Where To Stay, Eat, And Shop In Stockholm
An Insider's Guide to the Swedish capital - all the things to see, shop, the best places to eat, and fun things to do.
Stockholm was also recently named the friendliest city in 2024. While I normally dislike these kinds of rankings, this is something I wholeheartedly agree with. The city’s charm, combined with its warm and welcoming people, makes it one of my favorite cities.
Where to Stay
This remarkable family-owned Grand Hotel celebrates its 150th year in 2024. When it first opened, it was the world’s first hotel to change sheets after each guest and to offer diners personal napkins. Still to this day, it’s the only Grand Hotel in all of Scandinavia. Opt for one of the rooms with stunning seaside views. There’s nothing quite like waking up in the morning, opening the windows, and letting the incredibly fresh and clean air fill the room.
Where to Eat & Drink
Matbaren, which translates to “Food Bar” in English, offers a concept where you can order food just like you’d order drinks at a bar, one at a time and as you feel. The large kitchen team ensures that dishes arrive within minutes of ordering. Located in the Grand Hotel, it operates under the direction of Mathias Dahlgren, one of the founders of “New Nordic Cuisine”.
Located next to Matbaren, this is the Grand Hotel’s fine dining restaurant. Dedicated to the sea surrounding Sweden, it serves not only fish and shellfish but also seabirds and sea plants with a creative touch and slight Japanese touch. It boasts one of Stockholm’s largest wine menus, offering selections from both the Grand Hotel’s and Mathias’s personal wine collections.
Located in Stockholm’s Södermalm neighborhood, Café Nizza serves a well-curated menu of small plates with Mediterranean influences. Known especially for their pasta, the portions are small, but the service is attentive, so don’t hesitate to ask for a larger serving if preferred. Their wine cellar mostly features natural wines, with a few classic options.
Located in the Södermalm district, Svedjan Bageri is renowned for its traditional Swedish bread and kanelbullar (cinnamon rolls). It’s extremely popular, so it’s best to go during off-peak hours to avoid long queues. They also have an ice cream shop next door.
A cozy café with a bistro-style ambiance. Simple, clean food made from superb ingredients. The wine list is extensive, also offering a selection by the glass. It’s a great spot for enjoying a laid-back lunch with a few bottles of wine and watching the world go by.
It is one of my favorite wine bars that offers an impressive selection of natural wines. They have an amazing selection of Austrian and French producers—consider Andreas Tscheppe, Christian Tschida, Werlitsch, Philippe Chatillon, and my favorite producer, Daniel Sage. To accompany the wines, they serve small plates of delightful food.
A vibrant restaurant bringing the flavors of Sichuan cuisine to Stockholm. Surfers Stockholm offers a lively atmosphere and a menu full of bold, spicy dishes meant for sharing.
The natural wine importer Wine Trade’s founder Niklas Jakobson has opened the wine bar he always dreamed of. Located in Wine Trade’s old offices at Södermalm, Bar Ninja is a casual bar with simple but well-made dishes, music, and plenty of wine. What’s not to love?
Stockholm Roast offers expertly brewed coffee in a chic, minimalist setting. Founded by the eccentrically talented duo Johan Montan Ahlgren and Øner Kulbay in 2011. Fantastic coffee, but the real highlight for me is always their Reuben sandwich. Simply amazing.
Ekstedt offers creative, pure, clean Nordic cuisine cooked over an open fire. They use wood fire as their only source of heat. Even the stove they use is stocked with wood. In general, I love restaurants like this that have a clear, narrow vision. The food is beautiful and plentiful, diverse and screams local ingredients like langoustine, reindeer, and many items their foragers provide. A little pricey, but all good things in life are.
Located in the heart of Stockholm near Stureplan, the Royal Theater, and several museums, Stora Bageriet has a rich history as an army bakery for 300 years. It offers an impressive selection of sourdough bread, cardamom buns, pastries, and breakfast and lunch sandwiches.
Owned and created by German artist Carsten Höller, the restaurant abides by the ‘Brutalist Kitchen Manifesto.’ Dishes are labeled as either ‘Orthodox Brutalist,’ ‘Brutalist,’ or ‘Semi-Brutalist,’ depending on how far they take the ethos. Most ingredients are local and organically grown, skillfully cooked with a refreshing focus on flavor.
Not just a hotel, but more like a guesthouse that feels like a home, as the name suggests. The property features a lovely garden in the summer and a great greenhouse throughout the year. They offer incredible lunch and dinner. The food is simple but made with love, and the small wine list is superbly curated by the owner, who is a sommelier.
What to See
About a 15-minute drive from the center, this biodynamic farm is open year-round and dedicated to preserving the local environment. You can explore its beautiful gardens, savor fresh produce directly from the farm, and take part in a variety of seasonal activities. Whether it’s harvesting vegetables in the summer, enjoying a cozy hayride in the fall, or learning about sustainable farming practices, there’s always something to inspire and wow you.
Simply one of the best high-end shopping destinations for Scandinavian design in the world.
Located on an island 45 minutes from Stockholm, this palace is home to Sweden’s royal family. Inspired by Versailles, it features beautiful, ornate rooms and Baroque gardens. It’s also a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Where to Shop
A historic food hall offering a variety of local produce. Östermalms Saluhall is the most famous and my personal favorite for traditional Swedish delicacies and produce. One of the greatest Swedish delicacies is “Löjrom.” It's similar to caviar but finer, prettier, tastier, and much cheaper.
One of Stockholm’s few high-end tailoring houses was established about a decade ago. The brand’s made-to-measure menswear has earned international acclaim, and it also has ateliers in New York and London, with ready-to-wear pieces available online on Mr. Porter.
A townhouse boutique filled with the Swedish fashion label’s neutral-hued, minimalist pieces. Known for its wardrobe staples for women, but I think they’re just as perfect for men as well.
Located in a former bank famous for the 1973 robbery and hostage-taking that led to the term “Stockholm Syndrome.” The store took over three years to complete and was designed by Arquitectura-G in collaboration with British furniture designer Max Lamb and French lighting designer Benoit Lalloz. Stockholm also has an Acne Archive store where you can find discounted previous seasons’ items.
Unisex jewelry made from recycled 925 sterling silver and 24k gold vermeil, handcrafted in Stockholm. Their first retail space, designed in collaboration with architect Jack Dalla Santa, features a bold yet minimal interior with nearly five meters in ceiling height, glass, mirror, and steel elements.
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