Where to Shop and Eat in Stockholm

Days out in Stockholm offer a variety of things to do, the capital has many great attractions and there is plenty of beautiful natural scenery with all the surrounding water. Two other pastimes that the city excels in however are shopping and eating. The popularity of Swedish brands is so great now that you’ll find their stores in major cities around the world. The Swedish are so good at designing it almost seems to come effortlessly and as the country’s capital, Stockholm is the shop front where the latest designs are first displayed on behalf of the country.

In terms of food some of the locations of the restaurants are simply amazing and again the design comes into play to make the most of the views and the chefs work tirelessly to make sure the views aren’t the only attraction. If you’re in the city at a Stockholm hotel for a few days one of the truly Swedish experiences to try is the ‘fika’, although it doesn’t have a direct translation the broad meaning is to meet with friends for a coffee and a cake. Stockholm has dozens of excellent cafes where sweet tooth’s and caffeine cravings can be indulged and places like Xoko and Sturekatten are among the best places for this.

Xoko does wonderful desserts, baked goods and homemade ice cream all in a chic and modern setting. The owner is famous for the desserts he creates and the sour dough bread makes for a great start to the day for breakfast. If Xoko is the epitome of contemporary cafes then Sturekatten is the exact opposite as it’s all about tradition. The interior is classical country, with comfortable armchairs, floral cushions and drinks all come in a cup and saucer. It’s the sort of place you’d take your grandma for afternoon tea with divine cakes and is perfect for a little peace and quiet.

For people that like their drinks a little stronger, Malarpaviljongen and Strandbryggan are two restaurants that produce great dishes and have fully stocked bars which are also ideal for a drink in the sunshine. Malarpaviljongen is only open when the weather’s warm but summer visitors to Stockholm can take advantage and dine alfresco while looking out over the water by Riddarfjarden. Strandbryggan is similar to being on the Riviera, with luxury boats coming in to dock and the glitzy crowd frequently chinking glasses and sipping champagne. By the water you’d expect seafood but the dishes are fresh, tasty and manageable on the wallet.

Pontus By the Sea is another place that does excellent seafood and the views once again are perfect. The one location that just about beats them all though is Gondolen. The restaurant is elevated 33 metres over the main port and below is a hive of activity as the city goes through its paces and boats come in and out of the port. This is another fine place for a drink, not just for the views but also the quality of the cocktails.

For shopaholics Stockholm represents the chance to get inside the flagship stores of the world famous Swedish brands such as H&M, Acne Jeans, Filippa K and the world’s biggest IKEA superstore. Many of the outlets are concept stores so you’ll be able to see the very latest designs and newly released products. Alternatively for a mix of everything in one location, Gallerian provides easy shopping as there are 80 stores under the one roof or try Ahlens City which is Sweden’s largest department store while Nordiska Kompaniet (NK) is the grandest. Also be sure to check out the SoFo district in Sodermalm for trendy purchases in the city’s most fashionable quarter.

Lek Boonlert - About Author:
Lek Boonlert is an editor and content reviewer at DirectRooms and is responsible for all Stockholm Hotel content.

Article Source:
http://www.articleside.com/travel-tips-articles/where-to-shop-and-eat-in-stockholm.htm

Related Travel Tips Articles

Related Travel Tips Topics

surf fishing ny limo rental nyc limousine indonesia tour abroad travel 4travel chennai hotels rafting jagannath puri