Whether you want to turn OM into NOM for aprés-yoga energy boost, or shine with navigating a global address book of healthy and luscious #bowlfood, these four trendy Scandinavian eateries will fix you up with solid veggie meals.
Words: Evelin Kangur
1. Doctor Salad
Image: Doctor Salad
Few health food industry waves back (read: ahem, does anyone even recall the pre-avocado era?!), when the general idea of a vegan dish was still a quizzical breed of cucumber and tomato, Doctor Salad emerged to offer hearty plant-based salads, boosting smoothies, and a bustling take-away milieu.
Located in plush Östermalm district, the eatery shows that there’s life beyond processed foods, such as soy sausages, and considers their goal achieved, when customers don’t realise that everything that went down their tummy is 100% delicious greenery. The menu celebrates vegan staples, like kale, sweet potato and quinoa, in four different boxes (glowing box!) that change every 2 months. You can also bring along that one friend who’s suspicious of scrawny plant-food, or as locals say, a typical 'Swedish vegetarian'. Oh, that raw snickers? Make sure to order a lifetime supply!
Image: Doctor Salad
Address: Sibyllegatan 29
2. The Green Queen
Image: The Green Queen
Grown out of a floating pontoon café Mälarpaviljongen, the owner Marcus Ullmarker decided to bring eco-conscious culture, that he witnessed on travels to New York and Los Angeles, to his home country. Mood of the place, 'sin with a clean conscience', reflects its aristocratic name, and the in-house staples, such as the opulent chickpea burger, spicy corn and quesadillas, will make you leave royally satisfied. Not only does The Green Queen offer vegan, vegetarian and lactose-free dishes, but you’ll also never see any traces of gluten popping out. No #quiltypleasure needed!
Image: The Green Queen
Address: Norr Mälarstrand 64
3. Hermans
Image: Hermans
Hermans was founded in the nineties (the same year when TLC was formed!) by a revolutionary local with the intent to turn Stockholm into a planet-friendly capital. Located in the bobo area of Södermalm, at Hermans, you’ll be welcomed by an abundant lunch and dinner buffet of world cuisines: try some of tabbouleh, fajitas, curry and signature lasagne. It will be hard to hold back your tastebuds, but no worries, hammocks are provided for that aprés-dinner snooze, where you can idly gaze at the archipelago and passing yachts. Once digestion has done its work, try raw sweets and a luscious bite of their signature Belgian chocolate cake!
Psst, we heard the team goes Bollywood dancing, how amazing is that? Probably that’s why they were all giggles.
Image: Hermans
Address: Fjällgatan 23B
4. STHLM RAW
Image: STHLM RAW
No day should be spent without Swedish favourite social pastime, fika! STHLM RAW is the place where natural ingredients are treated with grandeur - refined sugar, flour and dairy is outed by berries, nuts, and dates. After a brief facelift, the Södermalm-based café serves lunch and refreshments along with brain-food sides, i.e. workshops focusing on healthy food consumption. You are obligated to try taco bowl, chia pudding and every single cake on display (a friendly joke --- there’s probably nothing left by the time you arrive!).
Image: STHLM RAW
Address: Långholmsgatan 11