Culinary

TOSTO: A Quiet Treasure on Sturegatan text Jahwanna Berglund Some places greet you like an old friend, even on your very first visit. Tosto, discreetly located behind Sperling and Co on Sturegatan 6, is one of them. Max Duhs has crafted a space that does not need to raise its voice. Instead it welcomes you with openness, quiet intention and a sense of care woven into every detail. It feels personal because, in many ways, it is like discovering a secret that was always meant to find you. The art collection is the first impression. It is curated with the intimacy of a private home but positioned with the confidence of a gallery. Nothing feels decorative. Everything feels chosen. It creates an atmosphere that mirrors the entire concept: personal, warm and quietly ambitious. Tosto stands with one foot in Italy through ingredients and instinct, and the other reaching confidently into new worlds. The balance is seamless and it makes the dining experience feel alive with intention. Some highlights from the menu The octopus salad stood out from the start. Tender octopus, lemon mayo, pecorino and sesame seeds formed a bright and addictive combination that left a clear impression of what they are doing here at Tosto. This was followed by brisket al brodo with fava beans and gremolata, generous in flavour and impossible not to resist. It tasted like something a nonna would serve at home, cooked with love. Agnolotti with mushroom veloute brought comfort and elegance in a single bite, silky, earthy, deep and beautifully balanced. Short rib and oxtail lasagna became the kind of dish that quietly takes over the table. Rich, layered and soulful, it tasted like hours of patience and intention. Many more dishes filled the table, each thoughtful in its own way, but these were the ones that defined the experience for me. This is a place made for sharing, where ordering a little of everything feels natural and gives you the best of all worlds. images courtesy of Tosto / Stureplansgruppen Desserts Pannacotta with cherry granita Kalamansi sorbet Pancake cake Tiramisu All desserts felt playful and refreshing, each in its own personality. The kalamansi sorbet was a perfect palate cleanser while the pancake tiramisu was a joyful finale that made the table fall silent for a moment. Tosto delivers something new to the dining experience. A place that feels both new and familiar, confident but never loud, personal yet refined. A fantastic experience from start to finish. www.tosto.nu

Trattoria Giorgio’s Brings 1960s Italy to Stockholm “Stockholm is a market with high expectations, and our goal is to create restaurants where the experience feels authentic from the first moment,” says Brazer Bozlak, founder and CEO of Urban Italian Group. “Giorgio’s is our interpretation of the Italian neighbourhood trattoria – a place where the details speak for themselves and the atmosphere is shaped by the food and the energy around the tables.” Trattoria Giorgio’s has now opened its doors, introducing Stockholm to a warm and stylish tribute to the trattorias of 1960s Italy. The interior welcomes guests with deep wood tones, marble, velvet sofas and warm lighting, a nostalgic nod to Milan in the 1960s. Ceiling murals by artist Elin PK add a touch of colour and playfulness. An open kitchen runs through the restaurant, making the cooking part of the experience, just as it is in Italy’s traditional trattorias. Giorgio’s serves comforting Italian classics with a contemporary twist. Among the highlights are Carpaccio Royale, Agnello Cremoso, Hummer Dreaming or Carbonara al Limone. Desserts stay true to the trattoria spirit while adding a playful edge. Guests can indulge in the pistachio-filled Green Mamba with profiteroles, or the fresh and zesty Limonamisu, a citrus reinterpretation of tiramisu. Behind the launch is Urban Italian Group, the team also known for Basta and Florentine, now reinforcing its position as Scandinavia’s leading player in modern Italian dining with its fifteenth restaurant. “We want to create dishes that people recognise and still feel surprised by,” says Kristjan Longar, co-owner of Urban Italian Group. “Italian cuisine has such a strong foundation; our job is to give it new life without losing what makes it so loved.”

