The best bars and cafés Sweden

Chaikhana, meaning tea house, is a central address in Gamla Stan that offers a peaceful space to take a relaxing afternoon break. In a secluded alley, you will find this place warm and cozy. Open a book or chat with friends while enjoying a variety of richly flavored teas. Chaikhana offers an alternative to the Swedish fika break while keeping the concept: an afternoon snack in a warming atmosphere. Tea is available for purchase and can be accompanied by a variety of delicacies.

This garden café, located in a former greenhouse, is a timeless place. With all the greenery all around, it's like being in the countryside in the heart of the city. There's plenty of room for refreshments. From early summer to late autumn, the adjoining orchard is laid out so you can enjoy the outdoors. Everything on the premises is certified organic and marked "Krav". Breads and pastries are baked on site in their wood-fired oven right next to the garden. Pastries are available as a buffet, so let yourself be tempted!

At the "Two Little Pigs", you can eat smørrebrød and drink Danish beer and a wide range of brandies. You'll find a wide choice of Akvavit (cereal or potato brandy, flavored), Brennvin Brännvin (typical Icelandic brandy) and Schnapps. The establishment boasts a large outdoor terrace set against the rock, an indoor restaurant and its own local distillery.

Located right next to the hotel of the same name, in a building dating back to 1607, this café is a little removed from the busy streets of Gamla Stan. It's a true haven of peace, offering a calm and soothing atmosphere. The warm and welcoming staff will be happy to advise you on your visits to the city. They offer a selection of traditional Swedish pastries, simple and no-frills. After a busy day exploring the city, this little café is the perfect place to relax and enjoy a quiet moment.

At Ritorno, everything seems to be frozen in time. As soon as you step through the doors, you're transported back to the 1950s and 1960s. The vintage decor, with its old leather armchairs, period chandeliers and emblematic red carpet, lends a singular warmth to the place and a real authenticity. The interior is a little kitsch, but not lacking in charm. The pastries on offer are all homemade and delicious. Something for everyone! You'll also find them at Torsgatan 20 and Dalagatan 41.

Beautifully located at the gateway to the archipelago, in the eastern part of Djurgården, this little café offers a variety of lunch dishes: sandwiches, smörgåsar, pastries and hot drinks. An ideal address for a fika break on the water's edge, just for the superb view! The setting is perfect for a little getaway from the hustle and bustle of the city. It's a quiet, cute spot offering real delicacies, and not far from the Thiel gallery. Stop here on a stroll through Djugården.

Even though this little café is located on one of Gamla Stan's touristy streets, it's a great place to take a break. Panem is the Latin word for bread: the bakery offers pastries, macaroons and fresh bread. The only problem will be choosing, as their shop window will have you salivating. Here you can start the day with a tasty breakfast, or enjoy a hearty sandwich for lunch, and end the day with a pleasant fika. What's more, the atmosphere is very welcoming, thanks to the ever-smiling staff.

The Tant Sveas coffee is a real little casket of sweetness. A mix of hipster and Scandinavian atmosphere with pastel colours on the wall, green plants in a mess, and frames to dress the walls. Between the many period coffee tables and chairs, velvet armchairs for those who wish to linger. You quickly feel at home here and it's hard to tear yourself away from this bubble. To accompany your drink, you will have the choice between several traditional pastries and some ice cream flavours. You can also have a light lunch.

A few meters from the river Ängermanälven and in the same street as Lilla Cafe, you can enjoy a pastry, a sandwich or indulge in a fika . The place has a slightly faded look, which may not suit everyone. For some, this little café has a vintage charm while being casual. Plus, you can eat there without breaking the bank! Very popular, this café also offers the possibility to sit on the terrace in summer. Very recommended address for a simple lunch or a cup of tea with a good book.

Möllers Brewery is a place where locals gather for a good pint on Friday or Saturday night after a long week of work. In an old half-timbered house in the center of the city, this bar with a friendly atmosphere serves fresh local beers, including Ystad Färsköl, the pride of the place. At the time, this house was a malt house, supplying local breweries with the malt grains they needed. The spirit has certainly been preserved. You can also eat here.

It was here that Kronobageriet baked up to 60,000 loaves of bread a day, until it closed in 1958. Bread had been baked here for 300 years. This is the place for budding intagrammers, and with good reason: the decor couldn't be more Swedish. Sleek white walls, wooden furniture... You can see the bread coming out of the oven, and its aroma fills the room. A wide variety of Swedish pastries are on offer. Prices are a little high, but the quality is top-notch. A second address is Sankt Eriksgatan 88.

