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The Nordics

The 2025 hot list: the 56 best new restaurants in Scandinavia and the Nordics

The Nordics • Eat & drink • The 2025 hot list: the 56 best new restaurants in Scandinavia and the Nordics

Track 2025 openings across Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden. This is the live list, updated as soft launches slide and bigger debuts get pushed. It is organised month by month and sticks to what is actually opening – restaurants, bars and cafés, from under-the-radar neighbourhood rooms to places with serious buzz.

Top photography courtesy of Misshumasshu

7/12

Kong Hans Bakery

Copenhagen, Denmark

What happens when a two-Michelin-star restaurant opens its own bakery? Kong Hans Bakery brings Kong Hans Kælder’s discipline to Østerbro, turning French technique and Nordic restraint into everyday bread and viennoiserie. The parent restaurant is led by chef Mark Lundgaard. Expect long-fermented sourdough, classic Danish rye, baguettes, brioche and croissants – and a queue out the door. Pastries include Paris-Brest, citrus tart, drømmekage and a traditional fastelavnsbolle filled with remonce, pastry cream and vanilla and tonka bean cream, then finished with 70% Nicaliso chocolate glaze, olive oil, roasted Piedmont hazelnuts, cacao nibs and fleur de sel. Sandwiches cover smoked Faroese salmon and jambon-beurre.

Kong Hans Bakery

Øster Farimagsgade 18
Copenhagen
Denmark

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Photography courtesy of Kong Hans Bakery

6/12

Deg Bageri

Malmö, Sweden

In Slottsstaden, a residential neighbourhood just west of central Malmö, Deg Bageri is built around a few ideas executed obsessively well. The croissant swirl has become its calling card: tightly laminated and reworked in flavour every two weeks. Early versions set the tone, first rosehip and mascarpone, then tiramisu. Behind the counter are Elin Lundahl and Cassandra Persson, both competition-trained. Their CVs include Mat & Choklad in Malmö, Juno the Bakery in Copenhagen, junior and senior national baking teams and international medals.

Deg Bageri

Tessins väg 16
Malmö
Sweden

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Photography courtesy of Deg Bageri

3/12

Cabin

Copenhagen, Denmark

Coffee bar Cabin comes from the team behind Bar Vitrine, led by restaurateur Riccardo Marcon in close collaboration with Frama founder Niels Strøyer Christophersen. The space is built entirely in pine, referencing Le Corbusier’s Cabanon and Thoreau’s Walden, stripped back to the essentials. Coffee is brewed by head barista Jun Nishimura using beans from Tim Wendelboe. Pastries come via Dhriti Arora, former Noma chef and Bar Vitrine partner. Cabin is small, calm, and precise – a place for excellent coffee.

Cabin

Store Kongensgade 32
Copenhagen
Denmark

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Photography courtesy of Cabin

2/12

Dallas

Copenhagen, Denmark

Dallas is taking its coffee, breakfast and lunch routine to Copenhagen neighbourhood Østerbro, landing on Victor Borges Plads with a room that looks like it was built for daylight and late mornings. The first spot picked up five stars from Politiken, and the new one keeps the same calm precision, just with more space to breathe. A full wall of high-gloss Tiles by Muller Van Severen does the heavy lifting, so the surface shifts as the light moves. Raw textures, neon hits and natural plywood keep it slightly rough at the edges, in a way that feels intentional.

Dallas

Victor Borges Plads 8
Copenhagen
Denmark

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Photography courtesy of Dallas

1/12

Taulu

Helsinki, Finland

Under the vaulted ceiling of Helsinki Central Railway Station, Taulu has reopened with a sharper look and the same main character: Eero Järnefelt’s ‘Maisema Kolilta’, a monumental painting of the Koli hills in North Karelia that reads like Finnish national romance on a single canvas. It runs as café, bar and restaurant, so a quick coffee fits as well as a slower lunch. Start with toast skagen or reindeer tartare, then go classic with salmon soup if the weather is doing its thing. The mood stays calm even when the concourse outside turns hectic.

Taulu

Kaivokatu 1
Helsinki
Finland

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Photography courtesy of Taulu

1/12

Aanerud Bakeri

Oslo, Norway

After more than a century in the small riverside town of Årnes – about an hour northeast of Oslo in the former Akershus region – Aanerud Bakeri has finally arrived in the capital. The family has been baking there since 1921, passing recipes and know-how through five generations, and in 2024 they were named Årets Bakeri, Norway’s Bakery of the Year. The Oslo opening isn’t a chain expansion so much as a beloved institution crossing the city limits with its rye-led breads, glossy pastries and that unmistakable Norwegian everyday-luxury energy. The launch came with real emotion from the family and team, and curious Oslo residents are already queueing to taste a century of practice.

Aanerud Bakeri

Hegdehaugsveien 28
Oslo
Norway

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Photography courtesy of Aanerud Bakeri

28/11

Studio Canteen

Stockholm, Sweden

Marion Ringborg, a Stockholm-based chef, food creator and cookbook author, has always moved between food, form and feeling. After Garba, the much-loved restaurant she ran with chef Linn Söderström, she now returns with Studio Canteen, a daytime restaurant that extends her event and catering concept Studio Marion. Studio Canteen operates as an extension of her studio world, where cooking sits alongside set design, visual language and atmosphere. Expect generous lunch dishes, proper fika – Sweden’s daily ritual of coffee and something sweet – and a Saturday brunch that leans comforting rather than showy. This is a place to eat well, linger briefly, then get on with your day.

