Stockholm Restaurants in the Michelin Guide 2017

Press image from Michelin.

(EDIT: this is the guide from 2017, to see the latest guide... click here!) It was a mix bag when the Michelin Nordic Guide 2017 was announced the other day... both happy and sad news for Stockholm. The sad news was expected as two of Stockholm 2 star restaurants have closed in the past few months: Mathias Dahlgren Matsalen and Frantzén. But it isn't completely gloomy! Mathias Dahlgren has just opened a new restaurant in the same locale that Matsalen was located called Rutabaga. With Rutabaga, Dahlgren has decided to focus on haute vegetarian cuisine. Interesting and we shall see if Rutabaga will get its own star in the future. Dahlgren still has his other one star restaurant: Matbaren (same entrance as Rutabaga). Frantzén is also not closed for good. They are just relocating to a new location later this year. More information soon! But, in accordance with Michelin rules, Frantzén and Dahlgren will have to earn their stars anew (stars aren't transferrable when a restaurant changes locations or concepts).

Building that houses star restaurants Imouto and Esperanto, as well
as Shibumi and Råkultur.

The happy news is that another Stockholm restaurant gained its first star in this year's guide: Imouto. Imouto is very exclusive... just a chef's table with nine seats where they serve sushi "omakase style", where you put yourself in the chef's hands (though they, of course, accommodate allergies and dietary restrictions when informed in advance). Head Chef Sayan Isaksson is a very successful chef, running the Michelin star restaurant Esperanto (named best restaurant in Sweden by the White Guide several times), the restaurants Shibumi and Råkultur as well as being the creative genius behind the Nobel Prize banquet for the past few years. It is important to note that all four of his restaurants are in the same building. Congratulations on the star! And here is 2017's list:

2 stars ("excellent cooking, worth a detour")

• Oaxen Krog

1 star ("a very good restaurant in its category")

• Imouto
• Esperanto
• Mathias Dahlgren Matbaren
• Sushi Sho
• Volt
• Operakällaren
• Ekstedt
• Gastrologik

Volt!

Besides the star system, the Michelin Guide has another category called Bib Gourmand which is "exceptional good food and moderate prices". In other words, it won't empty your wallet. Here are Stockholm's Bib Gourmand restaurants:

• Brasserie Bobonne
• Den Gyldene Freden
• EAT
• Lilla Ego
• Nook
• Oaxen Slip
• Proviant
• Rolf's Kök
• Ulla Winbladh

Please keep in mind that the Michelin star restaurants usually need to be booked a few weeks in advance and often guaranteed with a credit card. If I had a dollar for every guest who has come to me on a Friday late afternoon and asked me for help in booking a table at a star restaurant for the same evening (only to be disappointed), I would be a rich man! If you are staying at the Rival Hotel, please contact me ahead of your visit for any assistance in booking a table. Of course, the Michelin guide isn't the end-all of restaurants guides and recommendations. There are plenty of other great restaurants in the city as well as other excellent guides.