Café Sten Sture

A Hidden Gem in the Heart of Old Stockholm While exploring the charming cobblestone streets of Old Stockholm on a local walking Viking tour, I stumbled upon a restaurant that truly exceeded all expectations. In a city known for its rich history and culinary offerings, this place stands out as an absolute gem—so much so that I returned not once, but twice during my short vacation. From the moment I stepped inside, I was struck by the warm, inviting atmosphere. Nestled in the lower levels of a historic building, the restaurant offers an intimate setting filled with character—and if you ask one of the friendly staff members, they’ll even share fascinating details about the location’s heritage. Now let’s talk food. This restaurant delivers an authentic taste of Sweden with a menu that honors traditional flavors while maintaining high-quality, consistent preparation. I had the pleasure of trying the classic Swedish meatballs served with creamy mashed potatoes, tart lingonberries, and crisp pickled cucumbers—comfort food done to perfection. I also tried the deer, and I must say, the flavor was rich and memorable. For starters, we enjoyed a hearty bowl of goulash soup—beef and potatoes infused with just the right amount of spice—and a delightful shrimp salad on toast that was light, fresh, and beautifully presented. We capped off our meal with a slice of homemade blueberry pie and a smooth Irish coffee cocktail that brought everything together in the most satisfying way. Whether it was during the bustling afternoon crowd of cruise ship tourists or the quieter, cozy evening ambiance, the service was nothing short of impeccable. The staff was incredibly attentive, engaging, and made us feel right at home with their genuine hospitality. If you’re in Stockholm and want a true taste of Swedish cuisine paired with great service and historical charm, do yourself a favor—and make your way here. This restaurant has certainly earned a top spot on my list, and I’ll be back without a doubt on my next visit to Sweden.

Swedish meatballs and mashed potatoes, of course! Just a little off the crowded square and well worth the extra little walk for a bit here. Had the Fat21 beer as well. We really enjoyed the local cuisine after a long morning of sightseeing.

One of the worst meals I’ve had in Gamla Stan. I paid €17 for a soup that came in a tiny café cup — absolutely ridiculous for the price. The taste? Bland and forgettable. To make matters worse, they charged 10 SEK (~€1) for tap water. This is the first place in Sweden I’ve seen do that. Complete rip-off. I do not recommend this restaurant.

A nice to try in Gamlastan! I quite enjoyed the meatballs and beer here, in this historic atmosphere

Everything was perfect From customer service to food I had to go back again Mushroom soup And Swedish meet Ball was excellent Service was amazing Ambiance was superb Washroom was so clean 10/10

We liked this place so much we went twice in four days of visiting Stockholm. The ambience is unique, the food was great, the staff were so friendly and kind. Not too expensive (for Stockholm!). Would give it six stars if I could.

The food was good, 3 stars because I ordered the lunch of the day (179 SEK and charged me for the full price of 239 SEK) there is no sign that the price is until 15:00 (it is almost 16:00 and the promotion is still there).

Stumbled upon this little gem while on a tour through the old city. The aroma coming out of the door had my husband and I retrace our steps to find the source. If you want to enjoy the atmosphere of years long gone and great food, this us the place.

What a hidden gem! Originally my friends and I were going to go to a different restaurant further down the block but found out that it's closed once we got there. But, since we wanted to try some traditional swedish food like swedish meatball, we decided to give the place a try. As we were walking down to the entrance of the restaurant, we learned that it used to be a prison. As a result, the room setup and decor are different. We ended up ordering meatballs, fried herring and gulash soup. Meatball - much better than your typical Ikea meatball. It has more meat flavor to it. The sauce also had more ingredients than the typical gravy that normally tastes thick and savory. The sauce probably added more ingredients and compliments the meatballs well. Fried herring - excellent! It's fried perfectly, with a bit of the crispiness. The pickles on the dish were less acidic than typical, which helps to cut down the greasiness of the fish. Gulash soup- they added pieces of white bolbs in the soup, probably cheese? The soup is not thick like the creamy tomato soup. There's a nice umami flavor with the ingredients in the soup. Overall, I would come back if I am ever in the area

We came here on the recommendation of a Danish friend and it was one of the best meals we had on our trip. The Hubs went with the Swedish meatballs and loved them. I had the veg pasta and it was equally as good. The atmosphere was so unique--it's in the basement of an old jail. brick walls and curved brick ceilings. If you weren't looking for this place, it's be easy to walk right past it. Highly recommend.

Stop! Read this if you are in the area! Wow what an amazing lunch! We were out seating a restroom and some swedish meatballs. We just so happened to see meatballs on the outside menu so we stopped. How lucky for us. We ordered drinks and the meatballs with mashed potatoes and a bowl of goulash soup. The meatballs came with a very whipped potatoes, some pickle slices with a teaspoon of cranberries on the side. It was fabulous but wasn't the star of the show. The goulash my friends, is absolutely amazing. Ranks right up there with the goulash from Budapest. Put this place on your list if in Stockholm. A++

Amazing food! The atmosphere is phenomenal as well and the owner and workers are so nice. Fantastic place to relax and eat!!

