Södermalm – Local tips (coffee & tea)

This is a lovely café. They make delicious sandwiches and use organic ingredients, try my favourite “Shiva” with lots of garlic. The environment is warm and homely with a kitschy touch. The first room is green, the next one blue and the one further back is red. When it’s nice weather you should fetch a table outside, really nice and relaxing.

My favourite room is the red one where you find the nicest photo (at first glance I though it was a painting). It’s of a friendly dog and it’s framed with a really kitschy, gold frame. There’s something about that friendly dog. Excellent shit!

The blue room have many mirrors with golden frames, stars on the walls and a nice painting of Virgin Mary. The green room is the largest one and if you can squeeze in by the window (this spot is pretty small) you should, it’s a delightful little spot with a nice view over the street. The toilet is really nice as well; it’s pink and has a Hindu theme.

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Blå Lotus | Coffee & tea, Snacks | Sandwich SEK 50.00
Katarina Bangata 21 | Södermalm | +4686445043
Mon – Fri 10:00 – 19:00, Sat – Sun 11:00 – 19:00

This summer I passed Café Cinema every morning on my way to work as I lived on Södermannagatan. Ironically, I didn’t go here until I moved a few blocks away – sometimes good places are simply too close to home for one to go there.

Swedish film director Mani Maserrat Agah owns the place and the cinematic theme runs through every part of this lovely little café: the movie theatre chairs, the DVD library and photos from film classics covering the walls.

Café Cinema has a relaxed, unpretentious and genuinely nice atmosphere about it. It is a perfect place to go if you want to work or have a chat with a close friend.
The venue is tiny and only fits about twenty people.

Most of Café Cinema’s customers are locals who live in the neighborhood. The menu is relatively small but well composed, with a selection of cold sandwiches and paninis along with healthy salads and soups, all named after movie stars.

Café Cinema also serves cream tea and an excellent take away breakfast for only 35 kr: perfect in the summer when you want to have your coffee outdoors.

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Cafe Cinema | Coffee & tea
Södermannagatan 39 | Södermalm
Mon – Fri 08:00 – 18:00, Sat 10:00 – 17:00, Sun 11:00 – 17:00

The spot between vegetarian restaurant Chutney and Indian style café Blå Lotus has housed many different enterprises. But I hope that Café Oye is here to stay. The couple behind it is Swedish-Chilean and they have definitley put their own touch to the place – the latino touch!

On the surface it looks like a regular cosy café but if you look closer you can find a bit of South America. The catholic style photos on the walls. The sandwiches with avocado and mayo, something very typical according to the owner. But most of all you can find it in the glass counter where empanadas and special sweets “manjar” are on display.

The classical empanada comes with spicy mince meat, but vegetarians and vegans are well taken care of with soya meat, almost always a vegan soup and soya milk in the coffee. The coffee is actually another thing worth mentioning – they do it well here, so if you want to enjoy a quick espresso standing by one of the bar style tables you’ve come to the right place. And it’s ecological!

I’m not a standing up type of coffee drinker so I prefer the corner to the far right with more comfy chairs. I can spend hours here just chatting with friends or getting some work done on my laptop with the free wifi.

Since there is still no big sign with the name outside, be sure you don’t miss this place.

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Café Oye | Coffee & tea | Combo SEK 65.00
Katarina Bangata 21 | Södermalm | +4686433550
Tue – Fri 09:00 – 19:00, Sat – Sun 10:00 -17:00

Stockholm is packed with cafés that mostly have a modern design or just a cozy one. Rival tries to fill this gap by being a sophisticated and smart but yet homey place to hang out. Its Parisian-like decoration with mirrors and photos of famous and not-so-famous Swedes as well as its big windows turned to the trees of Mariatorget make this spot a great place for meeting a friend, work, study or just reading the daily newspaper.

Café Rival has his own bakery and during lunch time serves great crossover food ranging from soups and pastas to quinoa salads. While it is typically full during lunch time it is possible to find a table without any waiting, most of the time. It is also very popular among locals for an afternoon coffee as it has delicious pastry.

Besides the main local just at the entrance, there is also a smaller one a level above and in case you get to pass by here on a sunny day, just take a sit on the tables outside overlooking the calm Mariatorget park.

