Stockholm sits on the water — a whole archipelago of it — so it would be strange if the city couldn’t do seafood, and it does it beautifully, from a 15 SEK-a-bite oyster to a 2,400 SEK tasting menu. I’ve eaten my way through a lot of it, and this is the shortlist I actually send friends. For the wider picture of eating out in the city, start with our Stockholm food and restaurants hub; this guide zooms in on the fish.
What are the best seafood restaurants in Stockholm? For a first-timer, Sturehof (a grand 1897 brasserie) and Wedholms Fisk (the classic fish house) are the safe, brilliant bets. For a splurge, Aira on Djurgården holds a Michelin star for archipelago seafood. For value, the fish counters at Östermalms Saluhall and Hötorgshallen serve shrimp sandwiches and fish soup for a fraction of the price.
Stockholm’s best seafood restaurants at a glance
Here’s the quick reference — prices are per person for a main unless noted, and they drift, so confirm before you book.
| Restaurant | Style | Signature | Rough price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sturehof (Stureplan 2) | 1897 brasserie | Toast Skagen, seafood platter | 245–545 SEK |
| Wedholms Fisk (Nybrokajen 17) | Heritage fish house | Sole meunière, monkfish | 395–695 SEK |
| B.A.R (Blasieholmstorg 14) | Modern seafood | Shellfish program | 295–595 SEK |
| Aira (Djurgården) | 1 Michelin star | Archipelago tasting | ~2,400 SEK tasting |
| Lisa Elmqvist (Östermalms Saluhall) | Heritage fish counter | Räksmörgås | 145–325 SEK |
| Kajsas Fisk (Hötorgshallen) | Lunch counter | Fish soup | 125–195 SEK |
| Operakällaren | Heritage smörgåsbord | Herring spread | 545–895 SEK |
| Mälarpaviljongen | Summer waterfront | Casual shellfish | Mid-range (seasonal) |
Heritage Stockholm seafood restaurants
These are the white-tablecloth classics, the places that have been serving the city’s fish for generations. If you want the “proper Stockholm” seafood dinner, this is the section.
Wedholms Fisk
This is the grand old fish house, on Nybrokajen by the water, and it’s where I’d go for a special-occasion fish dinner done the classical French-Swedish way. Think sole meunière and beautifully handled monkfish, a hushed dining room and a Stockholm-elite clientele. Mains land at 395–695 SEK. It earns the money.
Sturehof
My most-recommended seafood spot in the city, full stop. It’s a sprawling 1897 brasserie right on Stureplan, open all day, and you can walk in for a plate of oysters or commit to a towering seafood platter (skaldjursplatå). The Toast Skagen here is a Stockholm lunch institution — a mound of dill-and-mayo shrimp with bleak roe on toast. Expect 245–545 SEK, and it’s as good for a solo bar meal as a group dinner.
Operakällaren smörgåsbord
An institution since 1787. The draw is the smörgåsbord: a full herring spread of five-plus varieties, gravlax, smoked salmon and shellfish, worked through in the traditional order. At 545–895 SEK it’s a splurge, but it’s the single best way to taste the range of Swedish herring in one sitting. Book ahead and go hungry.
Verandan at Grand Hôtel
The other heritage smörgåsbord, with an archipelago-leaning seafood selection and a knockout view across to the Royal Palace. It’s the one I’d choose for a special-occasion weekend brunch when the view matters as much as the plate.
Modern Swedish seafood
Aira
Out on Djurgården, Aira holds one Michelin star and builds its tasting menu around Stockholm-archipelago fish and shellfish with New Nordic technique. At roughly 2,400 SEK it’s a real occasion, but you get the food and a waterside setting in one hit. This is the pick for foodies who want a memory, not just a meal — and it pairs naturally with a day exploring Stockholm’s wider restaurant scene.
B.A.R
On Blasieholmstorg, B.A.R does modern seafood with a serious shellfish program and classical technique underneath the New Nordic gloss. Mains run 295–595 SEK. It’s the smart middle path — a genuinely modern Swedish seafood meal without the full Michelin commitment or price tag.
Mälarpaviljongen
Come summer, this floating, flower-filled waterfront spot on Lake Mälaren is one of the loveliest places to eat in the city. It’s open seasonally, roughly May to September, with mid-range prices and a relaxed, casual-shellfish menu. Go for a long, slow lunch in the sun.
Casual and counter-service seafood
You do not need to spend 600 SEK to eat well here. Some of my favourite fish in Stockholm comes from a market counter with a stool in front of it.
Lisa Elmqvist
The heritage fish counter inside Östermalms Saluhall, family-run since 1950, and the benchmark for räksmörgås — the open-faced shrimp sandwich. A generous one runs about 145–225 SEK, and you can also grab a platter at the counter or buy fish to take away. It’s a Stockholm rite of passage.
Kajsas Fisk
Tucked in Hötorgshallen, this is the locals’ cheap-and-cheerful pick: fish soup (with a refill of the pot, traditionally), fried fish and herring plates for 125–195 SEK. It’s one of the best-value hot lunches in the centre, and it’s a natural addition to a cheap eats in Stockholm crawl.
Bakfickan
The “back pocket” of the Royal Opera — a tiny horseshoe-bar restaurant serving classic Swedish plates including herring and fish dishes around 145–195 SEK. Great for a solo meal at the counter before or after a show.
Oyster and shellfish bars
Stockholm takes its oysters seriously. Expect around 35–65 SEK each, more for premium varieties like Belon or Gillardeau.
- Sturehof oyster bar — A walk-in counter at Stureplan with a daily oyster selection and that easy Stockholm-classic buzz. My default.
