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FOOD AND DRINK IN SWEDEN

RESTAURANTS

Ethnic restaurants in Stockholm: a sampler

Looking for some exotic tastes during your trip to the Swedish capital? Contributor Emy Gelb serves up a selection of ethnic restaurants in Stockholm that will be sure to tickle your taste buds.

Ethnic restaurants in Stockholm: a sampler

Every now and then herring and potatoes gets old. While often delicious, the simplicity of Swedish foods sometimes gets you craving a bit of spice.

Luckily, waves of immigrants and curious travelers have brought a variety of exotic tastes back to Stockholm.

If you are in the mood for a tasty treat, check some of these delightful ethnic restaurants.

Shanti is a bohemian gem located in the heart of Söder, and is one of Stockholm’s best Indian restaurants. Warm service, elaborate décor, and homemade ingredients make Shanti an excellent place for an Indian meal.

There are a wide variety of delicious choices, ranging from extra mild to hot and spicy. Plus, there is a large selection of vegetarian options, packed with fresh vegetables and authentic spices.

For a closer look, check out the Shanti website.

Several Stockholm locals have told me that Akki Sushi is the only place where they will eat sushi. This tiny take away restaurant, located just steps away from Medborgarplatsen, is a favorite.

Fresh fish, reasonable prices, and fast service are what make this restaurant stand out from the classic, overly trendy sushi spots around town. This restaurant is a must for sushi lovers.

For more information, visit: Akki Sushi.

Long time Stockholm establishment Bern’s recently opened a Singaporean inspired street food restaurant on their terrace. Dishes range from pike wrapped in banana leaves to BBQ baby back ribs covered in plum sauce.

Paper lanterns, refreshing cocktails, and world class DJs add to the posh atmosphere. The terrace will stay open for the summer, but once the weather cools down, Bern’s Asian is another delightful alternative.

For more information, check out the Bern’s website.

Sa’hara Söder is solid Lebanese restaurant with super friendly service. The meze platters are huge but each plate that arrives at the table is unique, fresh, and tasty.

The desserts are especially delightful; the pistachio baklavas are the best I have tried. An extra plus, on Mondays and Tuesdays there are two for one deals.

For more information check out the Sa’hara Söder website.

Sabai-Soong is a kitschy, colourful Thai restaurant in the heart of Östermalm. Palm trees, twinkle lights, and authentic décor make stepping into this restaurant feel like arriving on a beach in Thailand.

The food is pretty straightforward, but good. It is the atmosphere that makes this place feel like a true vacation.

For more information, go to the Sabai-Soong website.

This is of course just a small selection of what Stockholm’s multicultural restaurant scene has to offer, so feel free to list your own favourite eating establishments below.

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RESTAURANTS

EXPLAINED: The rules in Germany on outdoor dining as bars and restaurants reopen

In many parts of Germany, outdoor dining has reopened for bars, restaurants and cafes. But what exactly are the rules on eating out?

EXPLAINED: The rules in Germany on outdoor dining as bars and restaurants reopen
A restaurant owner in Bad Nauheim, Hesse, as breakfast guests are served in the background. In parts of the state with low infection figures, no test or proof of vaccination are required. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Frank Rumpenhorst

The rules on outdoor dining are set by the individual states, meaning the rules are subtly different in the various parts of the country.

Keep in mind that national rules prescribe that fully vaccinated people, and those who’ve recovered from Covid (within a certain time frame), do not have to show a negative Covid-19 test when tests are mandatory. They can show proof of their immunity.

READ ALSO: How do you prove you’ve been vaccinated or have recovered from Covid-19?

Here’s a look at the situation across a handful of German states.

Hamburg

In Hamburg, which currently has a 7-day incidence of around 43 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, the city has allowed restaurants to open up their outdoor dining areas starting on the Pentecost weekend.

Hamburg mayor Peter Tschentscher said that the city would not impose a test requirement on restaurants as the incidence rate is below 50, and he said there was only a low risk of being infected with the coronavirus outdoors.

In the port city only a maximum of five people from two households can sit at a table together.

Much like last summer, guests will have to leave their details with the restaurant for contact tracing purposes.

READ ALSO: Hamburg to open restaurants earlier than planned as incidence drops below 50 mark

Schleswig-Holstein

The northern state has some of the most relaxed rules on outdoor dining. Up to 10 people can sit at a table and there is no limit based on households.

Children younger than 14 plus fully vaccinated people and those who’ve had the virus in the past half year can also sit at the table.

Guests sitting outside don’t need to provide a negative test result. 

READ MORE: Where in Europe are Covid curfews and early closures still in place?

Berlin and Brandenburg

In Berlin, where restaurants, cafes and bars can open up outdoors starting on Friday, diners will have to provide a negative test result from the last 24 hours, or must show that they have been fully vaccinated or recovered from the virus.

In Brandenburg, where restaurants are also opening up for Pentecost, guests need to provide a negative test result if they are not fully vaccinated.

A restaurant in Brandenburg prepares on Friday morning to welcome guests again.

READ ALSO: How you can visit a bar in Berlin from Friday

Bavaria

Things are a bit complicated in Bavaria.

In districts with a 7-day incidence between 50 and 100 you don’t need to show a negative test result if you only sit with your own household. 

But meetings with a second household mean that a test result is required. For an antigen test the result needs to be no more than 24 hours old. For a PCR test it can be up to 48 hours old.

At an incidence lower than 50 guests don’t need to provide a negative test result. Between an incidence of 35 and 50 only two households and a maximum of five people can sit at one table. Below an incidence of 35, three households and a maximum of 10 people can sit at one table.

North Rhine-Westphalia

In North Rhine-Westphalia non-vaccinated guests at restaurants will have to provide a negative test that was conducted in the past 48 hours. This can be a PCR test or an antigen test, but the antigen test needs to have been done in a test centre or at a pharmacy – not a self administered test.

Hesse

In the central German state of Hesse restaurants that open for outdoor dining need to ask non-vaccinated and recovered guests to provide a negative test result. All guests have to give their details for contact tracing.

Guests already made a reservation for breakfast at a restaurant in Bad Nauheim, Hesse on Friday morning to mark the reopening of outdoor dining. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Frank Rumpenhorst

READ MORE: Outdoor dining and swimming pools: How Berlin plans to reopen in May

Saxony

As of Wednesday, restaurants in the eastern state have been allowed to reopen outside, with guests requiring a negative test from the past 24 hours. The inside areas can also reopen once there is a 7-day incidence of under 50 for five days in a row.

Saarland

Restaurants and cafes will be allowed to reopen indoors starting on May 31st to guests with a negative test. In districts of the French border state with a 7-day incidence under 100, outdoor dining is already open. The state became well known around the Easter holidays for the ‘Saarland model’, which allowed for mass openings when this figure was reached.

Bremen

On Tuesday, the harbour city-state senate decided that restaurants and bars would be allowed to reopen their outdoor seating areas on Friday.

Guests will be allowed until 11 pm, as long as they have a negative coronavirus test from the same day. But as soon as the 7-day incidence drops below 50, this is no longer required. Guests are – and will remain – required to register via an app, such as luca.

Saxony-Anhalt

Starting on Tuesday, indoor dining can open in cities or counties with a 7-day incidence of under 100 for five days in a row. As with elsewhere, strict hygiene rules will apply, such as mask wearing and showing a negative test.

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