In our latest article, we have seen The Best Cafés of London after a few other amazing European capitals, but that was only the beginning. There are so many notable big cities left in Europe that we need to discover, so let’s immediately head over to the next one: Stockholm.
Of course, the temperature is pretty low in Sweden, especially during the wintertime: we all know that. So we are not surprised by the fact that one of the most popular drinks in the country is a hot drink, which warms the body up. In fact, Swedes are one of the biggest coffee consumers in the world. They even drink more coffee than Absolut Vodka.
Sweden people start the day with a cup of coffee and so do they end the day. But they also take every opportunity to drink from the black drink during the day. The people of Sweden not only drink coffee often but also in huge quantities. Usually, they consume it from mugs, not cups.
Coffee popped up in Sweden in 1674, but its consumption did not spread immediately. At the beginning, only the more privileged noticed and brought the black drink into fashion. However, in 1746 a proclamation was issued against coffee and tea, referring to the abuses related to the coffee.
Huge taxes were imposed on the delicacy. The cups and mugs were confiscated from those who did not pay. Later, coffee was completely banned. Yet many Swedes persisted and continued to drink it under cover. We piled up the best 10 cafés in Stockholm for you:
10. Cafe Pascal
- Address: 4 Norrtullsgatan, Stockholm 113 29, Sweden
- Telephone: +46 8 31 61 10
- Opening hours: Mon-Thu 7:00 am – 19:00 pm, Fri 7:00 am-18:00 pm, Sat-Sun 9:00 am-18:00 pm
- More information about the coffee house: http://cafepascal.se/
Café Pascal is a small, cozy Stockholm café located near StudentPalatset recommended by both Michelin and White Guide restaurants. They serve Swedish Fika. The café is nicely decorated and the atmosphere is so friendly and humming, suited for 20-30 years old, young people.
The perfect place to bring your friends, your colleagues or your family to have a fun afternoon. Everything is clean, the owner and the staff are super friendly, they will even translate the menu into English for you. You can sit out on a small terrace, where you can enjoy the sun and watch the passers-by.
If you want to avoid the crowd and you want to find a seat, do not arrive in the peak time. Note that dogs are allowed in. They offer a wonderful selection of coffees and teas (not only the usual earl grey/random green/fruit lineup). The espresso tonic is so special. The fika is great too, but the traditional ingredient, the kanelbulle is missing.
The menu includes very good pastry and sandwich options chili con carne and bread with avocado is a must try. Try also the soup of the day with fresh bread or any of the salads. Highly recommended, don’t miss it.
9. Rosendals Tradgardskafe
- Address: Rosendalsterrassen 12, Stockholm 115 21, Sweden
- Telephone: +08-545-812-70
- Opening hours: Tue-Sun 11:00 am – 5:00 pm, Mon closed
- More information about the coffee house: http://www.rosendalstradgard.se/
Rosendals Tradgardskafe is a ‘choose-and-pay’ style Stockholm cafe located in Rosendals Garden. A beautiful initiative for environmental sustainability: foods that are not eaten are turned into compost to fertilize the plants.
Everything is freshly prepared, here you can get that old school fika feeling. Unfortunately, the old fireplace and the oil barrel is missing now, it gave a special atmosphere to the place.
You will love choosing from the goodies on the center wooden table, the atmosphere is great with helpful and friendly baristas. The place gets busy in lunchtime, so arriving a little bit earlier may be a good idea. Queues at the cafe can become infinitely long.
Coffees are organically certified. They offer coffee, tea and organic wines and beers. The espresso is so flavorful! The cappuccino has a good balance of acids. You must taste the delicious pastries, cakes, buns, and rolls. Food is vegetable based with meat-based alternatives, you can also order meals off the menu. The courgette, goats cheese and pearl barley salad are a must try.
8. Chokladfabriken
- Address: 12 Renstiernas Gata, Stockholm 116 28, Sweden
- Telephone: +46 8 640 05 68
- Opening hours: 10:00 am – 10:00 pm
- More information about the coffee house: http://www.chokladfabriken.com/
Chokladfabriken is a must visit if you are walking around the South district of Stockholm. The place is relatively unknown but represents a very high quality. The waitress is so sweet and she offers you a nice packaging as a gift. Free wi-fi is available.
However, the prices may seem a little bit high. In the back, There is a spot where you can take off your shoes and sit among cushions to read a book and relax.
The coffee is so good. You can just grab a quick espresso. You will love it, even if you are picky. The cappuccino with an extra coffee shot in it is marvelous! Take away is also possible and in that case, the price will be lower. Don’t forget to ask for semla if you decide to taste their hot chocolate, what a brilliant combination! The chocolate pieces are so delicious!
Especially the one with caramel and salt… All kinds of pralines and chocolate variations are available, this is definitely a heaven for the lovers of the dark pleasures. If you prefer gluten-free desserts, you will find cakes that will satisfy you. The chocolate cake with rice bottom is a must try! Don’t miss this place if you are planning a trip to the Swedish capital. You won’t regret it.
