Matbaren Mathias Dahlgren — Restaurant in Stockholm

We had really high hopes coming to Matbaren based on reviews and their Bib Gourmand rating. We were properly seated and were given a brief of the menu quite quickly. The server asked if we had any dietary restrictions, and one of us could not have any raw meat or fish - the server didn't seem to have any problem with the menu regarding this. We ordered our water and wine and all was well. From there, it felt like we were totally ignored in the corner. It took 25 minutes for a server to come back to us before we had to flag someone down to please take our order. It was not anyone that we had been in contact with thus far, but she happily took our order. We felt like a burden and I was very close to walking out. We put in the first course as we were told to order one course at a time. We got the hot dog, which was delicious! After that, it took some more time to flag down another server to get the second course, in which we opted for the lobster soup. We received the soup which was unfortunately way over salty, but we didn't say anything at the time because we did finish it. After that course, we each ordered a fish dish, in which one was the pickled herring. We are not from this area, and we did not know that this was raw, perhaps a flaw on our part but because we had a variety of servers, nobody advised us that this was raw. Perhaps we could have asked but didn't feel the need to, I guess? That was unfortunate. After that, the server came and cleared our plates and took away our cutlery. We thought 'hmm does he think we are done'? We still wanted to order another dish or two, so then we had to flag him/her down again to ask for another dish. Maybe they took away the cutlery to give us a new set, which I know is very normal but it didn't feel that way. We got the final dish to split, which was the squid and that was very good. Overall expectations did not meet reality. We had guests come in well after us and left well before us. We saw other guests interacting quite well with their servers, getting recommendations, etc where we did not receive this type of service. We were often left in a state of confusion at this restaurant as we felt a bit like a burden to order more food or to ask questions, we never knew who our server was. I never write reviews like this, but we just felt the need to explain our situation that is perhaps not normal for this restaurant, but this is what we experienced. Unfortunately, I don't think we will return to Matbaren however I see lots of good reviews so perhaps we just had an off experience. The ambiance is really nice and is an elevated...

This place was recommended for me to go to during my trip to Stockholm. I was also excited to see that it was a Bib Gourmand restaurant… but unfortunately this place did not live up to the expectations. I reserved a seating as a solo diner. When I arrived I was seated at the bar, but it was a part of the bar where it was basically just me. There was one couple on one side of me, separated by an empty seat and on the other side there were four empty seats. Which would have been fine, except the service was terrible. It took at least 10 minutes before the bartender even acknowledged my existence and talked to me about the menu (that’s on this wooden board). She mentioned an additional wine menu and I asked for that. Another 15 minutes goes by before she came back. In the meantime there is another person behind the bar offering other people bread, but she stops before she gets to me and just smiles. I was confused why I wasn’t offered bread and asked when the bartender finally got back to me. She said that you only get bread after you order (mind you they put butter in front of you in the first interaction, before you order). She handed me bread after I ordered, about 25 minutes after I sat down. She also forgot to hand me the additional wine list, and I had to ask for it again. It was such a weird experience to have as a solo diner who’s sitting on the side of the bar with very few other people. Last issue with the service was that I was give a wet napkin with one of the first dishes that came out. I used it and the ripped wrapper stayed next to me the entire meal (usually that would be picked up after the dish is finished, but not with this restaurant). Then there’s the food. It was fine, but not at the level I expected. There was only one dish, of the four that I ordered, that rose to the occasion… it was the Swedish pork skewers. All in all, I wouldn’t recommend this place, especially if you’re a solo diner. You can get better food and service at other places...

We visited Mathias Dahlgren Matbaren for the 4-course tasting menu, paired with the “Goda val” wine package — and it delivered on every level.

Though you can enjoy drinks and light bites outside, the real Michelin-level experience happens inside. The interior is beautiful and unpretentious, blending modern design with natural wooden elements. Even the menus were served on bespoke wooden boards, which doubled as serving surfaces throughout the meal — a tactile detail that added warmth and authenticity to the experience.

From the moment we arrived, we were greeted with friendliness and professionalism. The staff delivered a perfectly paced service, with dishes arriving and being cleared in complete harmony.

The food was excellent. Every course was thoughtful and beautifully presented. A special mention goes to the sashimi — a surprising blend of reindeer and salmon that worked incredibly well. It’s not something I would have expected, but it was delicious.

For dessert, we ended with the Coupe Colonel — a citrus sorbet with gin that was bold, refreshing, and a little bit dangerous in the best way.

They also catered to gluten-free needs flawlessly. The gluten-free bread they served at the start was hands down one of the best I’ve ever had — perfectly baked and full of flavor.

In summary: Matbaren offers a refined, warm, and creative dining experience in an elegant yet down-to-earth atmosphere. The food, service, and small design details all come together to create something truly special. Highly...