Studio Canteen

Sveavägen 9
Stockholm
Sweden

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Photography courtesy of Studio Marion

28/11

Uni

Copenhagen, Denmark

In central Copenhagen, Uní runs Japanese technique through Danish seasons, with head chef Takashi Saito and sommelier Oliver Kudsk, who first worked together at Umami in 2017. The room is intimate and detail-led, built so food, design and atmosphere land as one. Dishes include hiramasa sashimi with yuzu ponzu and Danish seaweed, using fish from Hanstholm and seaweed foraged in Odsherred. Another house move is beef cuvette with grilled vegetables and a truffle-wasabi sauce linked to their Umami years. Drinks run from sake and Japanese beer to cocktails and a tightly edited wine list. The menu shifts with the catch and the market, with umami as the through-line.

Uni

Store Kongensgade 42
Copenhagen
Denmark

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Photography courtesy of Uni

27/11

Halvebroren Bistro

Oslo, Norway

Rotisserie smoke drifts through Halvbroren Bistro, a continental bistro between Saga Kino and Nationaltheatret. It sits in Cappelen Damm’s Stortingsgata house and borrows its name from Lars Saabye Christensen’s novel The Half Brother. SJ Design shaped the interiors, pairing warm banquettes with murals that riff on the book’s scenes. The menu keeps it direct and seasonal, anchored by the spit. Order gratinated onion soup, fried ascolana olives filled with short rib and parmesan, then porchetta carved from the rotisserie. Finish with churros laced with cardamom and caramelised chocolate. Some nights bring live jazz, so tables hang around longer afterwards. The bar leans classic, built for a quick martini before a show.

Halvebroren Bistro

Stortingsgata 28
Oslo
Norway

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Photography courtesy of Kristoffer Wittrup and SJ Design

25/11

Tosto

Stockholm, Sweden

Behind restaurant Sperling & Co on Sturegatan 6, Tosto arrives in 2025 with the kind of confidence its name promises – tosto meaning strong, self-assured and a little irreverent. Chef Max Duhs, the force behind Bâtard and formerly Svartengrens and Nook, builds the menu on Italian tradition but refuses to stay inside the lines. Meat and fish are aged slow, sausages and charcuterie are made on-site, pasta is rolled by hand every day. The wine list leans into Italy’s lesser-known grapes, then wanders off elsewhere when it feels right. With sixty seats, a big bar, a community table and music that actually moves, Tosto isn’t quiet.

Tosto

Sturegatan 6
Stockholm
Sweden

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Photography courtesy of Danger Österlin and Stureplansgruppen

21/11

Trattoria Giorgio’s

Stockholm, Sweden

Trattoria Giorgio’s brings 1960s Italy to Fältöversten, a classic Stockholm shopping centre in Östermalm, the city’s most upscale district. It’s the newest opening from Urban Italian Group, the team behind Basta and Florentine, now counting fifteen restaurants across Sweden and Spain. The room leans into Milanese nostalgia: dark woods, velvet booths, marble surfaces and ceiling art by Elin PK, wrapped around an open kitchen that runs like a spine through the space. The menu follows the trattoria playbook with character – carpaccio royale, agnello cremoso and carbonara al limone. Desserts include the pistachio-loaded green mamba and the bright limonamisu.

Trattoria Giorgio’s

Erik Dahlbergsallén 18
Stockholm
Sweden

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Photography courtesy of Jona Granath and Trattoria Giorgio’s

18/11

Dansken Slaktis

Johanneshov, Sweden

South of Stockholm’s city centre, Slakthusområdet is a former meatpacking district where brick warehouses and iron beams now house studios, offices and restaurants. In one of its historic halls, Huset 26, Dansken Slaktis does something refreshingly single-minded. The menu is built around smørrebrød, the Danish open-faced sandwich traditionally served on dense rye bread and topped generously rather than neatly. Expect roast beef with remoulade and fried onions, crisp pork belly with crackling, herring, shrimp and eggs. To drink, there’s aquavit, a Nordic spirit flavoured with caraway or dill, alongside cold beer. It works for lunch, afterwork or a pre-concert stop before events at nearby Globen. Hygge, yes, but with steel beams overhead.

Dansken Slaktis

Hallvägen 43
Johanneshov
Sweden

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Photography courtesy of Dansken Slaktis

14/11

Kinyobi

Copenhagen, Denmark

Inside Copenhagen neighbourhood Indre By, Kinyōbi runs modern Japanese cooking with a bar that cares about sound as much as seasoning. The name means Friday in Japanese and the place acts like a switch from day to night. The menu moves from hosomaki with foie gras and trout roe to yakitori, including miso-grilled pike perch, plus add-ons like koshihikari rice and house pickles. Dessert goes playful with soft ice and caviar or cheesecake soft ice with kumquat and yuzu curd. Cocktails lean Japanese spirits and infusions, such as a Misotini built on miso shiitake and kombu. On Thursday to Saturday nights, local selectors run the lounge in the back room.

Kinyobi

Antonigade 2
Copenhagen
Denmark

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Photography courtesy of Kinyobi

14/11

À La Kämp

Helsinki, Finland

Helsinki doesn’t do understatement well and À La Kämp proves it. After a year-long transformation, the historic dining room at Hotel Kämp, the city’s grand 1887 landmark facing Esplanade Park in the heart of the capital, is back with a kind of cinematic confidence. Archer Humphryes’ redesign pulls from neoclassicism, Art Nouveau and the Belle Époque, so the room feels part Parisian salon, part Nordic reverie. The menu riffs on 130 years of Kämp history, reworking dishes found across 90 archived menus. Consommé, smoked whitefish, boeuf bourguignon – classics tightened, sharpened and made for now.

