A Stockholm landmark since 1863, Berns Salonger remains a favourite haunt for both locals as well as visitors and there's little wonder why. With a boutique hotel, conference and banquet facilities, a vibrant Asian restaurant and summer terrace, popular bars, nightclub, gallery and a theatre that showcases all major theatrical and musical performances, concerts and international stand-up comedians, the place is without a doubt Stockholm?s unequalled entertainment hub and ideal meeting place for business and pleasure.

Nestled in the city's main attraction is Berns Asiatiska - a gem of a find both for its novelty as the city's first Chinese restaurant in 1944, as well as for its culinary excellence that sustains its popularity even today. Beginning with China, the restaurant has managed to work its way through Asia and now offers the very best of Asian cuisine, the recipes of which have been sourced from every nook and corner of this vast and fascinating continent. There are skilled sushi chefs working 'live' at the restaurant, adding reassurance that everything which comes out of this kitchen is truly Asian.

Berns Asiatiska has at its roots a vision to create a 'relaxed, international atmosphere where all kinds of guests would thrive'.  On entering, you observe how true this is. There are people from various ethnic backgrounds dining under the gilded ceilings and magnificent chandeliers that have set the place apart since its beginnings. The dining area is spacious, so you can enjoy the vibrant notes in the ambience without having to overhear your neighbour's conversation. There are several touches in the décor that indicate its rich history and the service works well with the relaxing ambience created by the restaurant. Though justifiably crowded on most days, guests are never hurried to leave the table after a meal.

There are breakfast, lunch, brunch, à la carte and sushi menus, including an enormous brunch buffet during weekends. Pop in for yum cha - Chinese tea in the afternoons, which includes dumplings and a fabulous desserts buffet.

Begin lunch with oysters from Charentes with trout roe and cumquat butter, fried pork and peanut dumpling with chilli and ginger sauce, followed by Thai meatballs in red curry or the fried duck breast. Vegetarians may go for the garlic-fried French beans and dumpling with asparagus and spring onion. Sushi lovers have a long list of chef's specials apart from the regulars including sashimi, ika and unagi, prepared right before their eyes by sushi wizards, carefully hand-picked from Asia.

Come here for authentic food, historic musings, top notch service and an international dining experience. Be it a stop-over before catching a concert at China Theatre or a casual meal with a friend, there's no better way to soak in the flavour of Stockholm than over dim-sum in Berns Asiatiska.

Sturehof is the kind of place that you would like to go anytime of the day or night; initially the sheer size of the place overwhelms you, and then you observe people from all walks of life streaming in, adding to the general bonhomie. It’s almost always bustling and busy and, if the prospect of an al fresco meal seems tempting, just step outside where the outdoor air and could perhaps build an appetite. Some may agree that pausing between mouthfuls to people-watch is welcome to the digestion.

Sturehof has come a long way from when it first started as a beer hall more than 100 years ago. Things have changed greatly for the better and the impressive glass wall that separates the downstairs bar from the main eating space is the only thing that remains from the now-extinct 1930s interior. The dining area is a more formal affair with crisp white table cloths, wooden panels and distinctive light fixtures.

Seafood is certainly the main draw here and starters of cured salmon with a sweet dill and mustard sauce, shellfish cocktail with tomato vinaigrette and vendace roe from Vänern with butter-fried toast, red onion and Smetana – soured heavy cream - grace the daily changing menu. Meaty main courses are a subtle explosion of flavours with boiled fresh brisket of beef drowned in a horseradish sauce, grilled entrecôte with béarnaise and tenderized beef with bean salad, bacon and red wine butter, all smacking of bovine goodness.

Extending the maritime emphasis fish is one dish that cannot be sidelined at Sturehof, especially when it includes such delights as poached lightly salted cod with prawns, fried Baltic herring, broiled cured pollack and lemon sole on the bone with mushrooms, charlotte onion and browned butter. Shellfish also takes its place under the sun and consider choices like the oyster platter or the shellfish platter of ½ Maine lobster, prawns, Dublin Bay prawns, crab and Fine de Claire.

