menu combines Swedish and Italian home cooking. Dinner menu focuses on Emilia-Romagna region cuisine.
According to my experience, one Friday, the schnitzel place was closed. My Swedish colleagues were craving schnitzel, so we ended up in Paganini. They serve schnitzel on risotto which was a refreshing difference from usual lunch fare.
Of course, there are plenty of other restaurants serving lunch in Gamla Stan. My experience was limited by the fact that I was on a business trip and always followed the lead of my Swedish co-workers who over the years developed quite strong opinions about the best lunch choices in Gamla Stan.
Bon appétit or, as Swedes would say, Smaklig måltid!
Share this article on Pinterest by clicking Save button
Wow, Stockholm definitely has the reputation of an expensive city, so thankyou for the tip on lunching in Gamla Stan restaurants – nice to know about the special lunch menu! All of the food looks delicious, and I’m blown away by the size of the serving for the low price. I love that they gladly serve anyone, regardless of whether you work in Old Town too. Great travel hack – thanks!
Great to hear from you, Meg :). Stockholm food scene illustrates the positive side of “you get what you pay for” saying. You pay more, but the food is always tasty, highest quality and portions are generous.
I wonder how much 100Kr converts into CAD…
I always appreciate a good post about saving money when it comes to food. My favourite way to experience a country/culture is through its food. However, since we need to eats at least three meals a day food can become a big cost right up there with flights and accommodations. I think I like the Borgmästar’n Bistro & Bar. The food looks delicious.
I am with you, Cristopher – experiencing a culture through food works the best for me :). I hear you about costs of food though. Sometimes, I skip a meal to offset expenses but grumbling stomach does not want to do it too often. Today, 100Kr roughly equals to 15.54CAD. Cheers!
These don’t look bad for the money! I’ve heard how expensive Sweden can be so this seems reasonable. The schnitzel did look amazing and I agree I’d rather have it over risotto even though it sounds heavy!
After days full of potato-heavy dishes, risotto was a welcomed change. It was tasty and, actually, didn’t feel too filling at all.
OMG this all sounds so boring, hahaha! The part about the no music (and the poopy-shaped potato lolol) had me laughing out loud LOLLLL! I’ve been super keen to visit Stockholm, but as I vegan I am not 100% sure how I’ll be getting on to be honest. Good warning! haha!
Hmm, it could be interesting to be a vegan in Stockholm. Salads are routinely served, but they often contain some sort of meat or seafood. I am pretty sure that you would fine a place serving vegan food but it could be more expensive.
Innsbruck also has special lunch menus, but I must say they look a little more exciting than the Swedish version. As you say, it’s traditional fare with no frills. Interesting shape of the mashed potatoe at Slingerbulten…
We had a good laugh at first sight of this mashed potato hmm… figure. Nobody else seemed to be bothered or they hid it really well.
This is such a useful article as Stockholm can be very expensive. I haven’t been in a few years but I’d love to return and to try the smorgasbord that you mention!
Go for it! 🙂
I’ve been to Stockholm and I remember groaning having to pay quite a bit for meals there! This list should help those who’re going on a budget. Looking at the meatball photo, I wonder if Ikea there offers value meals as well? Or is it located too far out of the city to be recommended too?
Thanks for sharing the post. I have not visited Sweden but I know the food is quite expensive in Europe. Your tips are really helpful for travellers Thanks for sharing 🙂
Thank you for this post. Especially in the more northern countries in Europe, the food can be quite expensive so your lunch tips are very welcome!
Smaklig måltid to you as well 😀
You are welcome 🙂
I also knew that Stockholm is a very expensive city, so this is a great tip to make it through without having to splurge only at restaurants! I don’t even think they look bad, honestly… sure, as you said after a while you might want something else but for a shorter stay it’s more than enough!
You are absolutely right – for a week-long trip these specials would perfect lunches.