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Café Rival | Coffee & tea | Quinoa salad SEK 80.00
Mariatorget 3 | Södermalm | +4654578900
Mon – Fri 08:00 – 20:00, Sat 09:00 – 19:00, Sun 09:00 – 19:00

In the heart of Södermalm is this classic bohemian restaurant with no meat on the menu. During lunch hour you get veggie stews, bami goreng and lasagna for 75 kr. In the evenings there is an à la carte menu with more well prepared dishes of filling quorn filé with mashed potatoes, sauteed tofu with roasted sweet potatoes, halloumi cheese with grilled vegetables and much more.

It is a very simple place and there is no table service – day and evening you order at the counter. The furniture has been the same for many, many years but then again Chutney is in no way trying to be a fancy place. The place is very comfortable with the laid back atmosphere and customers. It’s popular with students – you see more than one table in the afternoon filled with thick books and uni students discussing some project or other.

You can come in here for just a caffe latte as well and even if there are no sandwiches or salads like in the cafés there are plenty of freshly made pies and cakes. Just take a look in the glass front counter and take your pick.

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Chutney | Coffee & tea, Restaurants (Vegetarian) | Quornfilé SEK 130.00
Katarina Bangata 19 | Södermalm | +4686403010
Mon – Fri 11:00 – 22:00, Sat – Sun 12:00 – 22:00

The area Hornstull on Södermalm went from bearing the not so flattering nick name “Kniv-Söder” (Knife Söder) to becoming one of the most hip and coming parts of town. And it all happened in a few years around 2002-2004.

Copacabana rode the new wave and was just what Hornstull needed at the time – a really cosy and relaxed café with a simple but great menu. The location is spot on, facing the water. And recently the movie theatre nextdoor opened up again after long renovations. “Copa” seized the moment and expanded with a door between the two places and put more tables in the lobby of the Rio cinema.

They serve the regular café drinks and food consisting of all sorts of coffees including soya versions for vegans and lactose intolerants, juices and smoothies, an all day breakfast, soup of the week and a few sandwiches including things like Copacabana luxury toast with mango- and chili marinated crayfish, mayo, avocado and salad for 75 kr.

Copacabana writes on their website that they are the “nicest” café in town and they have succeeded. The staff is great, it’s gay friendly and they also arrange events, mostly book readings but also talks on feminism, politics and queer culture. Unfortunately it’s mostly in Swedish.

You can also call to check out what is going on at Rio, as they host small film festivals where documentaries, shorts and much more are screened. And all the information is not always on the web site.

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Copacabana | Art & culture, Coffee & tea, Snacks | Caffe latte SEK 29.00
Hornstulls Strand 3 | Södermalm | +4686692939
Mon – Thu 09:00 – 20:00, Fri 09:00 – 19:00, Sat – Sun 10:00 – 19:00

Located just off Swedenborgsgatan, this bright and minimalistic place offers excellent coffee, pastries and sandwiches, but with an emphasis on coffee.

The place is run by barista and journalist Erik Rosendahl and Oscar Alvérus who used to run “Tvålpalatset”. At Drop coffee they know their coffee but never impose their knowledge on you. As the name indicates, they promote filter coffee but you can get Italian coffee to if you prefer. They offer three different varieties of coffee beans, which can also be purchased.

The front space is occupied by the café, which only has a few tables, all on one row, facing the marble counter. A double glass door covered with thin layers of cotton divides the café from an office space for freelance journalists and designers.

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Drop coffee | Coffee & tea | Coffee from SEK 15.00
Wollmar Yxkullsgatan 10 | Södermalm
Mon – Fri 07:00 – 18:00, Sat – Sun 10:00 – 17:00

This is my favourite café, newly opened and perfectly situated next to small shops and nice parks in the south of Stockholm. I introduce everyone I know to this new pearl.

The interior is very welcoming and inspiring with wallpaper tricking your eye, making you think the place is packed with shelves of books; a very creative and fun atmosphere.

The tiles covering the floor are very beautiful and contribute to the creativity as well. Dostojevskij’s red cushions and chandelier meets Middle Eastern patterns and colours! I love the imaginary bookshelves and the corner with that light green armchair that is placed there just for you, waiting patiently for your books and your thoughts.

