Valand – The nr 1 retro café in Stockholm

Image by Suzanna Schwarz

Ten years ago a friend of mine, introduced me to this incredible retro experience: at Valand nothing has changed since opening in 1954. Everything, from the Svenskt Tenn bracket lamps, the Italian stone floor and dark wood panels to the selection and presentation of cakes and sandwiches are authentic.

So forget about caffe lattes or paying for your coffee with a credit card – at Valand you’ll quickly be reminded of how recent the North American/Italian coffee culture is to Stockholm’s café scene. Apparently, the only thing that has changed since the fifties is the opening hours; back in the days Valand used to be a busy hotspot open ’til 11 in the evenings.

When television replaced the cinema, the local four theatres closed down and Valand became increasingly empty. Now it is a fairly quiet café where mostly local teens or odd visitors go. Valand is a true original and a great place if one wants to find a quiet spot for a little while or if you simply feel like indulging in nostalgia.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Valand | Coffee & tea | Coffee SEK 25
Surbrunnsgatan 48 | Vasastan
Mon – Fri 08:00 – 19:00, Sat 09:00 – 17:00

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