STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN
Our list is fairly short. We revisited places a few times and we struck out a few times but hopefully this is helpful. We poached most of these from David and Luise who live there. Stockholm is made of 14 islands, we spent a couple days in Norrmalm and the rest in Södermalm. Being there in Autumn meant options like ferry cruises weren't running and our Californian bones couldn't quite come to terms with the extra windchill that riding bikes would have subjected us to, so we only made it as far and wide as our feet could take us between half-hourly croissants. All that to say, we would have loved to see more, but highly recommend the little bit we did see.
Pom and Flora - There are two locations now. You may have better luck getting a table at the Odenplan spot because it has more space, but both were packed when we visited. They also have a larger menu and the salad/egg bowl deal I got was my favorite meal the whole trip. A great breakfast and lunch spot, lighter options, pastries etc.
Cafe Pascal (Odenplan) - we enjoyed multiple coffees and a number of hours here reading and watching. It's a simple, beautiful space with great coffee. You can get espresso drinks all over town but their's were wonderful. The pour over is light and unique and I had three oat milk cappucinos one rainy morning which either makes them delicious or me crazy, you choose.
Fabrique Bakery - I was told by multiple people to get a cardamon bun so we tried one here... and also a brownie :) Not necessarily a place to hang for awhile, but a nice afternoon snack and coffee. There are multiple locations.
Urban Deli - So this is a specialty market and also a great little happy hour/dinner spot. There are a few locations, and the one in sodermalm has a bustling bar and restaurant. Try to grab a table early, great people watching, or pick up picnic goodies.
Meatballs For The People - This was a Yelp find from Hugh, pretty close to our Air Bnb. I was hesitant, I don't love meatballs, but I had the vegan ones on top of a green salad with roasted squash, goat cheese and pickled onions and it was my second favorite meal of the week. Great ambiance. Grab a window seat.
Osterlanggatan 17 - We found this while wandering the streets of Old Town. They had some great breakfast/brunch options and it was packed for lunch. The dinner menu didn't look as intriguing to me, personal preference, and the neon bar lights didn't go with the nordic vibe but whatever, it was nice.
Kaferang - They have two locations. Again with the breakfast and lunch being amazing. Super fresh and delicious salads and soup and a yummy bakery case. When we're traveling sans kids, we pick places that feel nice to just hang for awhile and eat and chat and read and have wifi ;) This was an awesome spot.
Fotografiska - So, according to a few Swedes we chatted with (meaning we didn't make this up), Swedish people are apparently known for their reserve when it comes to outward expressions of emotion. Hugh and I were both crying in the Paul Hansen "Being There" exhibit. We may have been the only ones, but it was hard to see through blurry eyes. Whether you're a public cryer or not, it was a heart wrenching collection of images from his job as a photojournalist covering conflict zones across the globe. The images were paired with with essays and short stories he'd written to accompany and bring context to the already powerful imagery, and oh my goodness, it will break your heart. Obviously this exhibit won't be there forever, but you should visit regardless.
On a lighter note, the cafe upstairs has a stunning view and the food was great too. I love having wine at lunch fyi.