- Riche (Birger Jarlsgatan 4) — A strong oyster program and shellfish small plates; the place for late-afternoon oysters and a glass of something cold. Mains 245–495 SEK if you stay for dinner.
- Östermalms Saluhall counters — Several vendors shuck fresh oysters and shellfish; the Lisa Elmqvist counter is the heritage option.
Stockholm seafood specialties worth ordering
Räksmörgås
The open-faced shrimp sandwich: a small mountain of hand-peeled shrimp on dark rye with egg, mayonnaise, lemon and dill. Lisa Elmqvist sets the standard.
Toast Skagen
Chopped shrimp tossed with mayonnaise, dill, lemon and a little red onion on toasted bread, crowned with bleak roe (löjrom). Sturehof and Riche are the addresses.
Sill (pickled herring)
Comes in a rainbow of cures — mustard, dill, onion, sherry, the clear “glasmästarsill.” Best sampled across a smörgåsbord at Operakällaren or Verandan, or at an Östermalms Saluhall counter.
Gravlax
Salt-and-sugar cured salmon with a sweet dill-mustard sauce (hovmästarsås). Operakällaren and Sturehof both do excellent versions. It’s also a fixture of a good Stockholm brunch spread.
Kräftor (crayfish)
August brings the kräftskiva — boiled dill crayfish, schnapps and slightly silly drinking songs. Some restaurants run crayfish-party nights in late summer; worth timing a trip around if you can.
Surströmming
Fermented Baltic herring, and a genuinely acquired taste — the smell is infamous. It surfaces in late August and September at adventurous spots like the Viking-themed Aifur Krog. Order it as a dare, not a main.
Which Stockholm seafood restaurant is right for you?
First-time visitors
Sturehof for the full Stockholm-classic experience (Toast Skagen, platter, oyster bar) or Wedholms Fisk for the heritage fish house.
Couples
Aira for a Michelin dinner with an archipelago view, Wedholms Fisk for old-world romance, or Mälarpaviljongen for a summer waterfront table.
Foodies
Aira (one star), Frantzén (Stockholm’s three-star, with strong seafood courses), and B.A.R for modern seafood without the full commitment.
Budget-conscious
Lisa Elmqvist’s räksmörgås (145–225 SEK), Kajsas Fisk lunch (125–195 SEK), or Bakfickan herring plates. Market counters are the value play.
Solo travellers
Counter seats at Östermalms Saluhall (Lisa Elmqvist or Husman), the Sturehof bar, or the Riche bar — all easy and welcoming to eat at alone.
What Stockholm seafood costs
- Counter-service seafood: 125–225 SEK at Östermalms Saluhall and Hötorgshallen.
- Casual sit-down: 245–395 SEK mains at Sturehof, Riche, Bakfickan.
- Heritage fine dining: 395–695 SEK mains at Wedholms Fisk and B.A.R.
- Smörgåsbord: 545–895 SEK at Operakällaren and Verandan.
- Michelin tasting: around 2,400 SEK at Aira.
- Oysters: 35–65 SEK each at most bars.
- Seafood platters: 595–895 SEK for two at Sturehof.
None of it is cheap by international standards — Stockholm rarely is — but the market counters and lunch specials keep excellent fish within reach on any budget.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best seafood restaurant in Stockholm?
For accessible classic seafood, Sturehof at Stureplan is my top pick — the Toast Skagen and seafood platter are Stockholm institutions. Wedholms Fisk is the heritage fish house for a special occasion, and Aira on Djurgården is the one-Michelin-star choice for archipelago seafood. Any of the three will do the city proud.
Where can I get the best räksmörgås in Stockholm?
Lisa Elmqvist at Östermalms Saluhall sets the benchmark. It’s a fish counter that’s been family-run since 1950, and the open-faced shrimp sandwich is piled high with hand-peeled shrimp on dark rye. Expect around 145–225 SEK. Eat it at the counter for the full market experience.
Where is the best Toast Skagen in Stockholm?
Sturehof (Stureplan, since 1897) and Riche (Birger Jarlsgatan) are the two benchmarks. Toast Skagen is chopped shrimp in a dill-and-mayo dressing on toast, topped with bleak roe. Both do a definitive version, and both let you order it at the bar with a glass of wine.
Where can I try Swedish herring in Stockholm?
A traditional smörgåsbord is the best way. Operakällaren serves five-plus herring varieties as part of its heritage spread, Verandan at the Grand Hôtel is the elegant alternative with a Royal Palace view, and the counters at Östermalms Saluhall let you taste a flight without a full sit-down meal.
How much do oysters cost in Stockholm?
Around 35–65 SEK each at most oyster bars, so a half-dozen runs roughly 195–395 SEK depending on the selection. Premium French varieties like Belon and Gillardeau cost more. Sturehof’s walk-in oyster bar and Riche are the reliable spots. Prices shift, so check the day’s list.
Where do locals eat seafood in Stockholm?
Sturehof for a classic, Wedholms Fisk for heritage, the Lisa Elmqvist counter at Saluhallen for a quick fix, Riche for oysters, and Mälarpaviljongen on a summer afternoon. Locals mix the grand dining rooms with the market counters depending on the occasion and the budget — and so should you.
Are Stockholm seafood restaurants expensive?
The top end is, yes. A heritage fish-house dinner at Wedholms Fisk runs 600–900 SEK a head, the Aira tasting menu is around 2,400 SEK, and a smörgåsbord is 545–895 SEK. But the counter-service options — Lisa Elmqvist and Kajsas Fisk at 125–225 SEK — deliver excellent seafood for far less. Confirm current prices when you go.
