Downtown dinner: Restaurants in Norrmalm
Publish date: 24 November 2023
From Stockholm's first three-starred restaurant to classy street food. Here's where you should eat lunch or dinner in the city center.
The name "Norrmalm" (or simply "City" as Stockholmers call it themselves) dates back to 1288. It got its current shape and form in a massive redevelopment project that started in the '50s and wasn't finished until the '70s. Most of the residential area of upper Norrmalm was incorporated into the Vasastan borough instead, and the Klara quarter of lower Norrmalm was demolished to make way for a modern 20th-century city center.
Sergels Torg, Kulturhuset, and the T-Centralen subway station were all constructed during this period. Now a beloved and integral part of Stockholm, the drawn-out redevelopment project was heavily criticized and quite controversial for its time.
Today Norrmalm is primarily a business and shopping district. With so many workers, shoppers, and commuters passing by every day, there's bound to be a few hungry stomachs aching for a tasty lunch or dinner. Luckily there's a wide variety of great eateries to choose from.
For example, you'll find upscale fine dining like Frantzén; the first restaurant in Stockholm to receive three coveted Michelin stars. Fans of spicy Asian cuisine might want to visit Saigon Baguette, Surfers, Ai Ramen, or Misshumasshu. And if you're looking for an affordable and tasty lunch restaurants like K25 and Campfire might be more to your liking.
Looking for tips on Norrmalm and the city center? Read our district guide for more inspiration and suggestions.