Restaurant
Frantzén
Björn Frantzén's three-Michelin-star restaurant in Norrmalm, where an evening starts in a top-floor lounge and continues at counters facing the chefs.
Pelikan
Södermalm beer hall serving Swedish home cooking since 1904, with hand-rolled meatballs, herring and veal liver under a painted art nouveau ceiling.
At a glance
- Type
- Traditional Swedish beer hall
- Area
- Södermalm, Stockholm, Sweden
- Price
- $$ · Mid-range
- Opening
- Open daily · 11:30–01:00
- Official site
- pelikan.se
Good to know
- Art nouveau interior
- Weekday lunch
- Bar
- Group bookings
Why we recommend it
Pelikan is one of the best places in Stockholm to eat traditional Swedish home cooking, or husmanskost. A restaurant has stood in the art nouveau premises at Blekingegatan 40 for more than a century, and the large hall has been home to Swedish cuisine since 1904. In the early 1900s the street outside was lined with horse-drawn carts, and the hall was a meeting place for hauliers and wholesalers. Today it attracts a mix of locals, families and visitors, but it has kept its old character.
The dining hall itself is part of the experience. High vaults, large arched windows and a beautifully painted ceiling create the atmosphere of an old Swedish beer hall, and the room fills with conversation on busy evenings.
The menu sticks to the classics. Hand-rolled meatballs are the dish most visitors come for. Herring in several styles, veal liver and pork leg with root mash are other staples, and puddings include Småland cheesecake and rhubarb pie. Portions are generous, the menu is easy to navigate for first-time visitors, and the cooking is straightforward, so this is a good introduction to Swedish food for anyone who has only met meatballs in a furniture store.
Pelikan suits families, groups of friends and anyone who wants a relaxed, reasonably priced meal in an atmospheric room. It is open every day from 11:30 until 01:00, and lunch is served on weekdays from 11:30 to 13:30. Booking is recommended for dinner, especially at weekends, and can be made online through the restaurant's website; larger lunch parties should email the restaurant. Allow a couple of hours for an unhurried dinner, and expect the hall to be at its liveliest on Friday and Saturday evenings, when it is full of local groups. If you are new to Swedish food, share a few starters such as herring so that you can taste more of the menu before the main course arrives.
Blekingegatan is in the eastern part of Södermalm, a few minutes' walk from Skanstull metro station on the green line. The area around Nytorget, with its cafés and independent shops, is a short walk north, and the bars of Götgatan are close by if you want to continue the evening.
Pelikan FAQs
What kind of food does Pelikan serve?
Traditional Swedish home cooking, including hand-rolled meatballs, herring, veal liver and pork leg with root mash.
How long has Pelikan been open?
The hall has been home to Swedish cuisine since 1904.
What are the opening hours?
Daily from 11:30 to 01:00, with weekday lunch from 11:30 to 13:30.
Do I need to book?
Booking is recommended for dinner, especially at weekends; reserve through the website.
What should I order?
The hand-rolled meatballs are the classic choice, followed by Småland cheesecake or rhubarb pie.
Can large groups book lunch?
Yes. Larger lunch parties should email the restaurant at [email protected].
Where is Pelikan?
At Blekingegatan 40 on Södermalm, a few minutes from Skanstull metro station.
Is it good for families?
Yes. The relaxed atmosphere and classic dishes suit families and groups.