À La Kämp

Pohjoisesplanadi 29
Helsinki
Finland

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Photography courtesy of Hotel Kämp

14/11

Kämp Bar

Helsinki, Finland

Kämp Bar returns as the social pulse of Helsinki, the kind of room where you walk in for one drink and stay until the city lights switch on outside. Set inside Hotel Kämp, the capital’s most storied address opposite Esplanade Park, the new space leans into early-1900s glamour with mahogany, marble and just enough satin brass to catch the candlelight. The cocktail list nods to old Helsinki society – champagne pours, Punsch, European wines – but anchors itself in Nordic flavour. The Lemon Table, once the haunt of the city’s artists and writers, is back in place with its own signature cocktail.

Kämp Bar

Pohjoisesplanadi 29
Helsinki
Finland

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Photography courtesy of Hotel Kämp

13/11

Sally’s

Stockholm, Sweden

Inside Sheraton Stockholm, Sally’s is a 1970s New York disco-leaning bar concept created by bartender Bobby Hiddleston, with Head Bartender Niklas Forslin on the stick. The room was designed by architect studio ADC & Tuneu and keeps the lighting low and the soundtrack upfront. It works as a lobby stop, before dinner too. Drinks stay classic: Gimlet, Toronto, White Russian with a brûléed marshmallow, plus a house Disco Sally built on tequila, apricot and Cocchi Americano. The best move is the Freezer Martini flight, poured as three small serves so you can try more than one style without committing to a full glass.

Sally’s

Tegelbacken 6
Stockholm
Sweden

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Photography courtesy of Sheraton Stockholm

12/11

Shibumi

Stockholm, Sweden

Sayan Isaksson’s pedigree needs little introduction. The chef behind Michelin-starred Nour and the era-defining Esperanto, Råkultur and Imouto is bringing Shibumi back to Stockholm. First opened in 2014, the izakaya quickly became a cult favourite before closing three years later. After a brief pop up at Röda Huset, it now returns on Malmskillnadsgatan, a central city street better known for high rises than izakayas. The new Shibumi mixes Japanese pub cooking with Isaksson’s precision, weaving in a few beloved classics and some entirely new ideas. A 60-seat room, a big bar, dark wood, a hand-painted mural and a wall of LPs set the tone – rock, warmth, generosity. Shibumi is back.

Shibumi

Malmskillnadsgatan 38B
Stockholm
Sweden

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Photography courtesy of Niklas Nyman and Shibumi

11/11

Francesco

Stockholm, Sweden

Floor-to-ceiling windows and a big corner room give Francesco more swagger than the average bakery-café on Södermalm. Run by Roberto Cambria and baker Francesco Giudice, it brings Italian bakery culture into a light, airy space that lands somewhere between neighbourhood hangout and proper day-time restaurant. The maritozzi are the move here, filled in different flavours and worth building the visit around, then come cornetti, focaccia, creamy espresso and simple pasta if you stay longer. It already has that useful quality some newer spots never manage – the sense that locals have folded it into their week.

Francesco

Åsögatan 161
Stockholm
Sweden

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Photography courtesy of Francesco

29/10

Esse

Copenhagen, Denmark

After years shaping Copenhagen’s food scene, Matt Orlando, the American chef behind Amass and a former Noma alumnus, opens Esse in Nordhavn – a former industrial harbour district north of the city centre. Esse is described by Orlando as a place for depth, process and restraint. The cooking centres on whole ingredients, from vegetables to animals, with fermentation, ageing and preservation forming the backbone of the kitchen. Sustainability is not framed as a concept but as a working method, guiding sourcing, techniques and menu structure. The space is pared back and calm, designed to keep attention on the plate. Esse is not an extension of Amass, nor a return to Noma. It is a focused expression of Orlando’s own cooking philosophy, refined and intentional.

Esse

Trelleborggade 13A/13B
Copenhagen
Denmark

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Photography courtesy of Esse

14/10

Sperling & Co

Stockholm, Sweden

Stockholm’s Stureplan might not exactly need another restaurant, but Sperling & Co makes a strong case. It’s the newest project from Stureplansgruppen – the group behind Nour, Ekstedt and Bank Hotel – and it plants its flag in a 17th-century quarter called Sperlingens Backe. The name is a nod to history, but the fire-driven menu is pure present tense. Running the grill is Michael Andersson, freshly crowned winner of Årets Kock 2024 – Sweden’s national chef championship and the country’s top culinary prize. Expect cuts you know and cuts you don’t, all kissed by open flame, with Old World wines to match. Designed by Dinell Johansson, the two-floor space glows with ash wood, leather and visual drama.

Sperling & Co

Sturegatan 6
Stockholm
Sweden

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Photography courtesy of Sperling & Co

8/10

La Cabra

Copenhagen, Denmark

Old brick, steel and the smell of fresh roast do half the work at La Cabra’s Nordhavn outpost, set inside the Aarhus-born coffee company’s Copenhagen roastery in the former port district. The appeal is not just the cup, though that part is taken seriously enough. You come here to get closer to the whole chain – from roasting and quality control to whatever lands at the bar that day. The room carries the area’s industrial past without turning it into a theme, and the setting suits La Cabra’s stripped-back precision. Good for anyone who likes coffee with process, architecture and a bit of harbour air built in.