7. Bla Porten
- Address: 64 Djurgaardsvaegen, Stockholm 115 21, Sweden
- Telephone: +46 8 663 87 59
- Opening hours: Mon-Fri 11:00 am – 10:00 pm, Sat-Sun 11:00 am – 8:00 pm
- More information about the coffee house: http://www.blaporten.com/
Described as a ‘Mediterranean Eatery with a lush garden’, Bla Porten is a nice self-serve restaurant located right near Abba Museum. Many locals frequent this cozy, boho Stockholm café, which is always a good sign. Do you wish to have an artistic Swedish food experience? Bla Porten is the solution.
They have a nice inner courtyard with flowers, colorful chairs, large umbrellas and small, singing birds, where you can enjoy your coffee or your meal in the beautiful sunshine. You will feel like you are at home, this is the perfect place to have a good lunch. Prices are high, but you know, this is Stockholm…
Bla Porten is more of a cafeteria than a table service restaurant. Coffees are so tasty, made from quality beans. The selection of the foods is limited to a short menu, but the quality is very high and the portions are correct. This is typical of good restaurants because less food can be prepared better.
The quiche, the Swedish meatballs with gravy and berries and the oven baked herring are a must try! Vegetarian options are also available, so vegans will be satisfied. You should definitely visit this Stockholm coffee shop, it will be a great pleasure!
6. Espresso House
- Address: 57 Vaesterlaanggatan | 111 29, Stockholm 111 29, Sweden
- Telephone: +46 10 510 12 56
- Opening hours: Mon-Fri 7:00 am – 8:00 pm, Sat-Sun 8:00 am – 8:00 pm
- More information about the coffee house: https://espressohouse.com/
You will love this place! Espresso House is located just a few meters far away from the central station in Stockholm. The interior is so lovely with the amazing design, providing a comfortable zone to enjoy yourself with a cup of steaming coffee.
The size of the place is so large, yet intimate. The staff is helpful and friendly, they even speak English. The Swedish have a good taste for coffee, that is for sure. You can find this place in Copenhagen too because this is a cafe chain. Prices are high, but this cafe is in Stockholm too, so we are not surprised.
Amazing flat whites, huge portions of cappuccino, lovely Americano. The Belgium Chocolate Mocha is so delicious with the coconut chocolate ball! You will like this place if you are a coffee lover, that is for sure! Their specialty is Christmas coffee, the hot chocolate with marshmallows is also worth a try.
A wide selection of baked goods is available, all made freshly from quality ingredients. I would recommend quinoa salad with salmon from the snacks, the desserts such as lemon-raspberry pie and carrot cake muffin are also brilliant. Another cozy Stockholm coffee house that would be a sin to miss.
5. Greasy Spoon
- Address: 19 Tjaerhovsgatan | Tjärhovsgatan 19, Stockholm 116 28, Sweden
- Opening hours: Mon-Fri 8:00 am – 4:00 pm, Sat-Sun 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
- More information about the coffee house: https://www.facebook.com/greasyspoonsthlm
Located just a 30 minutes walk away from the Central Station area, Greasy Spoon is a perfect spot to have a nice brunch with a good cup of coffee in Stockholm. That shabby chic vibe will make you feel so cool and youthful! Music is a great selection of classics (Joy Division, Robert Palmer, alt rock and country). The interior design is Instagram-friendly, so bring your telephone to take lovely pics. The typical hipster place.
If you are already fed up with the standard Swedish breakfast, you can have a good American/English breakfast here with bacon, beans, and sourdough bread. The service is so friendly and professional, however, it may be hard to find a seat in the peak time, so prepare yourself.
You can serve yourself brewed coffee in Greasy Spoon. It is so tasty. Delicious espresso and cappuccino with so many flavors. A broad selection of foods is available, the portion size is satisfying. The juices and the foods are freshly made, the buckwheat pancakes and a poached egg are definitely a must try! Not to mention the pink rosti.
Salads are also good, you should taste the fruit salad (raspberry, watermelon, melon, pineapple, blueberrys, and grapes), so delicious. Gluten-free options are also available. Try not to avoid this place while you are in Stockholm, you will not regret your choice.
4. Chokladkoppen
- Address: Stortorget, Gamlastan, Stockholm 18 11324, Sweden
- Telephone: +46 8 20 31 70
- Opening hours: Mon-Thu 10:00 am – 10:00 pm, Fri-Sat 10:00 am – 11:00 pm
- Website: http://eatingoutwell.com/
Chokladkoppen is a nice, cozy Stockholm coffee shop located in a square in the old town by the Nobel Museum. Lots of history surroundings. An awesome place to Fika, the atmosphere is great and inviting, the picturesque setting and the architecture is amazing. They play loud Greek dancing music, which is so authentic.
You can sit outside to enjoy the beautiful weather with a cup of coffee and watch people passing by. Blankets are provided. It is highly recommended for a casual, they have a limited but tasty dinner menu. The service is quick and helpful, but the prices are quite high.
The coffees are large and flavorful. The white hot chocolate served in a bowl is simply amazing! Not to mention the mochaccino Bianco! Are you interested in traditional Swedish pastry? Chokladkoppen is the place for you.