For a meal such as this desserts should be nothing but remarkable, and the taste of almond parfait with berries and sour cream pannacotta with rhubarb soup could linger long after this highly satisfying and beautifully prepared meal. With over 600 wines, the drinks list certainly commands respect and is sure to hold something to delight every palate.

After dinner party-hoppers will definitely be attracted to the pulsating vibe at the O-bar upstairs keeping in tune with Stockholm’s vibrant nightlife. They also feature a couple of live performances every week from some famous and not-yet-famous artists.

It doesn't take too much effort to guess what the mainstay of The Lobster House would be, so if you're passionate about seafood, lobsters in particular, this Barcelona restaurant gives you your money's worth. Located close to the Diagonal metro, and situated in the heart of the Eixample district, this airy restaurant follows a Mediterranean theme in the food as well as décor.

Diners are pleasantly surprised with the ambience which is cool and elegant with white napery, large windows, dark furniture and potted plants, while the warmth exuded by the service enhances the dining experience. The bar is also a cosy spot for pre-dinner drinks and The Lobster House is a perfect place if you want to host an ebullient party for friends, with the private room offering space and atmosphere.

Five different fixed price menus ease the dilemma regarding choices, and these include an aperitif with first and second courses, wine and dessert. While this could prove to be of great value, there's also the à la carte if you prefer to do the choosing on your own.

Fresh salads topped with tuna fish and olives or tomato and mozzarella with avocado are just right for a light and tasty beginning. Other starters that rouse the appetite could include the Andalusian style cuttlefish, king prawns with Maldon salt or fisherman's paella.

While lobster is a huge favourite, grilled or steamed, there are other dishes for fish lovers too, such as the sliced grilled hake, baked loin of cod with cream of escalivada or fillets of sea bass cooked in the Santurce fashion. More hearty dishes follow, with meats cooked over holm oak charcoal, and you could try the imperial lamb ribs or the stewed shoulder of lamb with the steaks and burgers as excellent alternatives.

The best way to end such a leisurely meal would be with something sweet, so do save some space for the Catalan custard with burnt brown sugar or the warm chocolate coulant. Fruity desserts such as the frozen mandarin mousse with citric coulis should do the trick if you're not overly fond of rich sweets.

The wine selection is as befits a restaurant of their scale, extensive and indulgent and yet reasonably priced.

Housed on the top floor of the Harvey Nichols store in the Dundrum Town Centre complex on Sandyford Road, the First Floor Restaurant offers a modern European menu in a stylish contemporary setting, complete with a dance floor and guest DJs to help you unwind. Just the place for a quick lunch or a more relaxed dinner after shopping or sightseeing, the restaurant is also just a short walk from the Mill Theatre and is ideal for a pre or post show dinner.

Using the finest locally sourced produce, especially beef from Donald Russell's and fish from Hanlon's, the à la carte offers small plates of Carlingford Lough rock oysters served with tabasco, lemon and shallot vinegar; a charcuterie plate of Spanish meats and accompaniments for two and oak smoked seared tuna with Chantertais melon, pink grapefruit and soy jelly.

For the main course choices could include Harvey Nichols fish pie with winter vegetables; loin of Wicklow venison with red cabbage, violet potatoes, chocolate and spice and chicken two ways with sage and onion stuffing, fondant potato and jus. Steak lovers can try succulent Donald Russell’s 8oz fillet of beef with shallot puree, spinach, duxelle, truffle dauphinoise and Perigord sauce or a 10 oz ribeye with chunky chips, roscoff, heirloom tomato and bearnaise or peppercorn sauce. Daily specials are also available.
 
Vegetarians are also well catered for with dishes such as dolce latte, walnuts, pear and mesclun salad, roasted vine tomato soup with brie Cromesque and basil, beetroot papardelle with goat's cheese crotin and beetroot textures and wild mushroom risotto with aged parmesan.