But what I love the most is the laidback service and cosy, homely feeling. The people working here are really sweet, their sandwiches delicious and their caffe lattes a piece of art.

If you only have time for one café during your stay in Stockholm – this is your café! I’m sure you’ll love it.

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Gildas rum | Bars, Coffee & tea, Snacks | Caffe latte SEK 32.00
Skånegatan 79 | Södermalm
Mon – Thu 08:00 – 23:00, Fri 08:00 – 20:00, Sat 09:00 – 20:00, Sun 09:00 – 21:00

Placed on the ground floor in Skrapan this is a spacious and bright café. Not very cosy and quiet, but perfect for hanging out a for while and watching all the people shopping in Skrapan shopping centre.

For some reason me and my friend often end up here when we’re out for a coffee or something quick to eat. So I guess it’s time I admit I actually like the place.
There are plenty of seats so you are pretty certain that there is always room. Even during weekends when it’s very busy at most places.

The wifi is free on Götgatan stories if you’re not happy with just people spotting you can surf the internet for more interesting things to occupy your mind with. You can also pick up one the many books on the big table in the middle of the place and dream of exotic hotels or diving spots. I actually think the books are one of the reasons why I tend to come back here.

Even though I often come here for just a coffee and maybe something sweet I would probably more recommend their sandwiches and salads. The salads are big and very tasty. They also have a few hot dishes every day that taste just as good.

They also have a sister cafe now in Gallerian on Hamngatan, called Hamngatan Stories.

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Götgatan Stories | Coffee & tea | Caffe Latte SEK 35.00
Götgatan 78 | Södermalm | +4686430340
Mon – Fri 10:00 – 21:00, Sat 10:00 – 18:00, Sun 11:00 – 18:00

Tired of mainstream books and conventional stuff? Interested in feminism, LGBT/Queer-questions and want to see things from a different perspective? Then this is the bookstore for you!

It’s pink, full of books, papers, movies, clothes, zines, all kinds of kitschy stuff and more. All their movies are in English and lots of their books as well, like their less square children’s books about rainbow families.

On the second floor they have lots of movies, comics, sex toys and second-hand books.

Hallongrottan wants to keep you updated of all queer things and activities going on. You can sign up for their newsletter and get information straight away. They also have their own TV show on the local network and the internet, they invite authors, have lectures of all sorts, show movies and plenty more.

So, sit down by the window, have a cookie (for free) and dive into a book!

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Hallongrottan | Coffee & tea, Shopping, Snacks | Book SEK 200.00
Bergsundsgatan 25 | Södermalm | +4686581320
Tue – Fri 12:00 – 19:00, Sat – Sun 12:00 – 17:00

This is a great place for dinner or just dessert, or both! The buffet is delicious and the pastries are very tasty, especially the carrot-cake. The atmosphere is very cosy and warm.

You always get two buffets for the price of one! And students eat half price every Monday.

It’s situated on a hill, with a great view over the water. It’s cosy both inside and outside. You can sit on the terrace and enjoy the view during colder seasons as well thanks to heaters. During summer they place hammocks outside, best place for relaxing

Instead of a soyalatte you should have tea, the tea is great! The lattes are unfortunately not so great.

They only use organic ingredients and the tea and coffee are fair-trade. Every weekend they set the table with new and different buffets from all over the world. A very inventive and aware restaurant you shouldn’t miss out on!

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Hermans | Coffee & tea, Restaurants (Vegetarian) | Buffet from SEK 68.00
Fjällgatan 23 | Södermalm | +4686439480
11:00 – 21:00 daily

Sometimes a bar is just a bar and that’s the only reason why you like hanging out there. Imperiet is one of these bars.

Imperiet is placed on the ground and second floor in Skrapan. Skrapan used to be the building where the tax authorities had their offices. Now it’s housing a shopping center and student flats.

The first floor is a café daytime and a bar at night. Upstairs there is a restaurant and a bar. Bars with this kind of lounge area are still quite rare in this part of the town so those chairs and tables are greatly appreciated. The colour setting is in the brownish to beige scale and quite discreet. Not overly trendy, but nice and pleasant.