Studio Canteen – a new concept by Marion Ringborg Written by Natalia Muntean Photo by Anna Eriksson After years of influencing Stockholm’s dining scene, from co-founding Garba to running Studio Marion, chef and entrepreneur Marion Ringborg is returning with a new concept centred on daytime dining. “I’ve felt for a long time that Stockholm needed places where lunch isn’t just functional,” she says. “I want to offer something that treats your day a little bit.” On 28 November, Ringborg opens the doors to Studio Canteen, her new café and lunch restaurant in the heart of Stockholm. The space, which she describes as “a living room you actually want to spend the day in,” blends well-cooked food, pastries and house-made drinks with an atmosphere that feels warm and personal to Marion. The menu is built on the flavours that define Ringborg’s cooking: a blend between British comfort and Italian simplicity, with other influences woven throughout. Expect dishes inspired by classic British cooking, like savoury pies, alongside fresh pasta and salads. “We love to work with capers and parmesan and lemon and olive oil – that will be the base,” she says. The menu will always offer a few staple dishes, together with a weekly special that shifts with the seasons. As in all her projects, Ringborg brings a personal layer. “My mum is from Gambia, and that’s the food I’ve been eating my whole life, so of course it will be fun to get that in too,” she says. Her favourite dish? Jollof rice. And the flavour she always returns to? “Jasmine.” Pastries are central to Studio Canteen’s identity – simple, flavour-led and comforting. Think polenta cake with jasmine cream, tiramisu and chocolate-forward desserts made with natural ingredients and intuitive combinations. “I’m not a pastry chef, I just really love flavours,” she says. “Pastry for me has been very much learn-by-doing.” The drinks menu is equally thoughtful. Alongside coffee, tea and matcha, Studio Canteen offers its own house-made shrubs – bright, fruit-and-vinegar-based drinks in flavours like kimchi soda, rose & hibiscus, and saffron & sea buckthorn. The idea grew out of Ringborg’s pregnancies and her desire for something flavourful and alcohol-free during the day. “I wanted a grown-up drink that’s really nice but works during the day – that’s how I started making shrubs,” she says. Studio Canteen extends the creative spirit of Studio Marion, but this time the expression is softer, lighter and more intimate. Ringborg has designed the entire interior herself, filling the space with second-hand pine furniture, natural fabrics and mismatched vintage chairs handpicked in antique stores. “The interior is very personal. I’ve chosen second-hand furniture, light wood, fabrics… everything is picked by me because I want the space to feel like a home.” Beyond the café area lies a large event space, able to host around 100 people. It’s intentionally kept clean and adaptable, ready for art exhibitions, fashion events, private dinners or creative gatherings. “I’ve been doing events for years, but always in other places,” Ringborg says. “I wanted a home base where I could host bigger events and fully shape the atmosphere myself.” Studio Canteen is open Monday to Saturday, 10–17, with a dedicated Saturday brunch featuring a set menu and signature drinks. Everything is available for takeaway, and businesses nearby can pre-order lunches and fika. As Ringborg puts it, “If someone walks out feeling lighter, or inspired, or just a little happier than when they came in, that’s success to me.”  Photo by Patric Johansson

Inside NOFO Hotel: Södermalm’s Hidden Gem With the Ultimate “Key to Söder” Guide text Ulrika Lindqvist In the heart of Södermalm, NOFO Hotel pairs boutique charm with thoughtful experiences, including the curated “Key to Söder,” giving guests a deeper, more personal way to explore the neighbourhood. Our Experience Sometimes you get the perfect first impression of a place and with NOFO, that’s exactly what happened. A few years ago, just before Christmas, my partner and I were wandering through Södermalm in a snowstorm. We had been at an event and were desperate to escape the weather and find a glass of wine. That’s when we stumbled into what might be Stockholm’s coziest courtyard. We stepped inside and ended up having the most wonderful evening in the wine bar, surrounded by Christmas trees and holiday cocktails. Since then, we’ve returned several times, but this was our first actual stay at the hotel. photos courtesy of NOFO  Background NOFO stands for North of Folkungagatan, the neighbourhood in Södermalm where the hotel is located. The hotel has 109 rooms, each styled according to different themes: Södermalm, Scandinavian, Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, Upper East Side, Carnaby Street, SOHO, Trastevere, and La Belle Époque. Every room is uniquely designed, and we learned that many regulars have a favorite style they always book. We stayed in an Upper East Side–inspired room, and it instantly became a favorite we could happily return to again and again. With its skylights paired with small windows facing different directions, a soft bed, elegant design choices, and an incredible bathroom, we felt like we were tucked away above the everyday world,  up in our own little tower. The building was constructed by Lorenz Silfvert in 1780 and originally served as a brewery. Over the years it has also functioned as a hospital and emergency housing. Roughly 200 years later, Columbus Hotel opened in the space in 1976, eventually passing the keys to NOFO in 2015. Key to Söder You’ll hardly want to leave the hotel, the lovely rooms, the restaurant, and the wine bar make it tempting to stay put. But if you do decide to venture out, NOFO has created its own curated guide to the neighborhood “Key to Söder”.  The idea is to make it easier for guests to discover authentic local experiences without the guesswork that usually comes with exploring a new city. The service is complimentary for hotel guests and offers a carefully curated selection of spots. Guests can either browse the list themselves or ask the hotel team to arrange everything from café visits to dinner reservations at places that truly embody Södermalm. We at Odalisque have our office on Södermalm, and many of our favorite spots are included, like Mormors Dumplings and Krumel.  Gems that aren’t always easy for tourists to find. From one local to another: chef’s kiss! Speaking of chef’s kiss, we got to try the Key to Söder service when NOFO booked a table for us at the iconic  restaurant Gondolen. We had an unforgettable evening, walking through the October rain from NOFO to Gondolen (thank you, NOFO, for lending us umbrellas!) before settling in to enjoy the view over Stockholm, Gondolen’s Pithivier, and flawless service. We then walked back to the hotel and ended the night with a movie in our room, a perfect ending to a perfect evening. About the Hotel NOFO has 109 rooms, each designed in a unique style inspired by destinations around the world. The hotel is centrally located in Södermalm, Stockholm. Room categories include suites, junior suites, executive rooms, superior double rooms, standard double rooms, tiny double rooms, and single rooms. NOFO also features a restaurant and a wine bar that we highly recommend.