The lunch menu is equally luxurious and offers starters of crayfish cocktail with shellfish dressing, ham hock terrine with potato salad or cecina with asparagus, bone marrow, watercress, poached egg and béarnaise. Then follow with mains of braised pork belly with barley, parmesan, squash and rocket; shellfish linguini with chilli, crème fraiche and parmesan or fish and chips with tartare sauce and pea relish. Guests could also order an express business lunch which is served within 45 minutes. A Sunday lunch menu is also available.

The tempting dessert selection includes lychee crème brûlée with citrus sorbet and marshmallow, Harvey Nichols rhubarb fool and chocolate brownie with peanut mousse and caramel.

At the vibrant bar, next door to the restaurant, enjoy a range of exciting cocktails along with a tapas menu. An excellent wine list includes expertly chosen wines from around the world alongside exceptional house wines such as a Sauvignon Blanc from Bordeaux and a Vin de Pays d'Oc Merlot.

The First Floor also offers diners a variety of interesting programmes including wine tastings, wine and food pairing evenings and cocktail master classes. Private dining for 6-10 people with chef’s special five-course menu is also available.

To gain further information, just visit their extremely comprehensive Website.

Parisians in Stockholm may be overwhelmed with a sense of déjà vu when they step in to Riche, which literally breathes character akin to Café Riche on Boulevard des Italiens in Paris. Although it began life way back in 1896, it was only until the 1930s that it took on a more practical design and the grill was opened to the right of the building's entrance.

Designed on the lines of its French counterpart, the elegant gold framed mirrors and crystal chandeliers speak opulence and the atmosphere is one that makes both bourgeoisie and the officer class feel at home. Large windows and high ceilings bring in a spacious feel and the furniture is functional and minimalist in style.

The cooking remains open to foreign influences, and sways the French brasserie way at times, yet it is heartening to find many old school Swedish dishes, take the pata negra de Salamanca for instance; this Iberian cured ham from Spain, is touchingly referred to as finger food, and there is also chorizo bruschetta with tomato marmalade.

Lovers of seafood may find it hard to tame their cravings as they mull over the starters section - half dozen snails Provençal, assorted marinated herrings, garlic seared baby squid, vendace roe and smoked eel with scrambled eggs - all waiting to be enjoyed. For others it could be Danish open sandwiches or lukewarm beetroots and vegetables with chévre terrine.

The main dishes could get you humming with excitement as the sight of sautéed cubed fillet of beef, olive and pistachio stuffed spring chicken with asparagus, and fried soured pork with parsley creamed potatoes all beckon. Again those with a penchant for anything related to the sea would probably love the grilled halibut with lobster wrapped clams, white sand asparagus and chive aioli, and pike-perch in paper with lemon verbena and nettle risotto.

The not-so-chocolatey dessert menu features a boozy lemon crème brûlée with licorice stirred raspberries and chocolate cheesecake with marinated nectarines. The well traversed wine list includes bins from Austria, Hungary, Canada and US while Old World wines are not entirely forgotten.

Riche is very often described as a place to see and be seen in Stockholm and combined with watching the chefs wowing the crowds with their cooking and the buzzing atmosphere every evening and on weekends this surely has to warrant a visit to such a lively place.

Housed within the luxurious Hotel Astoria on Bolshaya Morskaya, Davidov Restaurant offers fine international cuisine in a sophisticated setting. In the best Russian fine dining tradition, guests can indulge in the finest vodkas and caviar, complemented by live piano music on certain nights.

Culinary highlights on the Davidov menu include roast beef with horseradish, grilled lamb with honey and nut sauce, and grilled fillet of veal. Chef's recommendations showcase imaginative flavour combinations with dishes such as coconut soup with crab meat, persimmon salad with prawns, rucola and orange sauce, and spicy beef with rice noodles and vegetables.