Like the colours, most guests are not overly trendy either, but nice and pleasant. Could sound boring, but quite the opposite. It’s a laid back and friendly atmosphere here. Most people are around 30, some older, some younger. Not too trendy, but still a bit aware of the trends of today. And a few locals celebrities. The people at Imperiet seem to fit the place. An average bar with average people. But in a positive way. I never get the feeling that I’m not trendy enough here. They welcome everybody.

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Imperiet | Bars, Coffee & tea, Restaurants (International) | Beer SEK 50.00
Götgatan 78 | Södermalm | +4686606065
Restaurant: Mon – Wed 17:00 – 23:00, Thu – Sat 17:00 – 02:00
Kafé: Mon – Thu 11:00 – 01:00, Fri – Sat 11:00 – 03:00, Sun 11:00 – 01:00

When I came back from London this continental coffee bar has replaced Platanos Livs – for many years my local grocery store, and source of milk and breakfast cereal.

Kaffebar is really what it claims to be: a bar where you drink mainly coffee, but in contrast to most other, much smaller ones you find here it is a rather large venue. During the weekends it’s crowded with local Södermalmers in their mid thirties and upwards, grabbing a quick coffee on their feet, or sitting on one of the stools by the large windows facing St Paulsgatan.

True to its Italian inspiration, Kaffebar serves toasts, but with Swedish filling such as Västerbotten cheese or Falukorv. They also have mini croissants and some Italian patisseries. Not the place to go for a big lunch, but perfect for people watching or for grabbing a quick coffee. Although I am a bit nostalgic about the passing of time and wonder what happended to Platanos, I cannot deny that Kaffebar is quite a nice place.

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Kaffebar | Coffee & tea, Snacks
St Paulsgatan 17 | Södermalm
Mon – Fri 08:00 – 18:00, Sat – Sun 10:00 – 18:00

A little bit off Hornsgatan up the stairs from Hornspucken you’ll find Khave, a tiny coffee bar with only four tables.

The coffee shop is fairly new, specialises in coffee and chocolate and caters mostly for locals. You can get sandwiches here and a good selection of French style chocolates.

The place has a casual and personal atmosphere and the owner Tony knows most of the guests. Kahve is one of the few places in Stockholm where one can buy Mast Brothers and Maxin’s chocolate.

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Kahve | Coffee & tea
Blecktornsgränd 8 | Södermalm
Mon – Fri 08:30 – 18:00, Sat – Sun 11:00 – 18:00

Having a place that only serves different kinds of hummus-dishes in Stockholm might sound a bit weird. But Reggev on Ringvägen is a wonderful place with the best hummus ever.

From a small menu their are about five different hummus creations to choose from. You can have it with beans and boiled eggs, with fried mushrooms and with minced meat. I haven’t tried them all, but I bet that they are all as good as the ones with beans and mushrooms.

With the hummus they also serve some pickled vegetables and pita bread.
If you get thirsty you should try their home-made lemonade with lemon and mynta. It is so refreshing and delicious so the drink itself is almost worth the visit to Reggev.
As good as the food is, just as nice are the people working there. When it’s not too busy they sit down for a small chat and make you feel that you are very welcome at their place.

The only downside with the place is that it takes a little while to get the food. But it’s worth the waiting and I guess we should start to appreciate slow food more. It tastes so much better than fast food.

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Reggev | Coffee & tea, Snacks | Hummus with beans & eggs SEK 65.00
Ringvägen 145 | Södermalm | +4686405801
Mon – Fri 11:00 – 21:00, Sat – Sun 12:00 – 18:00

I don’t know what happened but my favourite café isn’t my favourite anymore. I still come here and enjoy the furnishing and cosy atmosphere but the sandwiches aren’t like they once used to be.. It’s still cheap though and definitely worth going to, it hasn’t lost it charm.

The atmosphere is warm, relaxed and creative. It was really hip a couple of years ago but people keep coming. Downstairs you find more seats and if it’s nice weather they have a couple of attractive tables outside.

It’s been serving us cheap sandwiches since 1992. Every sandwich comes with a tasty little salad as well. Their Soya-latte is one of the best in town and their carrot cake is excellent. They have music and theatre performances downstairs every Wednesday and the art hanging on the walls is for sale.

