An open fire is the focus at the Michelin-starred Ekstedt. It’s owner, celebrity chef Niklas Ekstedt, has revitalised traditional Scandinavian culinary techniques, taking inspiration from the slow-cooked meals of his childhood living in a tiny mountain village in northern Sweden. The result is some of the most exclusive New Nordic cuisine in the Swedish capital, all cooked without gas, electricity or microwaves. Ekstedt’s a haven for Scandi design fans too, with compact wooden tables, exposed tungsten lights dangling from a mesh ceiling and a rustic stone bar. Recently hyped dishes include birch-fired wild duck served with fennel and lovage, and hay-flamed mushrooms with sweetbread and Jerusalem artichoke. Given that a basic burger can cost upwards of 200 SEK ($10) in Stockholm, the four and six course menus here, priced at 890 and 1090 SEK respectively, do give you plenty of quality bang for your buck.
Time Out tip: Ekstedt is perfectly placed in the middle of the buzzing Stureplan neighbourhood, if you’re after an aperitif before your meal. We suggest going fully-French and grabbing a glass of champagne at Grand Escalier (inside the fancy Sturegallerian mall) which has a year-round open courtyard.