After a very fun and productive week in NYC (read more here) full of meetings and meet ups, we decided to take a trip to Stockholm! Why Stockholm? Well, my husband and I wanted a quick getaway and were hoping to visit a walkable European city to explore for a few days. We had three criteria. One, it had to be a place that neither of us had visited before. Two, it had to have cooler weather. And three, it had to be a direct flight from NYC. After narrowing it down to a few options, we landed on Stockholm…
ACCOMMODATIONS
I don’t typically enjoy staying at multiple hotels when traveling to one location. But, given that we packed light (sort of 🙂) and wanted to explore as much as possible, we thought a hotel switch would broaden our experience. Ultimately we landed on two hotels – Ett Hem and Stadshotell.
ETT HEM
I had heard rave reviews about Ett Hem, a boutique hotel in Ostermalm, and it certainly did not disappoint. Our experience was incredible. The property is spread across two townhouses and filled with Scandinavian art and design throughout. Staff and guests share all of the same spaces, making it very social and communal. You can walk into the kitchen, make yourself a cocktail in the bar, and even put on a record in the living room. It’s almost like staying at a friend’s house! All of the common spaces are impeccably designed while feeling warm and inviting. All of the small details are magical and make this hotel a completely unique experience.
STADSHOTELL
This hotel is brand new, and to be honest, we hadn’t heard all that much about it. We knew we wanted to spend a few days exploring the Södermalm neighborhood of Stockholm and first came across the restaurant at the hotel. After some quick research on the property itself we decided to book a stay. The Stadshotell is located in an incredible 19th century residence that is listed as a national historic site. The details are all so dreamy: a large front courtyard cafe, a formal chapel turned dining room, and reflections of the building’s rich history throughout. Big bonus: it was it just opened less than five months ago so everything felt so NEW!
EXPLORATIONS
Nationalmuseum – We spent one rainy afternoon exploring the Nationalmuseum, which is housed in a landmark building overlooking the water back towards The Royal Palace. The museum opened in 1866 and features incredible works in painting, sculpture, and design from the 1500s to the 1900s.
Svenskt Tenn – This 100 year old interior design company has one of the most magical stores I have ever visited. The interiors are bold and colorful and wonderful. We picked up several gifts for family and friends! Check it out here.
CFHILL – We stopped by this independent international art space located on Riddargatan next to The Army Museum in central Stockholm. We wanted to check out the Alexandre Diop & Keith Haring In Puer Veritas exhibit and it did not disappoint! You can read more about the space here.
Nitty Gritty – We didn’t do a ton of shopping on this trip, but I did make an exception for Nitty Gritty. This independent multi-brand retailer has an incredible showroom in Södermalm. I picked up a cropped black denim jacket from Lemaire. They also have an online shop.
Monteliusvägen – This picturesque quarter-mile walking path in Södermalm features charming houses on one side and unparalleled views of Stockholm City Hall and Riddarholmen on the other. After our walk, we dropped into The Bishops Arms, a charming British Pub, for a well deserved pint!
Galma Stan – Old Town (Galma Stan) is Stockholm’s original city center. It is packed with cobblestone streets, narrow alleyways, and charming meeting squares. Tons of cafés, restaurants, galleries, and more. We spent hours exploring this cute area! It can get very crowded so I would recommend going early and avoiding weekends if possible.
Changing of the Guard – We were fortunate enough to catch The Royal Guards Ceremony! This military marching band and parade ceremoniously march from The Army Museum to the south side of The Royal Palace every day during the summer. You can learn more here.
PROVISIONS
A quick rundown of everywhere we ate and sipped in Stockholm…
Brasserie Astoria – This classic brasserie on Nybrogotan in Östermalm is located in a beautiful old venue that used to be a cinema. It is a Frantzén Group restaurant (Bjorn Frantzén is the only chef in the world with three Michelin three-star restaurants). For lunch we shared hamachi crudo and a white pizza!
Riche – This hip brasserie with a Swedish/French menu came highly recommended by just about everyone we spoke to. It is located just off Berlezi Park in the city center. The people watching was just as good as the fresh food!
Mahalo – This plant based cafe was perfect for a casual lunch. Think big salads, grain bowls, and fresh smoothies all made with sustainable ingredients. Great for take away too!
Ett Hem – Our second night at Ett Hem we enjoyed an incredible seven course meal prepared by the chefs of the house. The hotel welcomes external guests to the restaurant for dinner, so even if you are not staying on property, I highly recommend dining on site.
Stadshotell Bistro / Bar – We enjoyed a lovely meal at the Bistro at Stadshotell, where the menu changes daily and highlights the best of the season. The open kitchen concept was so inviting. After dinner we had cocktails at the bar.
Östermalms Market Hall – This classic market hall has been an institution in central Stockholm since 1888 and is recognized as one of the best food halls in the world. The different vendors and counters are packed with fish, cheese, sweets, and traditional delicacies. The space is incredibly beautiful and not to be missed! As it can get quite crowded we opted to visit midweek at an odd hour to avoid the masses.
Cafe Nizza – We had a lovely meal at Café Nizza in Södermalm. This neighborhood bistro serves a mix of French and Italian cuisine and is known for their shared plates. They also have a cute wine bar next door called Cave Nizza, but sadly it was not open during our visit.
800 Grader Pizza – We stopped into this slice shop for a quick lunch fix. It was fantastic!
Café Cuvee – Another classic bistro in central Södermalm! We had a perfect window seat on our final night in Stockholm. The restaurant was charming and relaxing, just what we were looking for. Great cheese!
Bar Ninja – We had been reading quite a bit about Stockholm’s natural wine scene and two spots kept appearing on nearly every list – Bar Ninja and Alba. We had a lovely time sitting at the Bar at Ninja tasting funky red blends. The space is in the SoFo neighborhood in Södermalm – we loved this area!
Alba Vinbar – Another cozy wine bar in SoFo! A hole in the wall feel, great hip hop music, and lots of interesting natural wines that change weekly.
Drop Coffee – Last but not least, coffee! Drop is an independent specialty coffee roastery and café just a few blocks from the Stadshotell. We loved it!
