The Scandi Series: Sweden Edition
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Welcome to The Scandi Series, a four-part travel series exploring the North of Europe and sharing everywhere you need to go to tick off those TikTok trends while feeling like a local.
Starting from the bottom and working our way up the map, this series will cover everything from food, drinks, adventures, and places to stay so you can live your best Scandi-girl life.
If you missed it part one of this series focusing on Copenhagen and it can be found here.
For the second instalment, we are moving up north to the largest city in Scandinavia and home of the cinnamon bun. Say hello to Stockholm!
Now, prepare yourselves because this is going to a long article – after living in this city for the last seven months I am going to share with you all my favourite places to eat, walk and explore that aren’t the stereotypical Stockholm tourist hotspots.
The best bageris
Now, if there is one thing that Sweden is good at, it’s their sweet treats. When I first moved over to Stockholm in the dead of winter there was only one thing that got me through the days of darkness and that was their warm kanelbullar (cinnamon buns) and kardemummabullar (cardamon buns) with a coffee in hand. Even as we approached summer, the Stockholm bageris never failed to surprise me with each of my go-to spots rolling out their own take on the sommarbulle (summer bun). With bakeries on pretty much every corner in this city, I have tried my fair share of these sweets over the last seven months but here are my top three bakeries.
Lilliebrors Bageri: Best at cardamon buns
Located in my all-time favourite area in Stockholm, St Eriksplan, this quaint little bakery always has a queue, rain, hail or shine (or in Sweden’s case, snow!). If that doesn’t signal a good place, I’m not sure what does.
As a takeaway only venue, the bakers at Lillebrors are constantly kneading and preparing fresh trays of kardemummabullar to ensure there’s not an hour where you can’t get your hands on these warm tasty treats.
If you ask me, it’s the best $5 you will spend in Stockholm.
Stora Bageriet: Best at crispy pastries
With two venues across Stockholm city, Stora Bageriet is the perfect sweet stop to visit when exploring. Along with baking some of the city’s best crispy pastries, this funky bakery is also open for breakfast and lunch, with their Östermalm store featuring an outdoor terrace, which is perfect for a morning spent enjoying the sun.
Hot tip: Whilst I am not a chocolate lover myself, all my friends said their pain au chocolat are to die for, however, I would argue their summer danish topped with fresh fruit is one of their best.
Bullar & Bröd: Best at cinnamon buns
Despite not being the most centrally located bakery in Stockholm, Bullar & Bröd is definitely worth the visit (don’t confuse this with Bröd & Salt – the mass bakery chain in Sweden). With their name translating to ‘buns and bread’, this bakery does not disappoint, with freshly baked sourdough available to purchase every morning and cinnamon buns for days.
Cheeky tip: If you’re visiting Stockholm in the month of February be sure to visit Bullar and try their kardemummabullesemla – a cardamon bun filled with almond paste and whipped cream. Heaven in a mouthful!
The best bars
So, I’ll be honest with you – going out in Stockholm comes with a hefty price tag, but man, are there some cool bars in this city.
Despite living here for as long as I have, I can’t say that I have tried that many bars, but those that I have managed to visit are ones that I would highly recommend. Here are my go-top spots.
Mellqvist Kaffebar: Best for feeling like a local
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Mellqvist Kaffebar was one of the first bars I visited when I arrived in Stockholm, and I instantly fell in love with the place. Like Lillebrors, Mellqvist is tucked away in St Eriksplan, along Rörstrandsgatan, a street filled with bars of all kinds.
With both indoor and terrace seating Mellqvist is the perfect spot for enjoying a cocktail in the sun or a glass of wine under the heater, and I will say that they make a darn good G&T!
From friendly bar staff to its vibey jazz bar atmosphere, Mellqvist is definitely place that the locals opt for, but also one that openly welcomes internationals.
Mosebacketerrassen – Best for a casual outdoor beer
When asked where to grab a beer in Stockholm in the summer the perfect place that comes to mind is Mosebacketerrassen.
This open-air terrace is a bustling gathering place for Stockholmers with great views of the city and casual bench seating. With an age limit of 20 years and up, Mosebacketerrassen is a spot where you can successfully avoid having to deal with antics of first-time drinkers whilst enjoying a social warm summer evening amongst friends.
Freyja + Söder – Best for their skyline view
In Stockholm there are several rooftop bars you can visit to witness the city’s skyline. My favourite is Freyja + Söder.
With panoramic views, indoor and outdoor seating, and an older age limit, Söder can only be described as a classy yet vibrant drinking venue. Having been on a break from alcohol over the last couple of months, for those non-drinkers out there Söder has some great non-alcoholic options to choose from (I highly recommended the cherry soda with a glass of ice!).
One thing to note – You do have to be 23 or older to visit this venue.
