Just the other day I took the boat to an island named Grinda, it’s situated outside of Vaxholm which is a spot I’ve been talking about before in these articles. There are two greats benefits to visiting Grinda. First of all you get to experience a genuine archipelago relatively close to Stockholm. Secondly it’s a nature preserve which makes the whole island accessible for all visitors. You can hang around and sunbathe wherever you ike!

The island has two ports and most of the activities are situated around “Södra Grinda”. There you’ll find the most departures from, a restaurant, a bar, hotel and more. The restaurant is established inside of an old, magnificent summerhouse. Go there, and enjoy their classic fish soup and a nice wine on a sunny day!

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Grinda | Relaxing, Restaurants (Classic Swedish) | Main meal +/- SEK 195
Södra Grinda | City/Norrmalm | +46854249491
Check website

The Swedish landscape has extremely beautiful lakes, forests and mountains that are used by most Swedes all year round. Even inside Stockholm it is possible to find a green park or a peaceful lake where one can relax in contact with the nature.

Another thing that makes this city special is the archipelago which is just a short boat trip east out of town. Even though it is very popular among locals during summertime, as the temperature of the baltic sea allows summer baths, the archipelago can also be rather spectacular throughout all seasons.

Utö is a traditional destination, which allow for great walks and bathing (the water temperature in the baltic is around 20˚C in the Summer). Another advantage of being in one of the bigger islands (as Utö) is that if you want to socialize during the evening, just head up for the local pub where there will be some partying going on. For a more calm experience just pick any small island next to Utö like Ålö and Rånö.

Most of the boats leave from the centre of town or Nynäshamn and are one hour away from most islands. Take a newspaper, a book and your camera, head out for a day in an island of your choice and enjoy a delicious meal at one of the great archipelago restaurants before coming back. But if you have the time for it, why not staying an extra day at one of the beautiful inns opened all year round?

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Archipelago | Relaxing | Strömkajen – Grinda SEK 170.00
Strömkajen | City/Norrmalm | +4686795830
Daily

One of the best dishes to warm yourself right down to your bones during Stockholm’s seriously cold winters is a piping hot bowl of one of Stockholm’s most popular fish soups located in Hotorgshallen (my article about Hotorgshallen here).

Its a ‘restaurant’ hugely popular with tourists and locals alike, one for its location in the middle of the city and for its affordability. 85kr gets you a scrumptious bowl of their fish soup (including mussels, shrimps and a generous spoonful of garlic aoili), dark and white bread with butter and a small salad. Apart from their famous fish soups, their menu is comprised of traditional Swedish seafood dishes like ‘nystektstromming’ and salmon.

Its a definite must-try when you come to Stockholm. The restaurants tables quickly fill to maximum capacity during lunch hours with suits and ties, backpackers and hungry students tired from a day of hardcore H&M shopping.

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Kajsas Fisk | Restaurants (Swedish/Seafood) | Fish soup SEK 85
Hötorgshallen, 11157 | City/Norrmalm | +468207262
Mon – Thu 10:00 – 18:00, Fri 10:00 – 18:30, Sat 10:00 – 16:00

What stockholm lacks in Starbucks, it makes up for with H&Ms. This is my guide to some of the best H&M’s in Stockholm city. Take it from a local, we know Stockholm and we definitely know our H&Ms.

The first category I wanted to tip you all about is an H&M collection that features unique pieces that look and feel more designed than the ‘average’ H&M line. For this, I go to the flagship store located across Gallerian (here), one on Gotgatan (indie shopping street of Stockholm) or to the one located on the corner of Drottninggatan and Master Samuelsgatan. Only at these stores do they display the Trend collection (as its known).

Look out for the purple label for menswear and the white label for women. The prices are of course slightly higher than usual but you’re getting pieces that look and feel more luxe.

If it’s time to spruce up my bedroom with new sheets, H&M Home would be my first option. H&M Home products are only stocked in one store in Stockholm which is located on the corner of Drottninggatan. It’s a refreshing, affordable and unique H&M to visit to source for gifts or unnecessary glittery silver laundry bins.So now the time has come to whip out your Visas and kronors and spend, spend, spend! Don’t think twice if it looks nice. You’re on holiday after all!