A huge selection of cakes is available, including the delicious cinnamon buns (Kunnelbulle). The chocolate cake (claddkaka) and the carrot cake are so rich! You can drink very tasty seasonal cider. The Raspberry pies come with a delicious vanilla sauce… Are you a vegetarian? No problem, you can order a vegetarian lasagna. You should definitely try this place if you crawl in Stockholm.
3. Vete-Katten
- Address: 55 Kungsgatan, Stockholm 111 22, Sweden
- Telephone: +46 8 20 84 05
- Opening hours: Mon-Fri 7:30 am – 8:00 pm, Sat-Sun 9:30 am – 7:00 pm
- Website: http://www.vetekatten.se/
Vete-Kattenis is a wonderful, centrally located (Kungsgatan) Swedish patisserie and bakery that was founded in the 20’s, it’s century long history is so exciting. One of the best places to have a typical Swedish fika (coffee/tea and sweets). This Stockholm café has multiple rooms, the interior is country house style, the atmosphere is so comfortable. Both young and old people frequent Vete-Kattenis.
The staff wears traditional servant clothes, which gives an authentic feel. They will help you in deciding what to choose. Finding a place inside may not be the easiest task, due to their popularity. Try to avoid peak time, because the queues can be very long. However, it is worth it. You have to buy your cake at the counter, there is no service at the table.
Coffee is excellent and self-service. It gives that classic Swedish fika feeling, you can drink your favorite black drink from porcelain here. The cream is sweet, you will enjoy the moments of old-fashioned pleasure. Coffee with refill is also available, which is so nice.
The pastries and the cakes are divine, you definitely should try semla and princess’s cake with a cup of coffee: marvelous! Not to mention the raspberry tartlet. Sandwiches are so tasty, especially the famous shrimp sandwich. Highly recommended, don’t miss it during your Stockholm trip.
2. Cafe Schweizer
- Address: 9 Vaesterlaanggatan, Stockholm 111 29, Sweden
- Telephone: +464684115177
- Opening hours: Sun-Thu 7:00 am – 7:00 pm, Fri-Sat 7:00 am – 8:00 pm
- Website: https://www.facebook.com/CafeSchweizer
You may stumble into this cozy Stockholm coffee house while you are exploring the Gamla Stan area of Stockholm city. When you enter, the festive decoration and the comfortable vibe of the place will immediately enchant you. Everything is clean and proper. You can order at the counter and sit out at the sidewalk tables to enjoy the sun and watch the passing parade.
It is run by a group of young people who are very proud of their service. The baristas are so cheerful! The two young ladies treat each guest with a warm and welcoming openness and even give sightseeing advices. You can relax here, that is for sure. They open at 7:00 on Sundays, so if you are an early bird, this place is for you.
The coffees are amazing. You can opt for a breakfast with a small bowl (c.500ml) of coffee, which is so delicious. You should definitely try the Hot Chocolate and the Chai Latte (soya milk available) served in a huge slurping bowl. Café Schweitzer is more of a cafe/snack place, the portions are very satisfying (enough for 2 to share).
You may discover a lot of Swedish style treats. The menu consists of sandwiches, paninis, quiches, and pastries. The Feat and Spinach Quiche are something to die for, especially when combined with the freshly squeezed orange juice. A must try.
1. Espresso Sosta Bar
- Address: 84 Sveavaegen | Radmansgatan T-bana, Stockholm 113 59, Sweden
- Telephone: +46 8 612 13 49
- Opening hours: Mon-Fri 8:00 am – 6:00 pm, Sat 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
- Website: http://www.sosta.se/
Espresso Sosta Bar is a little gem in the central part of Stockholm. You will love the cozy atmosphere of the outdoor seating. This Stockholm coffee house is a lot cheaper than the more boring franchise stores.
There are no tables, you have to just grab the coffee and enjoy it. The service is fast and friendly, even though the place can be very crowded in peak time. They don’t accept credit cards, so don’t forget to bring cash.
Espresso Sosta Bar offers you strong, flavorful and well-made Moak brand coffees. Macchiato, espresso, cortado, latte.. The barista will do his best to pamper your taste buds. The balance in between milk and espresso in the cappuccino is just right. Perfect amount of foam and milk, it so creamy but you can still taste the rich espresso flavor. Try to match the espresso with cannoli…
The Italian sweets are definitely a must try, they will certainly satisfy your sweet tooth. Wines are also nice, especially in the company of quality cold cuts and cheese. And the pizzas! A little slice of Italy in the North. They put a big emphasis on quality ingredients. Don’t miss this Stockholm coffee shop, definitely recommended.
Summary:
Coffee is an important part of the Swedish people. And that’s perfectly understandable: it is cold and dark in most parts of the year and the coffee gives a little warmth and arouses the mood. Fika, the coffee break is an integral part of the everyday life of the Swedish people.
It’s a moment to slow things down and appreciate the petty things in life. You can do it anywhere: at home, in the park, or at work. You can also eat something good with it (pastries or snacks). Did you already buy your airplane ticket to Stockholm? It will be a fantastic experience, that is for sure.
After these colder cities, we are going to investigate a city with a much hotter climate and discover The 10 Best Cafés of Miami. Stay tuned!