1Fotografiska
Photography museum·Södermalm (Stadsgården)·kr kr·All ages
A photography museum in an old customs house on the water, open until 23:00, with a bar and a restaurant upstairs that look out over the city. Seeing an exhibition first gives you plenty to talk about over a drink afterwards.
Stadsgårdshamnen 22, 116 45 Stockholm · Takes bookings
2Moderna Museet
Art museum·Skeppsholmen·kr·All ages
Sweden's museum of modern art on the green island of Skeppsholmen. It stays open until 20:00 on Tuesdays and Fridays, and the collection is free on Fridays from 18:00 to 20:00, a cheap and easy first date followed by a walk along the water.
Exercisplan 4, 111 49 Stockholm · Walk-in
3Nationalmuseum
Art museum·Blasieholmen·kr·All ages
Sweden's national museum of art and design, across the water from the Royal Palace. On Thursdays it stays open until 20:00 and entry is free from 17:00, so you can wander through the galleries and then go for dinner nearby.
Södra Blasieholmshamnen 2, 111 48 Stockholm · Walk-in
4Pelikan
Restaurant·Södermalm·kr kr·All ages
A beer hall with high ceilings and wood panelling that has been a restaurant since 1904, serving classic Swedish home cooking, open daily until 01:00. It feels very Stockholm and relaxed rather than fancy, which suits a first or second date.
Blekingegatan 40, 116 62 Stockholm · Takes bookings
5Tjoget
Cocktail bar and restaurant·Södermalm (Hornstull)·kr kr·30s
A neighbourhood place in Hornstull with a well-known cocktail bar, a wine bodega and a Mediterranean-inspired dining room, open until 03:00 on Fridays and Saturdays. Start with a cocktail and decide on dinner once you know the date is going well.
Hornsbruksgatan 24, 117 34 Stockholm · Takes bookings
6Vete-Katten
Café and konditori·Norrmalm·kr·All ages
A classic old-fashioned konditori, open every day, for a proper Swedish fika of coffee, cinnamon buns and cakes. A fika is the most common low-pressure first date in Sweden, and this is one of the most charming places to have it.
Kungsgatan 55, 111 22 Stockholm · Walk-in
7Rosendals Trädgård
Garden café·Djurgården·kr kr·All ages
A biodynamic garden on the island of Djurgården with a café and bakery among the greenhouses and fruit trees. Combine fika with a walk along the Djurgården waterfront for a calm daytime date in any season.
Rosendalsterrassen 12, 115 21 Stockholm · Walk-in
8Skansen
Open-air museum and zoo·Djurgården·kr kr·All ages
The world's oldest open-air museum, with historic houses from all over Sweden, Nordic animals and views over the city. Opening hours are short in autumn and winter (until 15:00 on weekdays), so plan it as a daytime date.
Djurgårdsslätten 49-51, 115 21 Stockholm · Takes bookings
9Svarta Hästen Stureplan
Chess and wine bar·Östermalm (Stureplan)·kr kr·30s
A wine bar built around chess, with custom-made boards on the tables and a substantial wine list, open from Wednesday to Sunday evenings. A game gives you something to do with your hands and a bit of friendly rivalry, which takes the pressure off.
Biblioteksgatan 21, Stockholm · Takes bookings
10TAK
Rooftop bar and restaurant·Norrmalm (Brunkebergstorg)·kr kr kr·30s
A rooftop restaurant with a bar and terrace above the city centre, and wide views. The bar opens from 16:00 on weekdays, so a sunset drink is easy to arrange before deciding on dinner.
Brunkebergstorg 2-4, 111 51 Stockholm · Takes bookings