Cute spot that was recommended to us by a local artist, Tim. We enjoyed the meatballs and loved having a true Swedish meal! Their desserts looked delicious. There is not a bad seat in the house! I recommend you sit inside to get the full jail cell vibe! The host at the front was a bit rude and the waitress never came back to give us our check so we finally got up to go pay(unsure if this is normal there). The pasta needed a bit salt and pepper but I would say it's the spot for the meatballs! I think they should add plaques about the history too!

In a building that formerly imprisoned the assassin of King Gustav III, 30 feet from the famous courtyard Stor Target, you will find this restaurant. My wife's goulash and meatballs were excellent, and it was wonderful to introduce our son for the first time to venison so well-prepared. The friendly staff will even take you to see one of the prison cells downstairs. A must-visit.

This restaurant, which is an old underground prison, was located seconds from our Airbnb. It was the first place we saw after dropping off our bags. Normally we wouldn't go in the first place we see, but the decor was very intriguing. We were cordially greeted and sat in a private booth. The history is just amazing and the food is the same! My wife and I both ordered traditional Swedish dishes and we were both very impressed. For dessert, I took a Swedish chocolate ball to go with chocolate syrup drizzled on top. We highly recommend this restaurant at least once during your visit to Stockholm!

Hidden gem! It was raining, so we looked for the first Hobbit we could find and stumbled upon this quaint little cafe. I order led some dun cake and a round of hot chocolate; definitely hit the spot. So if you are looking for a place to relax, why not Cafe Sten Sture??

This place is a cool spot in Stockholm. Good prices good food. If you are looking for a place to eat near the kings castle, I would recommend this place! Great staff- friendly!!

Coffee and pastries were not very good, but not disastrous. Go for the very nice setting in the winding cellar rooms beneath old town but avoid if you're looking for a good fika. They don't take cards so plan ahead. And there is no cell phone reception nor WiFi available.

This is my favorite place to go for fika whenever I'm in Gamla Stan! It's a hidden little treasure of a medieval dungeon turned cafe! I wouldn't have found it unless someone had showed me it, it feels like a secret spot! The cafe has loads of charm and cozy nooks to eat their delicous fika and they always have the best music playing! The staff has always been so helpful and willing speak English. The cafe also accepts some different currencies, one time we paid with Swedish Crowns, US dollars, and a few Euros!

BEWARE HERE BE SCAM ARTISTS! Forced us to pay cash and held our bags as hostage until we returned from the closest ATM that wasn't vandalized or broken. Subpar food even worse service. This is a tourist trap dedicated to get Eastern Europeans to waste their money for crappy food masquerading as decent dining. Our fault really for giving in and testing the limits of the area. Also beware their scams with their drinks, especially with their ciders which is just shitty grocery store cider without alcohol but you're paying for proper ciders. The menu makes no distinction and it's even under the alcoholic beverage part of the God damn menu!

Just popped in for refreshments while touring the Old Town, but we were given polite service, friendly advice, and the experience was charming. Delightful to sit on the street here in Gamla Stan and recharge. The drinks weren't complicated - bottled apple cider - but they were quick and hit the spot. Plenty of options on the menu for those who want heavy fare or just some sweets.

Have you ever dreamed of having a tea in a prison cell?! It seems unrealistic but it's one thing you can experience here! A little touristic but worth the stop.

Food was great! Quite pricey at $29+ (but then again everywhere is $$$ in this part of town) for a plate of diced ham and hash browns with an egg on top (so it's great for BREAKFAST or any meal), but it was the best thing like that I've ever had! All of my friends ordered something different, so I got to try 4 other dishes and they were all amazing! The desserts were impossible to choose, so we had to get a variety... YUM! What a fun place--servers were friendly and so helpful! Went out of their way to make sure everybody got what they wanted and were happy with it. Super ambiance! Old-world style :) Wow! :) p.s. they close at 9!!! so get there early...

The building used to be a prison and has tons of history attached to it. The killer of one of the kings was housed here, and the royal history hangs on the wall, not only from the middle ages but from subsequent generations until the present. The food is gourmet. Very Swedish and delicious. Not only traditional meatballs and potatoes, fish, etc. but also creative desserts - don't forget the dessert. If you eat out on the sidewalk, it is not as historic and unusual, but you can hear the music from the main square and watch people walking by... in beautiful weather like it is now (in June), either dining location is wonderful. This place is charming but also has great food and character!

Happened into this place after a tour of the Royal Palace and had a wonderful and generous lunch. Both of our meals were excellent, and I thought the priced was reasonable. One of the other reviews says this was a former prison cell and it does have a sort of dugeony atmosphere, but we found it delightful and liked the staff.

Interesting cafe down some dark stairs but turned out to be pleasant. A nice relaxing drink away from the cold.