La Cabra

Århusgade 118X
Copenhagen
Denmark

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Photography courtesy of La Cabra

4/10

Strand Stockholm
Stockholm, Sweden

Nybrokajen 9 is awake again. After the rooftop success of Charles, entrepreneurs Paulo Fagundez and Jonas Ghauri have dropped the next move: Strand Stockholm, a ground-floor restaurant and bar inside the Radisson Collection Strand Hotel, long one of the city’s grand waterfront landmarks. Chef Tim Waage (Portal, Den Gyldene Freden, Omaka, plus Stockholm Culinary Team) builds a menu that swings between Swedish ingredients and international swagger – classics tightened, others loosened, occasional luxuries slipped in without the attitude. Drinks are by Oskar Kinberg, the London bar veteran with a thing for clean flavour and big personality.

Strand Stockholm
Nybrokajen 9
Stockholm
Sweden

Photography courtesy of Strand Stockholm

September

19/9

Krog Agrikultur
Stockholm, Sweden

Many a foodie — us included, since Agrikultur once delivered one of our most memorable meals — has been waiting for the sequel. It now plays out under Guldbron, the gleaming “Golden Bridge” at Slussen, Stockholm’s chaotic traffic hub where Södermalm brushes against Gamla stan, the medieval Old Town, and Lake Mälaren slides into the Baltic. Chef Filip Fastén, Årets Kock 2014 and the man who once bagged Agrikultur a Michelin star, ditches the star chase for a more familiar restaurant with pulse. Think à la carte built for sharing, mid-range prices, 85 seats and a room humming with energy.

Krog Agrikultur
Franska bukten 10
Stockholm
Sweden

Photography courtesy of Krog Agrikultur

13/9

Village Bagels
Stockholm, Sweden

Village Bagels is where Stockholmers go when they want real New York-style bagels – dense, chewy, boiled, then baked – with toppings that don’t 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 queues appear without notice – for good reason. Go just before opening or between brunch and lunch to avoid the crowd.

Village Bagels
Gästrikegatan 13
Stockholm
Sweden

Photography courtesy of Village Bagels

August

31/8

Boreal
Helsinki, Finland

Low light and dark timber set the tone in Helsinki’s Design District, where Boreal keeps the focus on the pass and the glass. Chef Pasha Demin runs the kitchen with a fine-dining CV that includes Noma plus Helsinki favourites 305 and Kuurna. Sous chef Dima Anatoliev brings Grön in his background and clearly has a hand on the menu. Drinks are driven by sommelier Apollonie Laforêt, with an organic and natural-leaning list and a serious non-alcoholic pairing. Treivas Architecture Bureau’s interior keeps it moody and interesting.

Boreal
Uudenmaankatu 9
Helsinki
Finland

Photography courtesy of Boreal

25/8

Tripletta
Stockholm, Sweden

Is three the magic number for restaurateur Robert “Boban” Rudinski? In 2025, he opened Tripletta, his third restaurant at the very same address. Lo Scudetto arrived in 1998, La Vecchia Signora followed, then a new chapter that leans into warmth, colour and food that feels like home. The interiors are by Mari Strenghielm, a set stylist and interior designer, who also designed the wall sconces, tables and shelves. Tripletta, Italian for hat trick, nods to the return. The menu stretches across Italy with a southward pull and North African spice notes. Rudinski, also co-owner of Bar Central with Kim Choukri, knows how to keep a room alive.

Tripletta
Åsögatan 163
Stockholm
Sweden

Photography courtesy of Idha Lindhag and Mari Strenghielm Studio

4/8

Faetter
Aarhus, Denmark

By Godsbanen, Aarhus’s arts and creative district, Faetter taps into the city’s café culture with a tight room featuring pieces by Kristina Dam Studio. Route Creatives supported the launch with strategic sparring on identity and décor. The menu stays focused: toasted sandwiches on fresh-baked bread, including a reuben with beef brisket, sauerkraut, Russian dressing, emmental and pickles, or a parma with mozzarella, parmesan, basil dressing and Regatta dressing. Coffee runs filter and espresso, beer on tap comes from Åben and wine is poured by the glass. Laptops are discouraged when it gets busy.

Faetter
Karen Wegeners Gade 31
Aarhus
Denmark

Photography courtesy of Kristina Dam Studio

July

10/6

Bistron & Köket
Saltsjöbaden, Sweden

Overlooking the glittering Baggensfjärden in Saltsjöbaden, Bistron & Köket is where Swedish‑French bistro flair collides with Scandi restraint. Designed by Stockholm studio Koncept, this newly opened restaurant at historic resort Vår Gård Saltsjöbaden is all about raw materials, folklore‑inspired textiles and mood‑setting acoustics. Expect a three‑zone layout: sea‑view veranda, buzzing bistro hall and velvet‑sofa Klubben corner for drinks and slow starts. Next door, Köket brings a domestic touch – open kitchen, window banquettes, even a living room nook. The food? Seasonal, local, equal parts butter and backbone. This isn’t just a hotel restaurant refresh. It’s a radical shift in how countryside dining should feel: layered, local and very now.

