Stockholm: 18 great spots for culture, coffee, shopping & eating
Paid partnership with Radisson Collection
Stockholm is a forever favourite of mine. Charming, cosy and made up of 14 islands on the archipelago meaning you’re constantly surrounded by water.
Great restaurants, both relaxed and fancier ones, quality coffee, an abundance of interesting museums, vintage shopping, and picturesque streets in pastel hues.
Read on for my favourite spots in Sweden’s capital, and discover the charming Radisson Collection Strand Hotel: right on the water with a view to boats passing by, this Stockholm classic offers beautiful interiors and warm, welcoming vibe.
Looking for a quick list of the spots mentioned in this guide? Here you go:
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Monteliusvägen | Gamla Stan | Riddarholmen | Kungsträdgården
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Carl Eldhs Ateljémuseum
Museums
Carl Eldhs Ateljémuseum: I’ve been to Stockholm a handful of times, but for some reason, this incredible place was new to me. The old studio and home of Stockholm portrait sculptor Carl Edh was built in 1919, and since transformed to a museum of his collection by Eldh’s daughter. Today, the beautiful wooden house exhibits both his classic works as well as contemporary art and designs by female artists from Sweden and beyond.
Lögebodavägen 10
Moderna Museet: Located on the tiny island Skeppsholmen in the heart of town just a few minute’s walk from Radisson Collection Strand Hotel, this is one not to miss. The museum holds both Swedish and international modern and contemporary art, as well an outside sculpture park and a beautiful café and restaurant with a great view of Stockholm.
Skeppsholmen
Fotografiska: If you’re interested in photography, you can’t miss Fotografiska; one of the world’s largest collections of contemporary photography. I vividly remember when my partner took me here for the first time some 15 years (!) ago. Blew my mind. Four larger exhibitions and 20 smaller ones are displayed annually, a book shoop and café with a view.
Stadsgårdshamnen 22
Liljevalchs Konsthall: Located on Djurgården island, this democratic exhibition space is compiled of the classic 1916 museum as well as Liljevalchs+; a modern exhibition giving space to up and coming artists working within many fields and mediums. Blå Porten is the in-house café famous for its beautiful interiors and views. Do plan to spend a few hours here, minimum!
Djurgårdsvägen 60
First image: Tambur Store, second image: Dusty Deco
Shopping:
Dusty Deco: A beautiful shop in the city centre with eclectic objects for your home. Get inspired by both larger furniture pieces such as sofas and arm chars (looking for a comfy and cool leopard couch? Look no further!) as well as smaller interior objects such as candle holders, sculptural vases, and characteristic mirrors.
Linnégatan 13
Tambur Store: A small shop full of inspiration for that simple, yet rustic and warm Swedish summerhouse vibe. Think pastel colours, a light grey wooden kitchen, and handpicked home goods — all local, and produced with care. Right on Södermalm, there are plenty of shops to browse around here.
Folkungagatan 85
Collection Apart: A couple of blocks away on Söder, you’ll find this small arts & antiques store curated by Katie Lowson who’s got quite the eye for beautiful objects. The space is minimal, letting each object — be it artworks, vintage lamps, ceramic pieces or furniture — speak for itself. Definitely stop by here for a dose of inspiration, or to take home a special piece you won’t find anywhere else.
Renstiernas Gata 13
Swedish fashion flagships: Don’t miss clothing stores such as Filippa K, Rodebjer, and TOTEME (currently under construction), all located around Norrmalmstorg in city center.
Image 1 + 2: Swedish fashion stores Filippa K and Rodebjer in city centre.
Image 3 + 4: Dusty Deco & Tambur Store interior shops.
First image: Gast Café, second image: Drop Coffee
Cafés & Restaurants:
Drop Coffee: A neighborhood favourite amongst the hip crowd of Södermalm, guests here chat to the barista, the vibe is relaxed, and a few seats outside offer a perfect break in the sun with a coffee, homemade pastries, or sandwich for lunch. Having won several awards for their coffee and beans, Drop Coffee is quite the institution in town. The location on Wollmar Yxkullsgatan makes for a great stop before exploring more of Stockholm’s hip Södermalm.
Wollmar Yxkullsgatan 10
Gast Café: In central Stockholm, Gast is a stylish venue for breakfast, brunch, fika and speciality coffee. In the dusty pink space, locals meet up to catch up, have work sessions on laptops, and indulge in American pancakes (there are three versions to choose from!), local pastries, avocado on rye bread, or Eggs Benedict with salmon. Definitely a café to add to your Stockholm favourites.