A lot of love and conviviality reigns in this little Italian café, where you'll be warmly welcomed by Siv, an adorable dog who loves to be petted! If you're looking for peace and quiet, this is definitely the place for you. This place is a true paradise for coffee lovers, as it's an authentic espresso bar. Don't hesitate to accompany your coffee with cantuccini, a soft Naples baba or a tasty pasticciotto to enjoy the moment and travel to Italy!

This café is very pleasant and spacious, with a nice decoration: pretty plants adorned with flowers. It's particularly cute in winter, with lots of decorations and Swedish stars hanging everywhere. Beyond this pretty setting, you'll want to sit down and enjoy the kladdkaka, a chocolate cake that is one of Sweden's most popular desserts. You could compare it to a slightly sticky brownie, delicious when served with whipped cream. Here, it's reputed to be the best in town!

Café Saturnus is the ideal place to enjoy a delicious fika in the Norrmalm district. It's located on a picturesque street lined with trees and red brick buildings, a stone's throw from Humlegården Park. This French-inspired café also serves Swedish classics and small sandwiches in a warm atmosphere. You can also have lunch or brunch here without breaking the bank. A relaxed atmosphere subtly reminiscent of Parisian bistros! And here's a little bonus: you'll find the biggest kanelbullar in town!

Located just a stone's throw from Stortorget and the Palais Royal, this quaintly decorated café is very cute with its wooden tables and pretty vintage plates. Whether you're ravenously hungry or just in the mood for a snack, you'll find everything you need here: delicious pastries, sandwiches and many other tempting options. The only drawback is that there are unfortunately no toilets on site. However, it's well worth stopping by, either to eat in or to take away.

Tucked away in the basement of a building, this cocktail bar is the place to go for a memorable evening of partying, with a warm, relaxed atmosphere! The muted decor and subdued lighting create a welcoming atmosphere. The perfectly balanced cocktails change every week. World-renowned, it is one of the fifty best bars in the world and was named the best bar in the Nordic countries by Difford's Guide. Reservations highly recommended to ensure access.

Dare to descend these stairs and you'll find yourself in a charming refuge. You can't help but be charmed by the vintage and completely offbeat decor: everything is mismatched, but that's precisely what makes the place so charming! Live music takes place regularly in the evenings, adding to the warm, relaxed atmosphere. Take the time to linger, soak up the atmosphere and enjoy a delicious fika. Everything is organic, with gluten-free and vegan options. This café is sure to be a delightful surprise!

Chewie, the owner's dog, will be delighted to keep you company in this lively wine bar. A selection of biodynamic and organic wines awaits you, all of which have been approved by the prestigious Star Wine List. Non-alcoholic options are also available to suit everyone. On the food side, everything is plant-based, mainly presented in the form of tapas, although a few dishes are also a la carte. All accompanied by lively music and a friendly atmosphere!

Café Ekorren, or the Squirrel Café, was built for the Stockholm World Fair in 1897. If you go up to the roof, you will see the famous squirrel in question. Today, this establishment is not only a café but also a restaurant that deserves its good reputation. Recommended place for an outdoor fika break, with very well prepared delicacies. The place itself is beautiful, with a picturesque charm and the possibility to eat on the water. Whether you want to have a tea or a meal with friends, everything is possible!

If you want to take a break from a culturally important place in Stockholm and Swedish culture in general, why not relax at the Swedish Film Institute, or Filminstitutet, with a glass of wine or a coffee. This is a fun and social place, with views of the surrounding park, and if you're lucky, you might even bump into some Swedish film stars. Keep an eye out! Recommended address for a meal. The food is good!

In central Stockholm, along the lakeside promenade of Norr Mälarstrand, you will find Mälarpaviljongen, an idyllic and thriving oasis. Set in a landscaped park designed by city architect Erik Glemme and landscape architect Holger Blom, one side of Mälarpaviljongen floats on the water while the other plunges into the middle of a shady garden. You can enjoy the summer sun, or if it's a rainy day, enjoy the peaceful atmosphere of the pavilion. A place of entertainment with music, shows, and dancing.