Bistron & köket
Ringvägen 6
Saltsjöbaden
Sweden

Photography courtesy of Bistron & köket

May

27/5

Matateljén
Stockholm, Sweden

After nearly a decade in cosy Gamla Enskede, Matateljén is closing the doors to its original home – not as an end, but a bold new beginning. This spring, founders Anna Klyvare and Henrik Sauer are moving operations to Slakthusområdet, Stockholm’s rising food and culture hub. The new space at Hallvägen 9 channels the same veg-forward, seasonal cooking but in a sharper, more industrial setting – neighbours now include Solen and Sin Ramen. Meanwhile, the original venue is being reimagined as Ateljéns Livs, a pocket-sized market hall with fresh produce, house-made goods and counter seating for spontaneous meals and glasses of something chilled. The heart stays the same. The setting just got louder.

Matateljén
Hallvägen 9
Johanneshov
Sweden

Photography courtesy of Matateljén

26/5

Café Pascal Roastery
Stockholm, Sweden

The converted warehouse space that is Pascal’s new roastery, is stripped down to the essentials. Raw brick, polished concrete and a focus so tight it’s almost surgical. It is clear that, to the small Café Pascal chain of coffee shops, focus lies 100% in making immaculate coffee. In their newest addition, Café Pascal Roastery, beans are roasted on-site and brewed with intent. Filter or espresso, the beans are single-origin and sourced with rigour – Pascal has always been about being precise. And this space doubles down. There’s no kitchen, no brunch theatrics. A sharp lineup of pastries and a handful of stools is all you get, and all you need. It’s not a café. It’s a temple to technique – Stockholm’s clearest expression of caffeine minimalism.

Café Pascal Roastery
Gävlegatan 22
Stockholm
Sweden

Photography courtesy of Café Pascal

24/5

Grimstorp Hagen
Sandhem, Sweden

Not far from the city of Jönköping, Grimstorp Hagen is chef Fredrik Hartelius’s homecoming project, set on the family farm where he grew up. Opening summer 2025 in a beautifully reworked grain store, the restaurant serves a seasonal menu built around grass-fed beef from the farm’s own herds and vegetables grown by sister Lisa and nephew Sten. It’s a full family affair, with Hartelius’s partner Evelina Hedlund working alongside him in the dining room. Hartelius’s path has included stints at Ett Hem and Mathias Dahlgren, but here, the flavours stay local and honest. Guests wanting the true escape can even rent an apartment in the farm’s main house. Grimstorp Hagen is Sweden, right where it lives.

Grimstorp Hagen
Grimstorps Gård
Sandhem
Sweden

Photography courtesy of Grimstorp Hagen

19/5

Varv
Malmö, Sweden

Tucked into Malmö’s revitalised Dockan district on Stora Varvsgatan, Varv is the all‑day eatery and bakery redefining waterfront dining. Open from dawn ’til late evening, it serves house‑baked croissants and artisanal breads alongside a daily-changing menu of modern European dishes – think gnocchi ragù, crispy squid with fries or cauliflower purée with seasonal salad. Helmed by seasoned chefs and restaurateurs from Michelin‑adjacent Vyn and Ruths/Bastard, the place channels industrial‑heritage charm with views across the dry‑dock. Whether you’re after a casual breakfast, a laid‑back lunch or a post‑work glass of wine in the sunny backyard garden, Varv offers both craft and comfort.

Varv
Stora Varvsgatan 6A
Malmö
Sweden

Photography courtesy of Varv

9/5

Misshumasshu
Stockholm, Sweden

Misshumasshu reclaims Stockholm’s historic Birger Jarlspassagen with Michelin-starred duo Adam Dahlberg and Albin Wessman. Architect Maja Bernvill’s rostrous palette of deep reds and natural textures folds New York energy into Tokyo edge, shaping a warm yet dynamic dining arena anchored by a showstopping central bar. The entire 800-square-metre passage has been restored by Yllw, and signature plates impress. Think chewy Korean tteokbokki ablaze with spice or buttery tuna tartare sparked by yuzu kosho. As day shifts to night, Misshumasshu’s spirited atmosphere encourages lingering over smoky yakitori and lively cocktails well into the evening.

Misshumasshu
Smålandsgatan 10
Stockholm
Sweden

Photography courtesy of Misshumasshu

7/5

Shii
Helsinki, Finland

Shii doesn’t advertise its presence – you find it, or someone lets you in on the secret. Tucked behind an unmarked courtyard door on Fabianinkatu, it’s chef Nadim Nasser’s answer to Helsinki’s omakase fatigue. Stripped-back, intimate and a touch irreverent. The 11-course menu veers from pristine sashimi to left-field moves like shiokoji ice cream with caviar and pumpkin powder – bold, strange and brilliant. The room is all restraint with 15 counter seats, blonde wood, soft light. No theatrics. No ego. Just a sharp champagne and sake list, and Nadi talking you through every dish like you’re a guest at his kitchen table.

Shii
Fabianinkatu 17
Helsinki
Finland

Photography courtesy of Shii

2/5

Ambassador
Copenhagen, Denmark

Situated in the traffic hum of HC Andersen’s Boulevard, Ambassador Indian Dining brings a sharper edge to Copenhagen’s curry game. This sleek, dark-toned spot serves classic North Indian dishes with polish – butter chicken lands silky, chicken tikka is fire-kissed and tender and the vegan aloo matar holds its own. Co-run by brothers Aman and Ramanpreet Singh, the kitchen is rooted in family tradition but isn’t stuck in nostalgia. The space is moody but smart – textured walls, sculptural lighting, none of the usual kitsch. A welcome detour from smørrebrød fatigue, Ambassador manages to be both familiar and surprising, with enough heat and ambition to make it more than just another tikka joint.