The business lunch menu is perfect for a relaxed afternoon meal at Davidov Restaurant. A tempting dessert trolley offers tiramisu, éclair, chocolate mousse and panna cotta.

The classic décor at the Davidov Restaurant features large windows, elegant chandeliers and comfortable banquette seating. The River Neva flows close to the restaurant, while Palace Square is just a short walk away.

To gain further information, just visit their extremely comprehensive Website.

A luxurious setting offering breathtaking views of St. Isaac's Cathedral, Caviar Bar at the Angleterre Hotel offers an exquisite selection of seafood. Guests can indulge in a delectable range of caviar and shellfish, along with a fine selection of champagne, wines and Russian vodkas.
 
The Caviar Bar menu includes a varied selection of luxurious caviars, including the renowned Beluga variety. Using stunning craftsmanship, elegant accompaniments include traditional blinis, a variety of smoked fish, and handmade sushi. Guests can follow these dainty delicacies with a meal at the Angleterre Hotel's Italian restaurant, Borsalino Restaurant. Delicious dishes include aubergine gnocchi with lamb ragoût, Amalfi-style seafood risotto, and succulent beef medallions.

Set on Malaya Morskaya Ulitsa in the historic city centre, Caviar Bar St. Petersburg is a short drive from many popular attractions, including Palace Square, the Hermitage Museum, Marinsky Theatre and the Peter and Paul Fortress. The landmark Nevsky Avenue is just a few minutes' walk away.

To gain further information, just visit their extremely comprehensive Website.

Movie is a high end concept based restaurant in Barcelona, a chic and very trendy destination for those who are fond of good food, music and movies, not necessarily in the same order. The décor is plush and extravagant and yet the atmosphere strives successfully to be informal and friendly, and you are likely to spot many guests lingering over a glass of wine and a bowl of tasty snacks as they sit back and relax.

All eyes are drawn intently towards the huge screen where movies and clips are played by resident VJs who occupy a separate platform. But it is unlike any cinema hall you may have been to, because the entire experience is quite like a home theatre at the house of a friend. A very well to do friend, of course! On top of all this, Movie is a fantastic restaurant if you want to impress business associates or even simply if you want to indulge in your love of films.

So when it comes to food, you will find that, like some of the films, the menu is fairly international, featuring dishes such as focaccia with duck ham, black olives and mozzarella, sausage and bacon skewers and hot Mexican taco with chicken, vegetables and cheese, served with a sweet and sour sauce. Mixed salad leaves atop a pea puree and seafood cocktail is highly appealing for salad lovers, while the black pasta with calamari and romesco sauce is perfect if pastas are your thing.

More elaborate main courses follow, with the likes of wok fried beef with sun dried tomatoes, potato and yucca or chicken nuggets coated with peanuts and mayonnaise mousse. For those who favour unusualness in their dishes, the chicken filled with pureed mango and flavoured with black beer, shitake mushrooms and carrots could appeal.

While some might be satisfied with snacks and other finger food, there are others who feel that a full course meal is more to their taste,  requiring a look at the dessert menu where your sweet tooth will be gratified to learn of the tiramisu with exploding chocolate and caramel pop rocks. Profiteroles and a warm chocolate fondant ice cream complete the list and gain full marks for hitting the right spots with ease.

The wine list is a compilation befitting to this modern restaurant, with international choices playing alongside traditional selections that are closer to home. Come evening and the lounge beckons with the numerous exciting cocktails on offer along with delicious bar food. From 7 pm until late, the avid party goers are likely to be sipping on mojitos and enjoying an interesting movie, to the point where few would wish to resist the comforts of Movie Restaurant and head out to greener pastures.

The words classy and chic seem synonymous with most top end restaurants in Paris but this one comes courtesy of the design maestro Philippe Starck himself. One visit to Restaurant Bon is probably insufficient to admire the four different and original settings created by Philippe and the stylish interior is worth the trip alone.