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H&M Uncovered | Shopping
Drottninggatan | City/Norrmalm
Mon – Fri 10:00 – 19:00, Sat 10:00 – 18:00, Sun 12:00 – 17:00

When I think of street food, Stockholm definitely does not immediately spring to mind. However, although limited in choices and variety, there is one little gem that can save the city’s street cred. Apart from the usual ‘korv med bröd’/hot dog, my favorite thing to order is a “tunnbrodsrulle”. Actually, its more of a meal than a street snack.

Tunnbrödsrulle means ‘thin-bread roll’ in english and what it is, is mashed potatoes, one or two sausages, salad, tomatoes and räksallad (shrimp salad) all wrapped in a soft thin Swedish tortilla bread. Granted, not every hot dog stall will serve this monster wrap but just look for a larger sized grill and it is sure to be on the menu.

It’s typically Swedish and its as comforting as Friday night on the couch with a good movie and a warm blanket. Thats how it feels, tastes and looks. The combination of all the ingredients is just perfect as well. The warm soft mash potatoes with the crunchy chewy sausage and refreshing raksallad is the perfect takeaway for me after a night out while I’m sitting waiting for my bus home at 3 in the morning. With my tunbrodsrulle I never feel alone.

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Tunnbrödsrullar | Snacks | Tunnbrödsrulle SEK 50
All over the city | City/Norrmalm
Daily

An authentic, affordable and delicious Mexican restaurant hidden away on a small street in downtown Stockholm makes La Neta the best taco restaurant in Stockholm period. Its a unique local favorite where everything thats served on the brightly colored plates are freshly made by the Mexican chefs: the soft taco fillings, guacamole and even the tortilla breads, which are made by the machines specially brought in from Mexico!

After a tiresome day of shopping on the main high street of Stockholm, La Neta is my number one restaurant that comes to mind when I wanna tug into some fast and tasty comfort food and destress. It’s my favorite place to introduce to friends and family because no one suspects to find such a refreshing Mexican restaurant right in the city center and to top it off its cheap and has great Mexican beers that can only be found here.

Its often always full of locals, international students and occasionally tourists, but seating has never been a problem for me. The restaurant feels really lively and fun, you can even get shots of tequila with your tacos! La Neta is located below street level and you sit close to the other guests on the picnic-like tables and get your grub on. Friendly, fun and delicious!

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La Neta | Bars, Restaurants (Mexican) | Taco Grande SEK 45
Barnhusgatan 2 | City/Norrmalm | +4684115880
Mon – Fri 11:00 – 21:00, Sat – Sun 12:00 – 21:00

To be honest, what really draws me back to Köttbaren is the atmosphere and the interior of the restaurant rather than the food. Don’t get me wrong, the food here IS good, otherwise I would not return regardless of how nice the place is. It feels very cozy at Köttbaren. I think it’s the heavy dark brown wooden tables, the candles reflecting off the copper pots hanging on the walls and the open kitchen where the chefs prepare and plates the diners meals. A bottle of wine, a few good friends and a hearty dinner. That’s everything about Köttbaren in a nutshell.

Köttbaren is Swedish for Meat Bar. So if you’re vegetarian, you might as well stop reading now and head on over to our review of Hermans Vegetarian Buffet. As you can gather from the name, at Köttbaren it’s meat, meat, and more meat. Choose from a daily special, steak, burger, steak tartare and my personal favorite Pelle Janzon, which is more of an appetizer to share in my opinion but a definite must-try! Its basically thinly sliced marbled oxfilet, egg yolk and fish roe all on top of a slice of toast garnished with lemon juice.

