The Nordic Nomad

Stockholm, Sweden

Foodie finds: Stockholm’s best bagels

The Nordics • Eat & drink • Foodie finds: Stockholm’s best bagels

Where to find the best bagels in Stockholm

Forget the fika clichés. Stockholm’s latest food obsession is round, chewy and straight out of New York’s playbook, but with its own city bite. Bagels are popping up in places you wouldn’t expect. From back-alley bakeries shaping dough at dawn to cafés where sesame-flecked rings share counter space with cardamom buns, Stockholm’s bagel makers are rewriting the script. Here, bagels carry a Nordic signature. A sourdough edge, inventive fillings and the kind of slow-fermented care that feels right at home in Stockholm. For us, bagels are about texture, flavour and a little indulgence and Stockholm’s best bagel joints deliver on all three. This is where the insiders go when they want something with bite. Let’s dig in.

Top photography courtesy of Restaurang Prinsen

Village Bagels

Village Bagels is where Stockholmers go for real New York-style bagels. Dense and chewy, boiled then baked, with toppings that never compromise. Their fillings span from savoury smoked salmon and cream cheese to sweet spreads like strawberry jam, so there’s flexibility whether you’re in breakfast or brunch mode. Their lox bagel, a nod to classic deli traditions, is our favourite, especially during the colder months when the warmth of freshly baked bread and delicious fillings offers comfort. The lines form unexpectedly, and it’s easy to see why. Go just before opening or between brunch and lunch to avoid the crowd.

Village Bagels
Gästrikegatan 13
Stockholm
Sweden

Photography courtesy of Village Bagels

Dåndimpens Smörgåsshop

If you don’t mind a little travel south of central Stockholm, Dåndimpen’s Smörgåsshop in Årsta is worth every step. It’s part bakery, part sandwich shop and utterly beloved for its bread, pastries and yes, top-tier bagels. Owners who ran the well-loved Petrus bakery bring serious dough skills here. Their bagel dough is lighter than many Stockholm variations, with an open crumb that still holds a smear and a hearty slice. Their lox bagel – smoked salmon, cream cheese, capers – is a must. The space might not be flashy, but that’s part of its charm. If you don’t mind travelling a bit and going early (their hours are limited), Dåndimpen’s Smörgåsshop delivers bagels that feel very honest and very good.

Dåndimpen’s Smörgåsshop
Partihandlarvägen
Årsta
Sweden

Photography courtesy of Dåndimpen’s Smörgåsshop

Café Frankfurt

Café Frankfurt turns the humble sourdough bagel into something refined. What began as a small local bakery now offers a bagel that borrows the chew of water-boiled dough and the depth of rye techniques, producing a result that is both familiar and distinctive. The crust has a satisfying crackle, the interior remains soft and the toppings of smoked salmon, tuna, cream cheese and seasonal vegetables are precisely balanced. If spring brings asparagus or summer wild herbs, expect them here. The café is compact, especially inside, but when the weather allows, you can snag a table outside and watch the light shift over the rooftops while eating.

Café Frankfurt
Pipersgatan 24
Stockholm
Sweden

Photography courtesy of Café Frankfurt

The Bagel

The Bagel brings an American mentality to Stockholm but pairs it with Swedish attention to provenance. Expect big, puffy rings that are toasted and built to support ambitious fillings without collapsing mid-bite. This is the spot if you are feeling adventurous and want to try some unique flavour combinations. Curry aioli, bacon & chicken and inventive veg options appear alongside timeless ones like the lox and the classic cream cheese. Their storefront is welcoming with a casual, friendly ambience. A great spot for solo coffee breaks or catching up with friends. Just like with many of these spots, arriving earlier gives you a better selection (and avoids disappointment).

The Bagel
Västgötagatan 23
Stockholm
Sweden

Photography courtesy of The Bagel

Urban Deli

Urban Deli spans a few locations (Sveavägen, Nytorget, Hagastaden, Sickla) and what’s lovely about them is the full-spectrum approach: they’re part deli, part café, part grocery, part social hub. Their bagels are house-baked, fresh and paired with schmears that shift seasonally: think beet & chèvre, smoked fish and pickled veg. Our go-to at Urban Deli is the Chicken & Chilli Bagel , with herb-baked Swedish chicken (Bjäre chicken), ranch cream cheese and pickled chilli. It’s smoky, spicy, crunchy and oh so creamy. At Sveavägen (and the rooftop park), the atmosphere is lively, the views are great and you can grab homemade bagels and crisp salads. Their aesthetics are part of the draw too, combining style, modernity and warmth.