Sally’s – Where Stockholm Meets the Spirit of 70s New York text Jahwanna Berglund  There are cocktail bars that open quietly, and then there are cocktail bars that arrive with the confidence of someone who’s lived several lives already. Sally’s at Sheraton Stockholm is the latter. It sits there on the entrance floor, glowing softly like a whispered secret yet carrying the swagger of New York in the late 70s. Sally’s feels like stepping into a story that began long before Stockholm ever claimed it. The bar takes its name from the legendary Sally Lippman, the silver-haired disco queen who danced her way through Studio 54 well into her seventies. She was a regular at the original Sally’s at Sheraton New York, a woman who refused to let age, convention, or expectation dim her shine. The new Sally’s channels that same spirit to a place where glamour doesn’t have to try hard, where fun is a philosophy, not a theme. The man bringing this world to Stockholm is Bobby Hiddleston, a bartender whose résumé reads like a world tour of the most iconic cocktail rooms on the planet. Milk & Honey in London, The Dead Rabbit in New York, a life spent behind bars that defined eras. Now he’s here, in Stockholm of all places, ready to write a new chapter alongside Head Bartender Niklas Forslin (fresh off stints at Tjoget and Hongkong’s Red Sugar). But Sally’s isn’t nostalgic. It’s referential, the difference between copying a memory and reimagining a feeling. photo courtesy of Sally’s A Disco Era Filtered Through Stockholm Cool Sheraton Stockholm itself carries decades of stories: Axl Rose destroying hotel rooms, Stevie Wonder sliding into the lobby to play the piano. Moments that linger in the walls like perfume. Hiddleston leans into that legacy, not to replicate the past but to fold it into something fresh, something fun. The bar design, created by ADC Atelier (yes, behind multiple Soho House concepts), isn’t kitschy; it’s quietly cinematic. A hint of Studio 54, a touch of old-school hotel glamour, softened by Scandinavian light and Bobby’s insistence that “comfortable & fun” should be more than a slogan. The Drinks: Classic, Clever, and a Little Bit Cheeky Sally’s doesn’t try to reinvent the cocktail. It refines the pleasure of drinking one. The menu reads like a love letter to the canon: Gimlet Freezer Martini Toronto White Russian, completed with a burned marshmallow like a wink across the bar And then there’s the signature Disco Sally’s, a bright, optimistic mix of tequila, apricot and Cocchi Americano. It tastes like someone bottling a flash of a disco strobe: familiar, a bit decadent, and impossible not to smile at. Niklas brings speed, precision, and a kind of joyful seriousness to the drinks, Hongkong tempo meets Stockholm craft. Why Sally’s Feels Like Something Stockholm Needed Stockholm has incredible cocktail bars, but Sally’s brings something different: A sense of narrative. A sense of place. A sense of play. It feels international without being anonymous, retro without being a costume, luxurious without losing warmth. It captures a sliver of the 70s, a whisper of New York, and mixes it with the particular calm confidence of Scandinavian hospitality. It’s the kind of bar where you go for “just one” and suddenly find yourself two hours later debating whether to try the Freezer Martini or have another Disco Sally’s, because time doesn’t move the same way here. And maybe that is the true magic of Sally’s: It’s not trying to be the coolest place in Stockholm. It’s trying to be the most alive.

