Image by Aaron L

Fish and chips eat your heart out! Sweden’s version of the classic English favorite checks all the tasty boxes and comes up on top. Why is it better? First of all its Swedish, second, it’s healthier (it’s got some cucumbers…) and finally, it’s not covered in oily batter that’ll make you break out.

It is called nystekt strömming (freshly fried herring) and the best one you can find is a stall right outside on the square at Slussen subway station (Södermalmstorg). You can’t miss it. It’s been raved about by numerous publications and it’s equally popular with the locals as with the tourists. During the summers its not unusual to see a queue from the little kiosk window to…somewhere far from that little kiosk window. Anyway, humans are programmed to think that if there’s a queue, whatever it is, it’s gonna be good.

What you’ll be enjoying is the fried herring, some mashed potatoes of course and a special relish made of cucumber, radish and red onions. You’ll be able to choose a few variations: as a burger, a dish or in the old school way which is on a piece of knäckebrod a.k.a “Is that cardboard?” a.k.a brown Swedish hard bread.

It’s the perfect street snack before exploring Gamla Stan, the Royal Palace and/or the Stockholm’s City Museum which is right next to the stall. If you’re interested in more street food Stockholm has to offer, check out my article about Tunnbrödsrulle.

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Nystekt Strömming | Snacks | Main dish SEK 50
Södermalmstorg | Södermalm
Mon – Fri 10:00 – 19:00, Sat – Sun 12:00 – 17:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Stockholm

Image by Natalia Urbanska

Fancy a drink with a vampire? This is one of the coolest bars in Stockholm, for sure! Pass the door, go down the stairs and enter a very different atmosphere set in a cave.

The drinks really make this place, most of them have vampire-names and are delicious as hell! You have to try a Milkshake drink, they’re like candy. My favourite is Vlad the Impaler and yeah, Monday is the day to come here since it’s much cheaper. There’s a new DJ playing records every night and if you’re not into alcohol it’s alright, all drinks can be ordered alcohol-free!

You have to leave your jacket for 20 kronor, even if you’re there only for a drink. I don’t like these kind of small expenses but this place is totally worth that 20. Sit down on a comfy, red sofa with your drink, red wine or beer and enjoy the atmosphere with candle lights and interesting ornaments. The toilet is also quite interesting…

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Vampire Lounge | Bars, Music, Snacks | Drink SEK 60.00
Östgötagatan 41 | Södermalm | +4686432240
Mon – Fri 17:00 – 01:00, Sat 19:00 – 01:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Stockholm

Image by Natalia Urbanska

This museum is pure joy for photo lovers. Opened in may 2010 with the top name Annie Leibovitz. It was a big success, no doubt about it. They have lots of different exhibitions every year, so far I haven’t been disappointed.

Fotografiska is beautifully situated in Slussen, just by the water with a nice view over Skeppsholmen and Djurgården. It has really generous opening hours – everyday from 10:00 to 21:00! More museums should have these kind of opening hours! Perfect for some inspiring exhibitions before going out…

I loved the premiere exhibitions. Lennart Nilsson’s “A child is born” was really impressive and made me all nostalgic remembering his photos from my old school books. Leibovitz’s “A photographer’s life” was also impressive, beautiful, startstruck, melancholic and very personal. Speer’s “The birthday party” was beautiful (my favorite!) and Joel-Peter Witkin’s “Bodies” was uncomfortable, disgusting and absolutely beautiful.

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Fotografiska | Art & culture, Bars, Shopping, Snacks | Adult entrance SEK 110
Stora Tullhuset Stadsgårdshamnen 22 | Södermalm | +46850900500
10:00 – 21:00 daily

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Stockholm

Image by Natalia Urbanska

This is one of my favourite places to dance for sure! They have many different clubs and they’re usually for free if you come before 22:00. They also have lots of concerts, check their homepage for dates! Some of them here at Medis and some of them at Debaser Slussen.

One night that was particularly wonderful was during Debaser Medis “Berlin night” where one of my favourite artists Apparat performed. It was an excellent night, packed with different electronic music which made us dance for at least 6 hours.

The first floor has two rooms. The larger room gives me a feeling of prom-night or something. The ceiling is really high, the stage is large and the floor spacious. There’s lots of room to dance, though it does get pretty packed during the night. Losing your friends in the crowd is not unusual, which is okay, you always find someone else to chat or dance with.

The smaller room is more chilled out with a bar, seats and you can order food. They also have a nice bar and a small cinema on the second floor.

Bring earplugs!

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Debaser Medis | Bars, Cinemas, Music, Snacks | Entrance SEK 100.00
Medborgarplatsen 8 | Södermalm | +4686947900
Fri – Sat 17:00 – 03:00 (concerts 19:00) | Check their website

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Stockholm

Image by Natalia Urbanska

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

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Stockholm

Image by Natalia Urbanska

This is my favourite café. Perfectly situated next to small shops and nice parks in the south of Stockholm. I introduce everyone I know to this 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. It is a very popular spot and sometimes very packed. Oh, don’t go here if you’re allergic to dogs, there’s usually at least one hanging around.

The tiles covering the floor are very beautiful and contribute to the creativity as well. Red cushions and chandeliers 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.

But what I love the most is the laid-back service and cosy, homely feeling. The people working here are really sweet, their sandwiches delicious (especially the mozzarella toast) 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

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Stockholm

Image by Natalia Urbanska

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 40.00
Nytorgsgatan 38 | Södermalm | +4687148514
Mon – Thu 09:00 – 20:00, Fri 09:00 – 19:00, Sat – Sun 10:30 – 19:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Stockholm

Image by Natalia Urbanska

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 the weather is nice you should fetch a table outside, it’s 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 has 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 60.00
Katarina Bangata 21 | Södermalm | +4686445043
Mon – Fri 10:00 – 19:00, Sat – Sun 11:00 – 19:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Stockholm

Image by Vasco Castro

This place is like a sanctuary to me! I go there to buy great flour for baking bread (they have manitoba cream!), the best dark chocolates, presents for friends, fresh deli products and things you never thought about but that soon you can’t live without.

Even though I tend to use the term supermarket, my friends usually explain to me that Fine Food is actually a deli store. They are right. This deli store started in Hammarby Sjöstad by a couple of chefs that believe that the best food shouldn’t only be available to the best restaurants but also to individuals. It gained so many followers that come from all over town, that it has now expanded to another area of Hammarby Sjöstad as well as to Kungsholmen.

And if you are in the South of of Södermalm on a sunny day and feel like having a already made meal just take the free boat that runs continuously over to Sjöstaden and either take a sandwich or a warm meal and enjoy your lunch next to the water. But if it’s too cold for that just sit inside in the newly open Fine Kitchen that is now serving great food for fine prices.

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Fine Food | Shopping, Snacks | Lunch SEK 90.00
Hammarby allé 62 | Södermalm | +4686433420
Mon – Fri 09:00 – 20:00, Sat – Sun 09:00 – 18:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Stockholm

Image by Suzanna Schwarz

When I returned to Stockholm after six years abroad this continental coffee bar had 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 of its kind you find in Stockholm Kaffebar is a rather large place. During the weekends it’s crowded with locals in their mid-thirties and upwards, grabbing a quick coffee on their feet by the large windows facing St Paulsgatan.

True to its Italian inspiration, Kaffebar serves toasts, but with Swedish style 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.

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

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Stockholm