City Guide: Stockholm
Hot on the heels of Stockholm Fashion Week comes my Stockholm City Guide. I spent three days in the Stockholm last week and had an amazing time, helped out no end by my friend and lingerie designer Noemi Ivanova who created for me the very best tips and hints on where to eat and drink in the city. I’ve included all her dining favourites here along with some of my own thoughts about where to stay and shop in Stockholm.
Stockholm is a beautiful city to visit in the winter as well as, I hear, in the summer months. Despite the snow and the cold there are plenty of spots to keep you warm, well fed and well dressed (Stockholm fashion is dark in its palette and the weather necessitates layering which the Swedes do best!)
Where to stay:
Nobis Hotel – perfectly positioned for a short hop across the road to Berns Salonger where the Stockholm Fashion Week catwalk shows are held. Nobis is a contemporary, luxury hotel with modern interiors and a spacious lounge and bar for socializing. Try the pasta of the day at the hotel’s bistro, my fashion week fuel.
Berns Hotel – both hotel and palace of entertainment, with a cute terrace and several bars inside.
Miss Clara – recommended to me by a friend for its central location. A former girls’ school built in 1910, now Miss Clara’s newly refurbished art nouveau styling makes for a serene and classy hotel stay.
Where to shop:
Where else but Acne Studios? Their Normalmstrong branch had an amazing sale on whilst I was there, I may have picked something up from their SS14 collection…
Carin Wester – Swedish designer of classic, relaxed and elegant garments in keeping with the dark palette of Stockholm (black, blue and grey) with playful prints each season. Stocked at Grandpa on Sodermannagatan 21.
Sandqvist – the very best in uncomplicated and beautiful bags. Check out their new Icon series, a collection of minimalist yet luxurious leather styles. Visit their shop on Swedenborgsgatan 3.
Eating and drinking:
Restaurants in Östermalm – near the Nobis Hotel and Berns Hotel (where the shows are held)
Bouqeria – tapas at Mood Gallerian, on Norrlandsgatan/Jakobsbergsgatan (entrance is on Jakobsbergsgatan). Modern Spanish cuisine with great food and a touch of party atmosphere later in the evening. Relaxed dinner mood. Many tables – no need to book.
Brillo is a new place at Sturegatan close to Stureplan (the “mushroom”) with a big space made like several restaurants in one – from pizza at the entrance to a nicer dinner inside. Also good if you want to grab something nice but without a reservation. Popular for DJs playing.
Ekstedt – great grill restaurant with a popular Swedish chef. All food is grilled over an open fire. Very good yet expensive. Book a table; usually you need to do this some time in advance. Just around the corner from Brillo.
Riche – classical Stockholm restaurant with French touch. A restaurant (“senior part”) and side bar (“younger part”), the later is the place to meet the media crowd. You usually end up here sooner or later if you’re out in Stockholm. Crowded and hip. The restaurant has great food and is nice to have lunch at. Relaxed with great service. Located just behind Norrmalmstorg.
Operakällarens bakficka – the smaller less posh part of Operakällaren. Classical Swedish cuisine. Good and elegant but not too much.
Another posh spot is Strandvägen 1 that you will pass if you stroll on Strandvägen.
Restaurang B.A.R. a touch of Gothenburg in Stockholm – a fish and shellfish restaurant. This is a good one!
Matbaren – a modern bistro. It’s chef Mathias Dahlgrens more casual restaurant and a must if you want to have very good food in Stockholm. Reservation is also a must if you want a table.
And not far from B.A.R. and Matbaren is Lydmar – a hotel and restaurant. Nice to go for a drink if you tired and want to feel like home.
Gamla stan – the ‘old town’ is the small island between Kungsträdgården and Södermalm. Here you have some great spots too:
Le Rouge – good Brasserie in very cozy location if you want a little ‘tete a tete’.
Djuret – great meat restaurant with seasonal menu. The concept is that the menu starts with one aminal at the time and includes it fully. They also have various other restaurants in the city that are all good.
Flying Elk – if you love a great Hamburger and want to visit a hipster pub, then don’t miss this one.
Södermalm is the other island and here is where the Hipsters live – both as a joke but also as reality This used to be (a long time ago) where the working class people lived. Here are some popular spots:
Häktet – restaurant and bar in a former jail. Food ok – but the drinks are great. Relaxed and the crowd is mixed with cool kids.
Gondolen – a classic restaurant on Slussen with great view. It is part of the Katarina elevator which used to be part of citys landmark in the 50/60s. A bit worn now but nice to see the view and have a good drink.
Himlen därtill – a skybar located in the former tax-building of Stockholm. Beautiful view over Södermalm and further on a clear day. It would be beautiful to go there and have a look earlier when it’s not too dark, specially when it’s all white of snow like it often is in February! Popular for the winter months and not so hip a la “beard-dude” like rest of SOFO.
Pelikan – a classical Swedish cuisine restaurant. It has been around for ages and serves great meatballs. A must if you want to have regular, but good, Swedish food. Like Operakällarens bakficka, but for more ‘ordinary’ locals.
Tjoget - a bar/restaurant in the heart of Hornstull, the hipster heart of Stockholm. Very popular and local. Quite new with a nice atmosphere and good food with a french Bistro touch. Has a barber inside and if you want to meet the 30 bearded men you can do so here. And girls with red lipstick.
With thanks to Made by Noemi for the wonderful city tips and to Shop Pyramid for taking me along with them to Stockholm Fashion Week. Planning a trip? Do let me know if you find this city guide useful!
Photos of me taken at Nobis Hotel, Stockholm. Wearing: Marika Vera bodysuit; Jigsaw coat and Whistles boyfriend jean.
