City Guide : Stockholm
Hello everyone, it’s Lisa! If you follow my YouTube, you know that I recently took a week-long holiday, exploring both Stockholm and the region of Lapland. It was such an incredible trip, my first time going to these places! I absolutely fell in love with the city of Stockholm. The vibe is effortlessly chic, the city is walkable, and there are so many charming places to explore.
For this post, I’m focusing specifically on Stockholm rather than Lapland, as I have so many great addresses and recommendations to share from my time in the city. Since I had such a great experience, I wanted to share my recommendations for the best places to eat, drink, and explore in Stockholm. I’ve put together a list of the restaurants and spots I personally tried, as well as a few highly recommended places that I didn’t get a chance to visit but will definitely be on my list for next time. Hopefully, this guide serves as some inspiration if you’re planning a trip to Stockholm!
Watch the vlog on my Youtube channel here : part 1 and part 2.
Our home away from home : Where did we stay ?
We kicked off our trip in Stockholm, explored Lapland, and then ended our trip in Stockholm which means we stayed at two different hotels in Stockholm. But guess what? They were part of the same hotel group, so they had a super similar vibe but in different neighborhood. And let me tell you, the vibe was so cool! Highly recommend both!
Tip: Stockholm has so many awesome breakfast and coffee spots, so I wouldn’t bother booking a hotel with breakfast. Keep scrolling for the best breakfast recommendation !
Villa Dagmar :
This was my favorite of the two, it was just so cool! The aesthetic was on point, and there was this amazing patio area where you could grab drinks. It even felt like locals came to hang out there, which I loved! The vibe totally reminded me of Hotel Costes in Paris… if you know, you know!
I also loved the neighborhood, such a great area! Super chic, with all the luxury shops, plus trendy and stylish restaurants. And the bed was insane it was like sleeping on a cloud. Hands down, one of the best pillow and duvet sets I’ve ever experienced!
They also have the cutest little apero spot as part of the hotel, where we had a great glass of wine with a charcuterie board. I love that they put candles everywhere, and the best part? It has its own entrance, so you don’t even have to be staying at the hotel to go there.
Villa Dagmar, Nybrogatan 25-27, 114 39 Stockholm, Suède
Villa Dahlia :
When we got back to Stockholm after Lapland, we stayed at Villa Dahlia (love the name!). We chose it for the aesthetic, but especially for the neighborhood since we hadn’t explored that area yet. And it did not disappoint! The staff was super kind, and the rooms were super cozy (which was much needed after the Ice Hotel, haha). The vibe was really similar to Villa Dagmar.
They also have a rooftop, which must be amazing when the weather’s warmer. Plus, it’s super convenient, just a 10-minute walk from the Arlanda Express, which takes you straight to the airport!
Villa Dahlia, Tegnérlunden 8, 113 59 Stockholm, Suède
Sips and bits : Where did we eat ?
Breakfast / Coffee spots :
Pom & Flora : This was our first breakfast in Stockholm, and we loved it! I had the apple cinnamon porridge, it was so warm and comforting, perfect for the chilly day. Also, the green juice was so good : apple, pineapple, lemon, and spinach.
Pom & Flora, Odengatan 39, 113 51 Stockholm, Suède
Gast : At the end of our trip, when we booked Villa Dahlia, I had already spotted Gast since everyone was raving about it. It was super convenient, just a 5-minute walk from our hotel. Not gonna lie, I kind of picked the hotel because it was so close to Gast, haha, and let me tell you, it did not disappoint!
This ended up being our favorite breakfast spot. We loved the space and the food selection, we couldn’t decide because everything looked amazing. We went with the eggs Benedict, Nutella pancakes, and the berries & mascarpone pancakes, and wow… chef’s kiss. I still think about that breakfast now that I’m back in Paris. My boyfriend even said it was the best eggs Benedict he’s had in a long time!
Oh, and you have to try the green juice! I don’t know if they switch it up, but that day it had jalapeño, kale, apple, and lemon. I was super hesitant, but I ended up obsessed. I’m actually gonna try to recreate it at home (and if it turns out good, I’ll vlog it for you!).
Anyway, no need to keep rambling you get it. I highly recommend this place!
Gast, Rådmansgatan 57, 113 60 Stockholm, Suède
La Fabrique : I stopped by La Fabrique, a bakery chain, to try their famous cardamom knot bun and I absolutely loved it!