Rådmansgatan 57
Café Nizza: a local favourite on Södermalm, offering a relaxed yet buzzing atmosphere in the evening, where tables very quickly fill up with a hip crowd (so book ahead, if you want to be sure to grab a table!). In the open kitchen, French cooking meats local, seasonal ingredients, and guests can choose a fixed menu or order à la carte. Wines are mainly biodynamic, and menu dishes in season such as Wild asparagus, colatura & goat’s cheese, fermented cacio e pepe (don’t miss that one!), and cod with chard, green peas & garden sorrel.
Åsögatan 171
Persona: A stylish restaurant mentioned in the Guide Michelin, Persona Stockholm combines elegant interiors with an in-house wine cellar. Thought-out by French chef Louis Cespedes and sommelier Jonathan Nystrom, both formerly at three Michelin-starred Franzén, Persona sets a new standard for fine dining in a relaxed atmosphere.
Torstenssonsgatan 11
Café Nizza on Södermalm.
First image: Kungsträdgården, second: view from Riddarholmen to Södermalm
4 (photo-friendly) spots
you can’t miss:
Monteliusvägen: For the classic, can’t-miss view of Stockholm, head up to Monteliusvägen on Södermalm. The narrow path is around 500 meters long, and offers beautiful views of Lake Mälaren, Stockholm City Hall, and Riddarholmen. When walking to Södermalm island from Gamla Stan/Riddarholmen, just keep right and you’ll see signs towards the path. Get here around sunrise or sunset, if possible!
Gamla Stan: Touristy, yes, but also very beautiful and picturesque, a walk through Gamla Stan is mandatory. The old city centre is small, so just browse around and stop whenever your camera or eyes inspire you.
Kungsträdgården: Just a few minutes walk from the Radisson Collection Strand Hotel, Kungsträdgården Park is a meeting place for the entire city, hosting events, festivals, winter ice skating and activities throughout the year. If you’re in town during Sakura season (usually late April - earl May), don’t miss the blooming cherry trees here.
Riddarholmen: The tiny island Riddarholmen is both bike and car-free, and makes for a perfect walking tour in town. Stop by the Riddarholmen Church, and take in the views to Södermalm on one side, and Gamla Stan on the other.
Skeppsholmen, Gamla Stan, Monteliusvägen and Riddarholmen.
First image: The Tower Suite, second: Radisson Collection Strand Hotel on the water.
Where to stay:
As soon as approaching the Radisson Collection Strand Hotel, I felt I was bound for a special stay in Stockholm. I arrived by train from Copenhagen, and walked an easy 10 minutes, passed the waters and many classic sights, and saw the hotel facade on Nybrokajen, right there in the very heart of town.
The historic hotel — one of the oldest in Stockholm — has a long tradition of hosting the high society of Stockholm and beyond, welcoming regulars such as Greta Garbo, Ingrid Bergman, Frank Sinatra and Audrey Hepburn.
Today, the hotel is charming and modern, newly renovated by renowned Swedish architectural studio Wingårdhs (also behind several other venues in this guide, including the Liljevalchs+ museum).
With historic details preserved, and a warm, modern touch to the hotel, the interior design is focussed on natural materials, legacy Scandinavian design objects, and the hotel’s unique custom color ‘Strand Gray’ mixed with a muted palette of purple and soft pink hues, the vibe is sophisticated and welcoming.
Rooms are modern and spacious and many of them overlook the water and city centre. If you’re looking to spoil yourself, do check out the very special Tower Suite — a two-storey private apartment with a gorgeous terrace overlooking the city and archipelago. Spend the night under the stars, relax in the bathtub, and take a break in the comfortable sofa area of your own suite.
On my first evening, I walked downstairs to the in-house bar and restaurant ISSEI Stockholm. With a stunning view to the waters of Nybroviken, I enjoyed a menu of Nikkei cuisine; Peruvian ingredients shaped by Japanese techniques.
With a location as central as it gets, I was just steps away from 17 out of 18 spots in this guide (Carl Eldh’s Ateljemuseum is on the outskirts of town, but so very worth a visit!).
Nybrokajen 9
At the Radisson Collection Strand Hotel, wake up to unhindered views of the Stockholm archipelago and boats passing by ⛵
Custom colour palette and beautiful rooms at Radisson Collection Strand Hotel Stockholm.