Ambassador
H.C. Andersens Boulevard 11
Copenhagen
Denmark

Photography courtesy of Ambassador

April

23/4

Epicurus
Copenhagen, Denmark

Epicurus – a welcome addition to Copenhagen’s high-concept dining scene – part supper club, part jazz salon, all precision. Conceived by jazz pianist Niels Lan Doky with partners from Geranium and Dragsholm Slot, it’s a stage for sensory indulgence. Chef Oliver Bergholt delivers Nordic-French plates that hit familiar notes with finesse – think truffle gougères, scallops in green apple sauce, grilled pigeon over mash. Downstairs, live jazz pulses beneath a Miles Davis painting, while cocktails – like the clarified milk punch with jasmine – are poured with the same polish as the piano solos. It’s not only theatre. It’s taste, texture and tone, in synch.

Epicurus
Rosenborggade 15
Copenhagen
Denmark

Photography courtesy of Emil Vendelbo Stegemejer and Epicurus

23/4

Élan Restaurant
Copenhagen, Denmark

Without fuss or fanfare Élan arrives in central Copenhagen with low-key confidence and a Mediterranean agenda. The menu swings from croque monsieur and steak tartare by day to richer, shareable dishes after dark. Think grilled squid, burrata, anchovy-dressed greens. Smørrebrød makes a cameo at lunch, but the vibe is more Marseille than Nyhavn. Interiors are clean, chalky and warm, with a courtyard that’s likely to be this summer’s hardest table. The wine list is unapologetically French, with over 20 by the glass and plenty of Burgundy muscle. No gimmicks, no overwrought plating – just good food, serious wine and a sense that Copenhagen might finally be relaxing a little.

Élan Restaurant
Store Kongensgade 62
Copenhagen
Denmark

Photography courtesy of Élan Restaurant

15/4

Wulff & Konstali Vesterbro
Copenhagen, Denmark

Wulff & Konstali’s Vesterbro outpost doesn’t do brunch, but lets you build it. Pick five or seven dishes from a rotating menu of over 20 options: pecorino-laced scrambled eggs, sea buckthorn yoghurt, serrano focaccia or a cardamom bun that could pass for dessert. The space, designed by Studio David Thulstrup, is diner-meets-Scandi. Glazed blue tiles, lava stone tables and curved neon lighting make it feel more gallery than café. Store manager Niels Emil Løkkegaard keeps things humming, while the kitchen bakes through the night to stock the pastry case by morning. It’s casual, yes – but with a precision that makes even a cinnamon roll feel curated. Brunch runs daily and the locals know it’s best enjoyed slowly.

Wulff & Konstali Vesterbro
Flensborggade 61
Copenhagen
Denmark

Photography courtesy of Wulff & Konstali

15/4

Mother in the City
Copenhagen, Denmark

No warehouse grit, no Meatpacking sprawl – Mother in the City trades steel for stone and settles into their second Ny Østergade location with quiet swagger. The sourdough still ferments with seawater, the oven still spits fire and the pizza – especially the Porcella with confit porcini and fennel sausage – still lands like a warm handshake. Interiors are moodier, more Milan than market hall, with deep green walls and sleek terrazzo. House wines pour from taps, brewed beers use leftover yeast and the lunch crowd mixes linen suits with bike messengers. It’s Mother grown up, but not grown old. Same crust, sharper tailoring. A soft power move in the heart of the city.

Mother in the City
Ny Østergade 14
Copenhagen
Denmark

Photography courtesy of Mother

3/4

Juno
Stockholm, Sweden

Juno is where Fridhemsplan meets the Mediterranean – or at least feels like it. Opened by Brasseriegruppen and led by restaurateur Marco Campos, this warm, detail-driven bistro channels coastal Europe without falling into cliché. The menu leans into bold, sun-soaked flavours: whipped ricotta with pistachio pesto, charred pulpo with sobrasada and pimentón, or paella layered with grilled shrimp and octopus. From the bar, negroni-marinated olives and a Kalamata-laced spicy margarita keep things playful. The space moves easily from casual to celebratory – just as suited to a lingering weeknight dinner as it is to a late weekend lunch. Like its namesake dessert, the Juno Mess, it’s a little decadent, a little unexpected and surprisingly hard to forget.

Juno
Sankt Eriksgatan 43A
Stockholm
Sweden

Photography courtesy of Juno

March

28/3

Miss Miso
Gothenburg, Sweden

Miss Miso, the latest venture from Michelin-starred duo Anna and Cameron Irving of Project, brings a welcome addition to Gothenburg’s dining scene. This contemporary Asian restaurant offers a relaxed yet refined atmosphere and the menu features an array of sharing plates and larger dishes, with notable offerings like the much-anticipated Korean fried chicken – a dish that gained a devoted following during its time as a takeaway option at Project. The interior maintains the intimate charm of the former izakaya, enhanced by thoughtful design elements that reflect the restaurant’s Asian roots.

Miss Miso
Aschebergsgatan 26
Göteborg
Sweden

Photography courtesy of Miss Miso

26/3

Framfickan
Stockholm, Sweden

Framfickan isn’t trying to reinvent the wheel – just make it sharper, better seasoned and timed to your pre-show appetite. Tucked into the newly revived Maxim on Karlaplan, this compact bistro from Tim Alton and Andrew Jones (the duo behind Bistro Barbro) delivers Asian-inspired small plates with a Scandinavian pulse. The menu reads like a greatest hits of umami and crunch: kimchi toast on levain, hand-cut beef tartare with jalapeño and fried capers, fried chicken crusted in cornflakes and Korean chili. Come for a snack and a glass or stay for the whole run. Either way, Framfickan nails the mood – casual, precise and just loud enough to feel alive.