A Night at Black Milk – Stockholm’s Most Theatrical Omakase text Jahwanna Berglund images courtesy of Black Milk There are meals, and then there are experiences. Black Milk Gastro Bar is unmistakably the latter. Tucked away in Stockholm, yet worlds apart from the polished sameness of the city’s fine dining scene, Black Milk doesn’t just serve food, they perform it. With the poetic tagline “taste lives in the beholder,” the evening unfolds like a play, where each act is a new flavor, each bite a story, and you, the guest, become part of the script. When you step into Black Milk, there’s no menu to choose from. Instead, you’re greeted by the råvaror, the ingredients of the night on display across the counter and wall. Like clues in a mystery, they offer glimpses into what’s to come: jet-black Peruvian mint, thick cuts of parrotfish, Ethiopian kale, Japanese chili, and curious jars filled with yuzu, coconut, and black Russian caviar. The room hums with quiet excitement. The scene is set. Omakase – A Trust Fall in Flavors Black Milk operates under the Omakase principle, a Japanese tradition that translates to “I leave it up to you.” Rather than ordering à la carte, guests entrust the chef with full creative control. It’s an invitation to surrender expectations and in return, receive something far more intimate and daring. This is not fusion. It’s something more instinctual, more emotionally driven. It’s global storytelling told through food by chefs and sommeliers who’ve wandered the world not just to collect flavors, but to understand them. At one point in the evening, I’m handed a plate with parrotfish gently cooked and paired with a dark chocolate mole, bold, rich, and surprisingly delicate. Ethiopian kale arrives next, buttery-soft and tinged with an unexpected garlic flavor and the fresh sourness of lemon. Later, a scoop of yuzu gelato topped with olive oil and black caviar shocks my palate awake: creamy, salty, cold, unexpected. I feel like I’m in Tokyo, Addis Ababa, and Lima all at once. And yet, it never feels forced. Every course is timed with cinematic pacing, each ingredient introduced like a new character. The sommeliers narrate as they pour natural wines, rare bottles, unexpected pairings and guide you through the story without ever overshadowing it. A Stage for the Senses Black Milk is not about indulgence. It’s about curiosity. It’s about chefs who are genuinely passionate and not about trends, but about flavor, people, and memories. In a city often defined by its minimalism, Black Milk dares to be maximalist in feeling. It’s not just a restaurant. It’s a mirror held up to your senses that asks you to feel more, taste more, and think less. And yes, while this experience is deeply personal, emotional, and guided by the senses, I’d be lying if I said I didn’t reach for my phone more than once. With the perfect lighting and presentation of each dish plated like a miniature set design on a theatre stage, the camera roll quickly filled with Instagram-friendly moments. Call it a modern standing ovation. If you’re tired of the predictable, if you’re craving something emotional and alive, step inside. At Black Milk, the play is always about to begin. blackmilkgastrobar.com

Copine Reopens in Stockholm —A Renewed Rhythm of Taste and Togetherness text Jahwanna Berglund  After a summer spent quietly reinventing itself, Copine has reopened its doors at Kommendörsgatan 23, welcoming guests back to one of Östermalm’s most beloved dining rooms now with a fresh rhythm, a new food bar, and a more open, social atmosphere. image courtesy of Copine The trio behind Copine — Jim Hammargren, Jacob Nermark, and Jonathan Mattsson — has used the break to refine both the space and the experience. “We’ve wanted to bring more life to the bar for a long time,” says Hammargren. “Now we’ve created a space where you can just drop in for a glass of wine and still feel the full Copine experience. It’s going to be so much fun to welcome both regulars and new guests again.” The interior has been reshaped with new levels, warmer lighting, and a sleek 15-seat food bar overlooking the kitchen designed to blur the line between dining and gathering. The renovation mirrors Copine’s philosophy: local ingredients, elegant simplicity, and human connection. At a recent press lunch, I got a first taste of the new menu, a reflection of the team’s grounded creativity. The classics remain (the famous corn bread and beef tartare are still there, thank God), but the menu now feels more playful and personal. From Trombonzucchini with aged Manchego and pine nuts to Pigvar with Pil Pil and citrus confit, each dish carries a quiet confidence. The Tagliatelle with braised rabbit and Swedish grapes and the Duck with Pak Choi and hot apricot sauce balance Copine’s hallmark finesse with a new sense of spontaneity. “We’ve adjusted rather than changed,” says creative chef Jacob Nermark. “Some dishes stay because they’re part of our DNA, while new ones bring more of our own personalities into the mix.” For Jonathan Mattsson, who oversees service and wine, the renewal is about flow creating a seamless rhythm between the bar and dining room. “It’s not about becoming a bar,” he says. “It’s about giving guests more ways to experience Copine — whether you come for a glass, a full dinner, or just stay to see where the evening takes you.” The new Copine feels both intimate and alive, a place that invites you to linger, share, and rediscover why the simplest things, done well, still feel like the most luxurious. CopineKommendörsgatan 23, Stockholmwww.jimjacobrestauranger.se/copine