Oh, if you like the chair you’re sitting on you can buy it as well, all furniture is for sale.

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String | Art & culture, Coffee & tea, Music, Shopping, Snacks | Sandwich SEK 35.00
Nytorgsgatan 38 | Södermalm | +4687148514
Mon – Fri 09:30 – 21:00, Sat – Sun 10:30 – 19:00

Svart Kaffe was favorite spots for a coffee ever since they started in 1996, but for years it was so tiny that it was hard to get a seat. But lovers of club music still came to hear some cool tunes.

Since the Hello Kitty shop next door got smaller there is now more space for in-house eating. But during summer nobody cares anyway. Svart Kaffes location close to the little square Nytorget means that, when it’s warm, most people come here for a take away. It’s the perfect spot to hang and look at typical Södermalm people – and you will notice more than one with the Svart Kaffe paperbags with the famous “afro dancer”.

Svart Kaffe were no fools and started selling the very popular picnic bags – a coffee of your choice, any sandwich and a pago juice for 70-80 kr. And there are many delicious sandwiches to choose from, over 20 items from SEK 35 to SEK 65 and you can always pick between big and small, with or without meat, heated or cold and with dark or light bread – so be prepared to answer all those questions before you order.

Some of my personal favorites are “salmon with chives cream cheese, tomato and lemon spring onion” and “halloumi with pesto, olives, tomato and red onion”.

The customers have changed from only clubbers to more regular Södermalm people. The free wifi explains the more than occasional laptop you can spot on the tables.

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Svart Kaffe | Coffee & tea, Music, Snacks | Caffe latte SEK 28.00
Södermannagatan 23 | Södermalm | +4684629500
Mon – Thu 08:00 – 20:00, Fri 08:00 – 19:00, Sat – Sun 10:00 – 19:00

Entering this shop is an experience itself with fruity scents striking you straight away, dim lights making you feel at home and rows of beautiful tins packed with carefully chosen blends of tea which leave you stunned and curious.

A bag of their most popular blend “Blend of South” is an unmistakable buy and a great give-away!

The owner Vernon Mauris opened this boutique in 1978 and it’s located on “the hump” at Hornsgatan, in the oldest part of Södermalm. Vernon’s passion and profession is tea; he answers all your questions with a big smile.

If you’re a tea enthusiast this will become your new favourite spot. If you don’t drink tea you will definitely start, I’m sure Mr. Vernon will find something just for you.

But beware, after visiting you might get addicted. There’s something about this place, a pleasant mix of nostalgia, hospitality and exquisiteness.

Their website is great as well. You can get the tea shipped to your place.

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Tea Centre of Stockholm | Coffee & tea, Shopping | Blend of South SEK 39.00
Hornsgatan 46 | Södermalm | +4686404210
Mon – Fri 09:30 – 18:00, Sat 10:00 – 16:00

We don’t have Starbucks in Sweden, but most coffee shops still tend to look the same. Wallins is one of the exceptions. This is as far away from trends or Starbucks you can get.

This is an old patisserie and where I go when I want to indulge myself in strawberry cakes, marzipan cakes, cinnamon buns, danish pastries and many, many more delicious, unhealthy treats.

And this time of the year you shouldn’t miss trying a semla. A cardemom-bun with marzipan and whipped cream. Delicious. But hurry, they will only be for sale a couple of more weeks.

If cakes is not what your craving is screaming for they have good sandwiches too. The sandwiches are not the regular mozzarella-prosciutto you find in most coffee shops. Here they serve them with eggs and kaviar (Swedish fish roe paste) or with liver pâté and sour pickled gherkin (not my favourite though). One of my favourites when it comes to the sandwich-family is the sandwich-cake (?). Very Swedish. And very delicious. Just try it.

With my cake or pastries I prefer regular coffee and this is one of the few places where they won’t give you that weird look if you actually order just a regular cup of coffee. Of course you can have a caffe latte or cappuccino too.

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Wallins | Coffee & tea | Cup of coffee SEK 20.00
Ringvägen 109 | Södermalm | +4686441172
Mon – Fri 07:00 – 18:00, Sat 08:00 – 17:00