This charming little café, a little out of the way, is well worth a stop. Its concept: consume more responsibly while respecting the planet. The welcome is warm, the food high quality and the prices reasonable. All dishes are vegan and mainly organically grown. It's the ideal place to fill up on energy before tackling a good day's sightseeing. The chai lattes are particularly delicious and rather original. And dogs are welcome too!

A fireplace for winter, welcoming sofas, an elegant decoration reminiscent of English gardens, Orangeriet is an ideal place to let the end of the day pass. After a walk on Kungsholmen Strand on the north coast of Kungsholmen Island (a very popular place among runners, but you can also enjoy it without running shoes), stop for lunch or a snack. It is also a good starting point for an evening. Relaxed, unpretentious atmosphere with a splendid view of Riddarfjärden.

This is Johan & Nyström's very first coffee-shop in Stockholm, nestled in a very quiet street. The decor is reminiscent of coffee-roasting factories, with its many exposed pipes. Make yourself comfortable on one of the benches under a window, opposite the side tables or on one of the large steps in the adjoining room, in this chill, good vibes space. This coffee-shop is a must, not least for its Swedish pastries. As well as tasting coffee, you can also buy it.

This bar is a real bubble of conviviality in the heart of the Östermalm district, close to Saluhall. Each perfectly prepared cocktail is an invitation to travel, skilfully blending original flavours and textures. You can accompany it with some delicious amuse-bouches. The music is lively, and the professional bartenders concoct the drinks before your very eyes. It's the ideal place to take a break during the day, or to end it on a high note! What's more, this bar has also won awards, testifying to its excellence.

Discreetly located on Ringvägen, Södermalm's longest street, it's easy to pass by this "Petit Café de Söder" without noticing it. This would be a great mistake, however, because when you push open the door of this modest stall, you discover an extremely welcoming place. The interior is a little bohemian, relaxed and the staff adorable. You can eat simple, home-made pastries at affordable prices: kanelbular, carrot cakes or chocolate cakes... In short, this is a little haven not to be missed!

What do you think "beck" means? The name comes from an old tar factory on Tjärhovsgatan street. When the tar was boiled, a residue called "beck" was produced. In this very quiet and cozy little café, decorated with pretty paintings on the theme of Stockholm, full-bodied coffees will be served. But if you don't like coffee, there's always the option of a chai latte, pastry or snack. Conviviality and hospitality are the watchwords at Beck kaffebar.

The very first English pub opened in the Swedish capital in... 1969. The atmosphere here is Swedish-British, with pints of Guinness or Kilkenny, and a good-natured but often tipsy clientele at the end of the evening. The decor is nice, and the screens show almost all the English soccer matches, the European Cup or the World Cup. Atmosphere guaranteed during these evenings! If the English and the Swedes share one thing, it is the love of beer and soccer, in all conviviality! Also offers a menu to eat.

After your visit to the Thielska Galleriet exhibition, be sure to stop off at Monica's house. She is famous in Sweden for having written numerous cookery books, and is even nicknamed the Queen of Cakes! Her café is a veritable oasis for gourmands. The cakes she prepares are incomparably generous, with butter, a touch of cream and, of course, a few trade secrets! Her shrimp sandwiches are also very good! The omnipresence of the surrounding nature adds a lot of charm to the place.

The Oliver Twist is also a restaurant, but it is especially for its English pub atmosphere that one goes there, to taste a good beer. The menu is indeed well stocked, with a number of draughts on the menu including more than 200 bottled beers. Honest because the setting is very warm, with its flags on the ceiling and its barrels as tables, and the service is charming. At the back, the restaurant room allows to eat. The menu offers tapas dishes, as well as vegetarian options, fish and burgers, and desserts.

If you're a cycling enthusiast, or if you're feeling a bit under the weather, this is the place to recharge your batteries! This café is a must-visit, not only for its cycling-themed decor, but also for its continuous broadcasts of cycling races! Connoisseurs will have appreciated the subtle play on words in the café's name... But that's not all, you're in for a treat too. It's the ideal place to enjoy a hearty breakfast, a brunch or simply a cup of coffee.

Sometimes you just have to stray off the beaten track to come across a little gem: here, everyone is welcome! The walls are adorned with numerous pop art photos, creating a kitschy yet warm design that makes you feel right at home. The staff are very friendly. The best part is the original concept! Your coffee will be decorated with a cute work of art such as a little panda, a cat, the Mona Lisa and many others. You can accompany it with one of their homemade pastries or Swedish waffles.