While eating out in the evening in Sweden can be pricey, “Dagens Lunch”, or “Today’s Lunch”, is one of the real bargains to be had when travelling in Sweden, and is an important part of Swedish culture and tradition.
Unlike the Brits, for whom a worktime lunch is often a 20-minute rush, taken hunched over your desk, answering emails with one hand while you cram in a few bites from a soggy, tasteless sandwich with the other and grab occasional swigs from a can of Red Bull to keep you awake until 5pm, Swedes treat their lunchtimes with rather more respect.
“Dagens Lunch” has its origins as a workers’ meal. The midday meal was always traditionally the main meal of the day in Sweden – and nowadays the Swedish word middag has come to mean both “midday” and “dinner”.
As the spread of industrialisation meant factory workers could no longer return home to eat in the middle of the day, the tradition of “Dagens Lunch” developed as a way to provide Sweden’s workforce with a hot, substantial, affordable and quick-to-serve meal during their midday break. The word middag came to be used for the evening meal, and a new word, “lunch”, was borrowed from English to describe the midday meal.
And the tradition continues today. In Sweden, workers take a sensible amount of time for their lunch breaks (usually an hour), enabling them to leave their office, workshop or factory and spend time relaxing and socialising with colleagues and enjoying a leisurely meal before going back to work for the afternoon (most likely more productive as a result of their break).
And Dagens Lunch is, almost without exception, an absolute bargain. It’s normally offered during weekdays Monday-Friday between around 10.30-14.30 (timings vary), but some places also offer similar deals, or variations, at weekends.
Dagens Lunch won’t offer you the extensive choice of dining à la carte, but there is usually a choice of at least two or three dishes, typically one meat, one fish and often a vegetarian option. Salad, bread or other accompaniments are included, usually to help yourself, as well as coffee, and sometimes even squash and a small cake/dessert or cookie.
Food served will often be based around Swedish dishes such as salmon or meatballs, but many international restaurants such as Italian, Indian or Thai also offer Dagens Lunch arrangements, so there’s plenty of choice. International restaurants often offer their Dagens Lunch as an “all-you-can-eat” buffet.
And the price? It varies of course, but is typically somewhere between 100-180 SEK/person – that’s about £9 – £15! Some posher restaurants may be up around 250 SEK (£20), but given everything that’s included, you’d be hard-pressed to find a similar deal in many other countries.
The problem as a visitor to Sweden is that, as Dagens Lunch deals have traditionally been aimed at locals, and in particular workers, it’s not always easy to know where to find them, especially as a tourist in the centre of Stockholm.
So here’s our guide to 10 Places for Dagens Lunch (“Today’s Lunch”) in Central Stockholm. There are many others of course (look out for “Dagens Lunch” signs on the pavement outside restaurants or in the window), but these should get you started!
Timings are correct at time of writing (November 2025), but check latest information locally.
1 – Haymarket Scandic – Pauls
Located at Hötorget 13-15, Pauls serves Dagens Lunch Monday-Friday between 11.30 and 14.00. Includes freshly baked break, a salad buffet, coffee and pastries baked in-house.
Ideal if you’re doing some shopping around T-Centralen (the central station) and Drottninggatan (one of the main shopping streets).
2 – Restaurang Rydbergs
Located at Drottninggatan 88, Rydbergs serves Dagens Lunch Monday-Friday from 10.30-14.30, including bread, salad, soft drink and coffee.
As Pauls above, this is a great option if you’re shopping in central Stockholm around T-Centralen and Drottninggatan.
3 – Moms Kitchen
Located at Nybrogatan 40, Moms Kitchen offers Dagens Lunch Monday-Friday 11.00-14.00, with bread, salad and coffee included.
A very good option if you’re shopping in the area around Östermalm.
4 – Hard Rock Cafe
Located at Sveavägen 75, Dagens Lunch is served Monday-Friday 11.30-14.00 and includes bread, salad and coffee.
A good centrally located option in the city.
5 – Gamla Stan Hof
Located at Stora Nygatan 25, Gamla Stan Hof serves Dagens Lunch Monday-Friday between 11.00 and 15.00 and also on Saturdays and Sundays 12.00-15.00. Includes salad, freshly baked bread, coffee and a dessert.
Stockholm’s “Gamla Stan” (Old Town) is one of its most beautiful areas and a must-see for any visitor.
6 – Blå Dörren
Located at Södermalmstorg 6, Dagens Lunch is served Monday-Friday 10.30-14.30 and includes salad buffet, bread, squash, coffee/tea and cake.
Great if you’re heading for the Old Town or Södermalm. Also near Slussen, which is a major hub for public transport connections. Personally recommended by Sofia from the Nature Travels team!
7 – Al Forno
No website, but you can call them on +46 820 3097.
Located at Drottninggatan 88B opposite Rydbergs (no. 2 above), Al Forno is an Italian pizzeria serving Dagens Lunch Monday-Friday between 10.30 and 15.30, including bread, salad, squash and coffee/tea.
Another good option if you’re shopping in the popular Drottninggatan area and would like a non-Swedish option for your Dagens!
8 – Proviant Humlegården
Located at Humlegårdsgatan 26, Dagens Lunch is served Monday-Friday 11.00-14.00 and includes bread, salad and coffee.
In the Humlegården park, near the National Library, this is a good option for lunch a little away from the hustle of the streets.
9 – The Bishop’s Arms
Located at Vasagatan 7 (and also in a number of other spots around the city), The Bishop’s Arms is a chain of English-themed pubs found in several Swedish towns. Dagens Lunch is offered Monday-Friday between 11.00 and 15.00 and includes bread, salad, squash and coffee. They also offer an “under 100 SEK” menu Monday-Thursday.
Very centrally located by the transport hub of T-Centralen (the central underground and train/bus station).
10 – Side Pour
Located at Norrlandsgatan 7, Dagens Lunch is served Monday-Friday 11.00-14.00 and includes a salad buffet.
Close to the popular meeting area of Kungsträdgården and also to Nybroviken, from where boats leave to the Stockholm Archipelago.
“Bon appetit!” (or “Smaklig måltid” – “tasty meal” – as they say in Sweden)!
Nature Travels offers a wide variety of activities in the Stockholm area, including:
- Hike, Bike and Paddle Stockholm’s Lakes and Islands
- Discover the Islands of the Stockholm Archipelago
- Self-guided Sea Kayaking in the Stockholm Archipelago
- Ice Skating on Natural Ice
For ideas on what to do with your time in Sweden’s beautiful capital city, see Sofia’s recommendations for What To Do In Stockholm.