Elegant lamp shades and sleek furniture adorn The Vinotheque accentuated by strategic lighting, which add a warm glow to the place. The Fireplace Room with its ornate chandelier and glossy table tops create a unique sense of style and the little nook for private dining appears to be fiercely guarded by a rhino! Well, actually a rhino head. The Library needs no introduction and it's no surprise to see bookworms crawling their way through the numerous stacks, and then there's the Boudoir with exquisite tableware for large parties.

The menu's Asian touches are palpable and the cooking, which takes in influences from across the globe, is certainly enticing. Think coconut milk, crabmeat and green asparagus Wonton soup and dim sum of shrimp, basil and hot pepper, crabmeat and artichokes served with spinach and shiitakes, and five flavours duck. From among other delights that await look out for the spicy crab spring rolls with soya mayonnaise, new style tuna carpaccio, lobster rolls, and papaya and shrimp, and beef and lemongrass salad.

Fruits of the sea include sole prepared as a tempura with toffee and lemongrass sauce, grilled scallops with tom yum sauce, tuna tartar with ginger and gilthead breams in a banana leaf. For meatier main courses you are bound to be moved by the tiger's tears, a marinated filet of beef, grilled and thinly sliced, or perhaps the crispy sweet and sour chicken and five flavour spare ribs. If you thought an Asian inspired menu does not have too much to look forward to in the dessert section, then think again; there's rum baba with coconut and pineapple, fresh strawberries and raspberries with peppermint syrup, and spicy 'crème brûlée'.

Those who find solace at the lunch hour know full well that they need to refuel to take on the second half of the day, so how about some chicken and curry rolls, thinly sliced veal with ginger and shiitake and choco Bon. The wine list keeps the French flag flying high and there are notable contributions from Chile, Africa, China, Australia and California amongst others.

With its myriad dining options, Restaurant Bon certainly makes an ideal place to celebrate those special occasions.

When was the last time you stepped into a mall and after a hectic day of shopping, rushed into a food court, wearily hauled those bags aside, hoping to grab a bite and seeking respite from the crowd frenzy? At Kungsholmen they do things differently, for one thing there is no shopping happening here, but the food court concept reigns supreme, albeit in a more sophisticated, diner style way. Its location along the Mälaren River is an added bonus, guaranteeing views that could hardly be bettered.

The décor is a blend between a traditional dining room and lounge with seven different food stations, so there’s raw, Nordic, organic, fast food classic, spice and a fruit bar. The cocktail bar features a collection of old classics and new creations. The interior is trendy and design schemes are realistic, catering to hungry hordes that descend here everyday. Pontonen, situated right next door, is more of a summer retreat, surrounded by Kungsholmen’s guest dock,and is accessible by boat.

Bocuse d’Or or the biennial world chef championship is often considered to be the culinary world’s answer to the Olympic Games; landing a silver medal at this prestigious contest is no mean feat, and that’s exactly what the Kungsholmen’s cooking duo of Melker Andersson and Danyel Couet have managed to achieve. Their cooking thrives on innovation and presents a blend of international cuisines and taste combinations that are highly appealing

At the raw bar expect to find bento boxes, nigiri or maki, sashimi, Vietnamese beef salad or fine du Claire oysters, and also delights from the Nordic region such as salmon tartar with trout roe, Swedish bouillabaisse and smoked strip loin with bacon. If organic is the way to go then choose a tomato salad caprese, bleak roe blini with lemon crème and coq au vin blanc, or if you don’t have too much time to spare then munch on a tuna burger with lime and coriander or fish and chips with lobster aioli.

Bar classics such as seafood cocktail and moules mariniére are not entirely forgotten and those who’d like to spruce up their meal with a bit of spice could choose pepper grilled beef with Béarnaise or the Caribbean barbecue piggham sandwich. Finally head to the fruit bar for a rhubarb compote with yogurt sorbet or a coupe peach Melba.

The F12 Group has many classy restaurants in its kitty and Kungsholmen certainly stands out on its own, maintaining the high standards set by this thriving group.