Quite popular with the locals on the weekend and they don’t take reservations so try and get there around 19:00 to avoid a long waiting. Although, their bartenders do make awesome cocktails so it wouldn’t be a total waste a time…

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Köttbaren | Bars, Shopping | Main course +/- SEK 150
Tegnergatan 32 | City/Norrmalm | +46850524426
Mon – Fri 11:15 – 23:00, Sat 12:00 – 23:00

Vigårda is the latest restaurant venture by one of the best restaurant groups (in my opinion) in Stockholm, F12. Vigårda is their latest addition and their first foray into a fast food. The restaurant is located in the newly opened mall Mood in central Stockholm and serves up some tasty gourmet burgers.

You can choose your choice of barbecue meats e.g. chicken, lamb and pork or their signature original burger, then choose between fries or a type of salad (quinoa and edamame, fresh salad etc..) and a sauce (curry apple, BBQ). The best thing about the burger was probably the amazing burger buns! Mums.

I tried the original burger and it was absolutely delicious. The environment is great, as is all F12′s restaurants, the food is of a noticeable higher quality (not just compared to McDonalds and Max…) and the presentation is quirky and fun too. Everything is served in recycled paper bento-type boxes and the thick cut potato fries are perfection in a paper cup.

It’s a great place to go for lunch when you’re shopping around Stockholm. It’s already a huge hit with the locals. The burgers start at 75 kronor and prices range depending on the type of meat as well as how much meat, as you have a choice of adding 25% or 50% more meat so don’t worry about leaving hungry.

Also, check out the Köttbaren article, another F12 restaurant I love!

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Vigårda | Snacks, Restaurants (Burgers) | Original Burger SEK 75
Norrlandsgatan 13 | City/Norrmalm
Mon – Thu 10:00 – 21:00, Fri – Sat 10:00 – 23:00 , Sun 11:00 – 19:00

In each major area or hub of Stockholm city, you’ll be able to find different indoor ‘markets’ where you can go to buy high quality meats. fresh produce, dried herbs and etc. Perhaps the most famous of them and quite popular for the tourists and locals alike is Ostermalmshallen. However, in this post I’ll be talking about the lesser known, ever-busy Hotorgshallen located right in the city center.

Everytime my sister and I shop on Drottningatan we make it a point to stop here (like many of the other shoppers) to recharge and get our dose of vitamins and minerals with the huge variety of dried fruits, nuts and berries which are free to sample and try. We used to be quite shy but now its a fight with the other curious and hungry shoppers to get the last dried Incaberry.

Along with the meat and seafood vendors you can find different restaurants, fine chocolates as well as a Finnish food store all in Hotorgshallen. It’s definitely one of the most diverse halls in Stockholm city. What’s special about Hotorgshallen and all other ‘halls’ in Stockholm is that every vendor has very high standards for the freshness and quality of what they sell or serve, so you are sure to be getting the very best without having to pay a very high price!

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Hötorgshallen | Art & culture, Coffee & tea, Shopping, Restaurants (Fresh)
Hötorgshallen, 11157 | City/Norrmalm
Mon – Thu 10:00 – 18:00, Fri 10:00 – 18:30, Sat 10:00 – 16:00

The fairytale about the islands who lost it’s loaf…

Once upon a time there was an island named Utö which had a long tradition of baking. Most widely known is their dark loaf that’s been named after the island. A couple of years ago a charming and wealthy gentleman knocked on the door of the baker who owned the secret recipe and asked for permission to come in.

After a few hours the gentleman took the boat back to the mainland and little did the other people know, that in his pocket he held a copy of the secret recipe. As the news got out that the old bakery had sold their recipe to the gentleman a great depression hit the island. The years went by and people got on with their lives, until last summer.

One morning the people on the island sensed something in the air, what was it, springtime? Were the lilac in bloom? They all started to move towards the main harbor to find that a new bakery had opened. The old loaf was far gone and forgotten. A young man with fiery cheeks was baking the most exquisite breads and rolls. The island had regained its glory. As the summer went along it turned out that the young man was one of Sweden’s most promising bakers. 

Take a tour to Utö, follow the scent of fresh baked delicacies and you will be able to get a taste of the island.

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Utö | Coffee & tea, Snacks
Gruvbryggan, Utö | City/Norrmalm
Easter, weekends in May | Daily from 1st of June