La Fabrique, Nybrogatan 6, 114 34 Stockholm, Suède
Banacado : This spot is super close to Villa Dahlia, and if we had an extra day, I definitely would’ve gone for breakfast! It was such a cute place, and they even have a terrace which must be amazing when it’s sunny. They had açaí bowls (aka my new obsession) and granola bowls, but since we stopped by after lunch, we just grabbed a coffee. Adding this one to my list for next time!
Banacado, Tegnérgatan 6, 113 58 Stockholm, Suède
Other recommendations :
Store Bageriet
Café Pascal
Lillebror
Socker Sucker
Lunch / Dinner spots :
Rolf Kok : This place was recommended by the sweetest receptionist at Villa Dahlia. We reserved a table for two at lunch. If you're two, definitely ask for a spot by the window, it’s such a cute little corner. The food was amazing, super gourmet. I had the fish stew and it was chef's kiss. Honestly, I wish I could recreate it at home!
Rolf Kok, Tegnérgatan 41, 111 61 Stockholm, Suède
Tako : We went there for dinner after passing by the night before and seeing it packed, looked like a cool spot the locals love, so we knew we had to book a reservation. The Asian food menu was amazing and everything was so tasty! You’ve got to try the bao buns. I really loved the vibe there. I’d definitely recommend going for dinner rather than lunch.
Tako, Grev Turegatan 1, 114 34 Stockholm, Suède
Chez Jolie : On our first night, we didn’t have a reservation and didn’t know the city, so we trusted the receptionist at Villa Dagmar. She booked us a table at Chez Jolie, just a 5-minute walk away. The place is beautiful and packed! It’s French food, and maybe because it’s French we’re a bit pickier, but we thought the food was good, not amazing. Honestly, I feel like there are other spots in Stockholm that are more worth it.
Chez Jolie, Ingmar Bergmans gata 2, 114 34 Stockholm, Suède
Other recommendations :
Café Nizza
Ciccio’s
Grusgrus
Cantina lola
Schmaltz
Highlights of our days : What did we do?
I wish we had more time in Stockholm to explore more places, but you know what that means : I’ve gotta go back. Honestly, it was so sunny (really cold, but sunny haha), so we just walked around to get a feel of the different neighborhoods. I just think it’s such a nice way to discover a city, just by strolling around.
Neighborhoods we loved:
Östermalm: Our first hotel, Villa Dagmar, was in this neighborhood, so it was the first one we explored. It’s super chic! Luxury shops, trendy restaurants, we loved it!
Gamla Stan : If you’re visiting Stockholm, you have to check out this neighborhood since it’s the historic city center. The architecture is beautiful, and it’s just so nice to wander around the little cobblestone streets. Plus, you can see the Stockholm Palace! I wouldn’t recommend shopping or eating there though, it felt more touristy and not very authentic.
Vasastan : This is where our second hotel was, and we really liked this neighborhood. It had so many great breakfast spots, coffee shops, and restaurant recommendations!
Nordiska Kompaniet :
If you’re looking for a luxury department store, this is the spot. Such a gorgeous space with so many brands. I personally went to check out the Swedish makeup brand Caia and finally got to see all their products in person.
Östermalms Saluhall :
We actually stumbled upon this place by chance while walking around the neighborhood, and it was such a great surprise. It’s a super chic food hall, the kind where you just want to sit and try everything. Plus, there’s a direct access from Villa Dagmar to the food hall.
The National Museum :
On our last day, we planned to go there, but unfortunately, it only opens at 11 am and we had to check out of the hotel. I’m so sad we missed it, but I’d definitely recommend it, they were having an exhibition of Bonnard paintings, which looked very interesting !
Swedish brands you will love :
Stockholm is such a cool girl city : effortlessly chic, stylish, and low-key luxe. If you're into fashion and beauty, you have to check out these Swedish brands while you're there:
Toteme (Fashion)
Chimi (Sunglasses)
Little Liffner (Bags)
Filippa K (Fashion)
House of Dagmar (Fashion)
Arket (Fashion)
Caia cosmetic (Beauty)
To wrap up this article, I wanted to share an amazing recommendation list we got from our hotel, Villa Dahlia. We only got it at the end of our trip, but I thought it was such a smart idea for a hotel to put together a curated list of spots their guests might love!
Bisous, Bisous
Lisa
Great description of the city