Image by Vasco Castro

“These cheeses are extremely good! Where did you buy them?” Lots of people were asking me that, not so long ago, in a party I helped organizing. And they don’t even know the full story: they are terribly cheap too!

When you look into Wijnjas from the street it feels like you are entering a garage. Before you take the chance to enter this basement store, you’ll see piles of cheese boxes at the entrance, but inside lies one of the best selection of cheeses in Stockholm at giveaway prices.

At Wijnjas you can find excellent appenzeller, gorgonzola and brie de Meaux and even if you are not a cheese lover or just want to go for something new, the very knowledgeable personnel in the store will help you choose the best cheese for a party, dinner or just a glass of wine.

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Wijnja’s Ostkällare | Shopping
Bergsgatan 24 | Kungsholmen | +468131425
Mon – Fri 09:00 – 18:00, Sat 10:00 – 15:00

Image by Suzanna Schwarz

You’re walking down Fleminggatan one afternoon. You think you could really do with a drink, but got no idea where to go. After all, you are not in the most exciting part of town. Fear not. Allmänna Galleriet is just a stone’s throw away at Kronobergsgatan.

Allmänna Galleriet is not very clearly signposted, so you need to look out for it. The spacious urban premised are a reconstructed printing house that hosts a small bar section and a restaurant specializing in meat. The bar has a selection of beers, wines and tapas.

The restaurant occupies a separate part of the premises, and offers a Swedish/European style menu of good quality, however fairly pricey. On Friday nights Allmänna Galleriet is overcrowded. A far better option is to go here on a weeknight.

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Allmänna Galleriet | Art & culture, Bars, Restaurants (Swedish)
Kronobergsgatan 37 | Kungsholmen | +46841068100
Tue 17:00 – 23:00, Wed – Sat 17:00 – 01:00

Image by Thomas Gille

Stockholm is supposed to be a trendy city. People in this city are supposed to be very aware of what is trendy. But sometimes we let our hair out and forget all about trends. That’s when we go to Lemon Bar.

Lemon Bar is small, crowded, sweaty and the music is not the best of the newest club music. But that’s why it’s so much fun. I would think that this is one of the happiest bars in town. There is no room for snobs and pretentious people here. Just happy and dancing people.

There is a bar and a dance floor in the basement too so people don’t have to dance on the tables any more. Like they did a couple of years ago. But everybody is still very happy.

So, what’s the deal with the music? There are a lot of Eurovision song contest-music, old Bon Jovi-songs and some Bryan Adams. You get the picture. But everybody sings a long and pretend (or not) that they love it. Even me. There is no room for being a music snob here. Which is great fun at some occasions.

If this is not what you are looking for, but you are in the area, you can always turn to Lokal. A nice, more “mature” bar next door.

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Lemon Bar | Bars, Music | Beer SEK 50.00
Scheelegatan 8 | Kungsholmen | +4686501778
Mon – Wed 17:00 – 01:00, Thu – Sat 17:00 – 03:00

Image by Anna Östman

Going to Caliente when it’s getting more and more frio here in Stockholm is a great escape from the real world outside. Sure, it’s beautiful when it’s white and snowy here, but I don’t really like the cold. That’s when I just want to indulge myself in good food to be happy again. Which is what you get at Caliente.

I have been to Spain a few times, but I have to say I almost like the Spanish food at Caliente more than the Spanish food in Spain. The tapas at this restaurant are absolutely delicious. I haven’t tried them all, but I cannot remember that I have had any that I didn’t like. I cannot even pick out any favourites. I like them all and try to taste as many as possible. That’s why I have to keep coming back here. To make sure they all have been tasted.

Usually when I come here with my friends we pick about three different tapas each and a couple of extra depending on how many there are of us. All of them to share in between us. The tables are small so it will be overflowed with food and I cannot help feeling like a child in a candy store. Never knowing which one to start with.

To make it a little more like Spain you can order a jug of Sangria with your food or a nice Rioja wine. No matter what you choose, you won’t leave here disappointed.

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Caliente | Restaurants (Spanish) | Tapas SEK 60.00
Fleminggatan 22 | Kungsholmen | +4686522686
Mon – Fri 17:00 – open end, Sat – Sun 15:00 – open end

Image by Anna Östman

It’s my firm belief that I’m a reincarnated Italian. There can’t be another reason why I eat so much pasta. And love it so much. If I go out for dinner, I tend to most often choose an Italian restaurant. From all the Italians in Stockholm, one of my favourites is La Famiglia.

A good Italian restaurant should be small and intimate, if you ask me. La Famiglia has room for quite a few customers, but the place is divided into three seating areas so it feels quite small. My experience of Italy is not more than a daytrip to a small town on the Austrian border, but I would assume that this is what a typical restaurant would look like in Italy. (Because it looks like any Italian restaurant in an American movie.)

So what about the food? It’s delicious. A couple of years ago I went there for my birthday dinner and had the best saltimbocca ever. A perfect birthday present. They also serve a pasta dish with Italian sausage and tomato sauce. Fantastic. The other dishes are great too, but those two are the kind of dinners you never forget. If you round up the dinner with their marvelous chocolate cake you will leave the place with a smile that last for a quite a while.

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La Famiglia | Restaurants | Pasta dish SEK 150.00
Alströmergatan 45 | Kungsholmen | +4686506310
Mon – Sat 17:30 – 00:00, Sun 17:30 – 23:00