Framfickan
Karlaplan 4
Stockholm
Sweden

Photography courtesy of Framfickan

23/3

Abigail
Copenhagen, Denmark

Once a pop-up in an old hat shop, Abigail now holds a permanent place – and it’s not playing safe. The team behind Norrlyst has carved out something unapologetically intimate: 24 guests, one seating and a multi-course menu that asks you to get involved. One signature dish arrives with a brush and pigments – wasabi, dandelion, citrus – inviting you to paint your own tuna. Gimmick? Hardly. The flavours are sharp, the technique airtight. Wines come from Oasis Bar’s deep, studied cellar – 20 pages long and paired with precision. The space is dark, moody and finely tuned. Dinner here isn’t loud or rushed. It’s exacting, strange and quietly unforgettable.

Abigail
Nørregade 30
Copenhagen
Denmark

Photography courtesy of Abigail

20/3

Pontus Frithiof at Bro Hof
Bro, Sweden

Pontus Frithiof at Bro Hof transforms the grand Bro Hof Slott into a year-round culinary and event destination. Chef Frithiof’s signature style – elegant yet approachable – shines through a menu rooted in Swedish flavours with global accents, crafted from seasonal, locally sourced ingredients. The restaurant will also serve as a summer outpost for his acclaimed La Tour, bringing fine dining to the castle’s lush grounds. Wine director Mario E. Moroni curates a cellar that balances Old World classics with bold New World selections.

Pontus Frithiof at Bro Hof
Bro
Sweden

Photography courtesy of Pontus Fritihiof at Bro Hof

7/3

Rørt Frederiksberg
Copenhagen, Denmark

In the heart of Frederiksberg on Allé, Rørt Frederiksberg reimagines smørrebrød as a fresh veggie‑first experience. Forget stodgy open‑faced sandwiches – this is organic rye topped with truffle‑egg cauliflower, Greenlandic‑prawn salad or plant‑based potato mash on rye baked by Svaneke, freshly toasted to order. With a youthful, informal vibe, it’s the kind of upbeat café that turns a quick snack into a design‑minded ritual. Whether you’re grabbing a convenient combo or savouring singular bites, Rørt delivers craft, conscience and a playful twist on Danish tradition – ideal for Nordic travellers seeking both authenticity and innovation.

Rørt Frederiksberg
Frederiksberg Allé 41b
Copenhagen
Denmark

Photography courtesy of Rørt Frederiksberg

4/3

Ponti
Stockholm, Sweden

At first glance, Ponti could pass for just another polished newcomer near Nytorget – but that would miss the point entirely. This Italian-American bistro from the French Express group (Schmaltz, Tengu and Babette) trades nostalgia for attitude, pulling more from L.A. than Liguria. The menu plays it straight – crudo with tomato and lovage, confit duck with pancetta and pearl onions – but with just enough swagger to keep things interesting. The pizzas are sharp-edged and well-balanced (see: ’nduja, gorgonzola, fennel and honey), the zeppole land exactly where you want them, and the small bar begs for a negroni before or after.

Ponti
Nytorget 13D
Stockholm
Sweden

Photography courtesy of Ponti

February

23/2

Matsalen
Stockholm, Sweden

Matsalen, the fine dining establishment within recently opened Stockholm Stadshotell, offers a culinary experience led by Executive Chef Olle T. Cellton. Matsalen presents a daily changing menu focused on seasonal, locally sourced ingredients. The interior design, by Ateljé Nord, Saga Arkitektur & Design and Studio Escapist, reflects the building’s 19th-century heritage while incorporating contemporary elegance. Original architectural details are preserved, complemented by bespoke furnishings and a muted colour palette that enhances the dining atmosphere

Matsalen
Björngårdsgatan 23
Stockholm
Sweden

Photography courtesy of Stockholm stadshotell

22/2

Ygbergs
Stockholm, Sweden

It’s a bit of a trek – Ålstensgatan isn’t exactly central – but that’s part of Ygbergs charm. Set in a quiet corner of Bromma, this modern neighbourhood bistro brings together the right mix of casual and ambitious. Sofia Gustafson (ex-PS Matsal), together with Fabian Cervin and Sebastian Johannisson, wanted a place locals could eat at every night. The result: a menu that’s classic without being dull, with seasonal sourcing, a rotating daily special and dishes like fried quail legs, handmade meatballs and the soon-to-be-signature Biff Ygberg. Architect Mattias Pontén handled the warm, pared-back interiors. Come for a Sunday roast with the family – or just drop in for a glass and a snack. The door is, quite literally, always open.

Ygbergs
Ålstensgatan 15
Bromma
Sweden

Photography courtesy of Ygbergs

7/2

Bastardo
Stockholm, Sweden

Set in the historic Clas på Hörnet hotel, Bastardo isn’t your typical trattoria. The name nods to its origins – three Swedes reworking Italian food their own way – and that irreverence runs through the menu. Here, rigatoni amatriciana comes with house-made guanciale, and gnocchi are tossed with spruce tips and browned butter. It’s indulgent, offbeat and surprisingly refined. Jesper Skemark, Daniel Gunneriusson and Joakim Mering Andersson are behind it all, balancing serious cooking with a wink. Plates are built to share, the pastas hold their own, and the desserts – like laurel ice cream with apple and almond cake – are reason enough to come. Call it a mutt if you want. We call it delicious.

