Restaurants During Christmas and New Year's 2013

Over the next two weeks, I will be doing a series of articles detailing which days restaurants, museums, shops and church services are open/closed during the holiday season to help you plan your visit in Stockholm. First up... restaurants!

Chefs at F12 (photo by Wolfgang Kleinschmidt)

Restaurants are a little tricky this time of year. Some restaurants are open every evening, others are just closed on the major holidays while others may be closed for up to three weeks. Christmas Eve (December 24th) is the hardest! Almost all restaurants are closed with the exception of hotel restaurants (like the Rival Bistro) and a scattered few others in Gamla Stan and on Djurgården. Christmas Day is also a bit difficult... though better than the previous day as more restaurants are open for business. Some restaurants may even be closed on Boxing Day (Dec. 26th). Around New Year's you have similar problems: on the 31st many restaurants are closed and the ones that are open generally serve a traditional multiple course set menu, called nyårssupé, and nothing else. There are a select few restaurants that are open and just serve from their regular menu. If you are staying at the Rival Hotel, contact me directly for help in reserving tables. And don't wait too long... restaurants tend to fill up (especially on New Year's Eve)! January 1st will find many restaurants closed for business as both staff and patrons are generally hiding under the covers, resting up!

Chef's Table at the Rival Bistro.

As I mentioned earlier... some restaurants close for 2-3 weeks during the holidays. Sadly, for foodies and gourmands, these are generally Michelin star and other high end restaurants. Here is a list of some of the restaurants that are closed for a longer period of time this holiday season:

• Mathias Dahlgren(Matsalen & Matbaren)- closed from December 22nd through January 6th. 
• Frantzén- closed from December 22nd through January 6th. 
• F12- closed from December 22nd through January 12th (open New Year's Eve).
• Gastrologik- closed from December 22nd through January 6th.
• Oaxen Krog & Slip- closed from December 22nd through January 8th.
• Ekstedts- closed from December 22nd through January 8th, with the exception of Dec 26, 27 & 28.
• Esperanto- closed from December 22nd through January 9th.
• Lux Day by Day- closed from December 23rd through January 2nd. 
• Djuret- closed from December 22nd through January 2nd.
• B.A.R.- closed from December 22nd through January 1st. 
• Wedholm's Fisk- closed from December 23rd through January 6th. 
• GQ- closed from December 23rd through January 7th.
• Jonas- closed December 22nd through January 6th (open New Year's Eve). their Food & Wine Bar is open on Dec 27th & 28th as well as Jan 3rd & 4th.
• Himlen- closed from December 22nd through January 8th (open on New Year's Eve).
• Kryp In- closed from December 23rd through January 7th. 
• Pubologi- closed from December 22nd through January 2nd.
• Sjögräs- closed from December 22nd through January 7th. 
• Östermalm's Saluhall (indoor food market and popular place for lunch- no dinner)- closed on December 24th, 25th, 26th and 29th as well as January 1st. 

I have actually compiled a list of 90 Stockholm restaurants and which days they are closed/open during the holidays. So, if you are staying at the Rival Hotel (lucky you!), contact me and I will help you find restaurants for your stay. And I would, of course, be remiss in not mentioning that the Rival Bistro is open every evening... year round!

Esperanto.