The best coffee stops
Maybe I have grown up spoiled by the great coffee shops available at my fingertips back in Sydney and Canberra or maybe it’s just an Australian personality trait, but I am very picky about what you could call a good cup of coffee. So, when moving over to Stockholm back in January, I made it my mission to find the best places to serve my morning addiction.
Thankfully, unlike some European cities, the Swedes have hit the nail of the head when it comes to sourcing and roasting good coffee beans. But like any person of routine, I have my go-to spots. Here they are.
Café Pascal: Best for Aussies craving a good flat white
At the top of my list and servers of the best flat white is Café Pascal.
Roasting their own beans, this cosy café knows just how to brew that perfect cuppa, creating distinct, strong flavours like no other in Stockholm. With three locations around the city, I would argue their Vasastan venue is the best, with plenty of seating, a great friendly team and overall social atmosphere. And maybe, just maybe, I also hold a little bit of bias towards this spot as well, with the manager coincidentally being a fellow Aussie.
Drop Coffee Shop: Best for coffee enthusiasts
Drop Coffee is a small-scale, independent coffee roaster in Stockholm with a café hidden away in the streets of Mariatorget. Open Monday to Sunday, Drop Coffee selects a new roast to showcase each week, however, customers can also explore an extensive menu of brew options with flavours suited to different taste preferences.
So, if you are a coffee enthusiast looking to explore the coffee world abroad this might just be the spot for you!
Svedjan Bageri: Best for those looking for a hidden gem
This hidden gem is located just outside of the city, making it the perfect place to visit if you’re wanting to escape the hustle and bustle of Stockholm life.
From tasty, sweet treats made with organic ingredients to cups of coffee that are just strong enough to keep you buzzing all day, Svedjan Bageri in Zinkendamm is a great place to go to avoid the steep prices charged in central Stockholm all while getting your hands on quality coffee.
As a local favourite, the south side café often attracts a crowd so don’t be intimidated if there happens to be a queue on your next visit!
The best places to explore
Now I could have written all about the usual tourist attractions – like Gamla Stan, the ABBA museum or even Skansen – but I figured there are the plenty of tourist guide books that can help with you that. Instead, I want to share with you the more unique, locally recommended experiences that you can add to your itinerary.
Rosendals Trädgård: Best afternoon tea spot
Tucked away on the picturesque island of Djurgården located in the heart of Stockholm city, Rosendal Trädgård cafe is a secret garden oasis that gives you a true taste of Sweden country life.
Only a short walk from the tram and bus stop over Djurgårdsbron bridge, a visit to Rosendal is a great way to combine a scenic walk along the canal with an afternoon snack. From delicious lunch plates based on seasonal produce grown onsite to the best carrot cake that I have ever tried, it is always a tough decision on what to buy at this little gem.
Once you have wined and dined at the garden café be sure to also pop past Rosendal’s Farm Store to get yourself a Swedish memento. Bringing together the work done at Rosendal Trädgård, The Farm Store’s shelves are stocked with everything from homemade oil, jams, pickles and spices, freshly baked bread, and handcrafted homewares by local Swedish designers.
Tip: Throughout the summer season and early autumn there is seating in Rosendal’s very own orchard or under their large outdoor terrace – a fantastic spot to soak up the Swedish sun.
Skinnarviksberget: Best view of the city skyline
One amazing thing about Scandinavia in the summer is the longer days. We can have up to 18 hours of the daylight. Crazy, right?
With days of sun come amazing sunsets, and if there is one thing I’ve loved about living in Stockholm this summer it is enjoying a picnic and drinks with friends until the sun goes down. My favourite spot to visit – and many local Stockholmers will agree with me when I say this – is Skinnarviksberget.
As the highest natural point in central Stockholm, the views of Stockholm City Hall and the Old Town from this lookout are stunning. Attracting big groups during the summer season this spot is nothing but social, however, be sure to head here in the early afternoon if you want to grab a good spot.
Vaxholm: Best day-trip from the city
Did you know Sweden has the most islands in the world? 267,570 to be exact. So why not, tick off one of them while you’re visiting Stockholm?
Vaxholm located in the Stockholm archipelago region is an easy one-hour ferry ride out of the city. This scenic journey along the water is a great way to escape the city and embrace the natural surroundings of Sweden.
With swimming spots scattered around the island and plenty of cute café’s serving traditional Swedish plates, Vaxholm makes the perfect day trip and island destination for tourists that have limited time in Stockholm.
Local tip: If you happen to be visiting Sweden around Midsommer (21 June), Vaxholm is a great place to go celebrate the occasion with traditional maypole dances and folk music taking place in the town square. I also highly recommend ordering the Midsommer feast served at Vaxholm Hembygdsgårds Café.