Bastardo
Surbrunnsgatan 20
Stockholm
Sweden

Photography courtesy of Bastardo

6/2

Akme
Copenhagen, Denmark

Akmē brings a fresh perspective to Copenhagen’s dining scene with its innovative French-Japanese fusion cuisine. Led by chefs Emil Hassan Lyngbæk and Valdemar Junge Norvang, both alumni of esteemed establishments, the restaurant offers an intriguing blend of culinary traditions. The interior design reflects the minimalist elegance characteristic of both French and Japanese aesthetics. The menu showcases dishes that seamlessly merge the two influences, including a delicate miso-infused bouillabaisse, highlighting the depth and balance of flavours. Akmē continues to push boundaries, offering a dining experience that embraces both precision and creativity.

Akmē
Sandkaj 39
Copenhagen
Denmark

Photography courtesy of Akmē

2/2

Kersh
Stockholm, Sweden

Kersh has brought new life to an old tobacco shop on Götgatan, turning it into a café where the focus is firmly on the essentials – good coffee, thoughtful food and a space that feels lived-in from day one. Behind it are Aadel Kersh and Storken, both familiar names in Södermalm. The menu leans into mellanmål – Sweden’s in-between meals – offering satisfying bites that suit both slow mornings and late afternoons. There’s no fanfare, just filter coffee brewed with care and a warm room designed for reading, talking or sitting still. It’s a café that doesn’t ask much, and gives plenty.

Kersh
Götgatan 29
Stockholm
Sweden

Photography courtesy of Kersch

January

20/1

Fabriken by Pontus Frithiof
Stockholm, Sweden

Fabriken by Pontus Frithiof is set to become Nacka Strand’s new culinary destination. This modern restaurant will offer breakfast, lunch, freshly baked bread and delicacies in a relaxed and trendy environment. Designed in collaboration with interior architects Whyte Lilja, the space combines the area’s industrial heritage with a contemporary touch, featuring raw, industrial charm and beautiful brick buildings. The venue includes a generous dining area, a private chambre séparée, an orangery, a bakery and a deli. A spacious outdoor terrace is planned for summer.

Fabriken by Pontus Frithiof
Cylindervägen 11 16B
Stockholm
Sweden

Photography courtesy of Fabriken by Pontus Frithiof

16/1

Bar Othilia
Stockholm, Sweden

One of the most exciting openings on Stockholm’s bar scene this year – and it’s not even trying hard. Bar Othilia, Operakällaren’s velvet-gloved spin-off, is where elegance shrugs off the rules. The team from A Bar Called Gemma is behind the bar, with award-winning mixologist Johan Evers leading the charge. Cocktails are sharp and understated, like the namesake Othilia – a bright, sour and refreshing mix of Thomas Dakin Gin, Pisco Waqar, Sauvignon Blanc, green tea and gooseberry. Just a handful of tables, most walk-ins, and no reservation needed. Add wines from Nobiskällaren’s cellar and guest appearances by top international bartenders, and you’ve got Stockholm’s most assured new night spot.

Bar Othilia
Karl XII:s torg 3
Stockholm
Sweden

Photography courtesy of Bar Othilia

9/1

Flor Matbar
Stockholm, Sweden

Flor Matbar gets away with more than most places would dare – oysters in XO sauce, passionfruit on octopus carpaccio, a hamachi ceviche that arrives laced with mango and hot sauce. It shouldn’t work, but it does. It’s equal parts bar, bistro and living room, with a menu that wanders freely across borders without asking permission. Come alone and eat at the bar, or bring someone and order too much – Kalix roe, lamb loin, cod in lobster velouté. The wine list leans easy-drinking, the lighting flatters everyone, and the vibe says: stay. Not polished, just exactly what you want on a Wednesday night.

Flor Matbar
Surbrunnsgatan 38
Stockholm
Sweden

Photography courtesy of Flor Matbar

7/1

Typ
Stockholm, Sweden

Inside the DN-skrapan – Stockholm’s iconic high-rise built in the 1960s to house Dagens Nyheter, Sweden’s largest daily newspaper – Typ brings new life to a space once filled with headlines and printing presses. Now part restaurant, part canteen, part deli, it caters to everything from early breakfasts to private evening events. Mornings start with coffee and warm pastries from the deli, while lunch sees a steady stream of guests choosing between the daily specials or à la carte plates like raw beef with chili vinaigrette or trout with beurre blanc and roe. By night, the mood shifts – dinners, tastings, even culinary pentathlons. A place built for news now makes room for something tastier.

Typ
Gjörwellsgatan 30
Stockholm
Sweden

Photography courtesy of Typ

7/1

Bistro Bestick
Stockholm, Sweden

After a decade on Bryggargatan, Bistro Bestick has crossed the bridge – literally – to open its second location in Gamla Stan. Set on Skeppsbron with views of the water and the old city’s winding streets, this family-run spot balances the warmth of a neighbourhood bistro with the precision of fine dining. Chef Björn Fischer, formerly of Stadshuskällaren, keeps the menu grounded in Swedish classics – hand-rolled meatballs with pressed cucumber, dry-aged sirloin with bone marrow crust – while weaving in modern touches like trout tartare with shiso emulsion or thyme-roasted chicken with black cabbage and parmesan. The room is calm, the staff confident, and the feeling? Like you’ve always had a table here.