A Guide To Stockholm, The “Venice Of The North”

Photo Credit: Jeppe Wikstrom

Stockholm, Sweden conjures up images of a fairytale, in a way — tall, golden-haired, and blue-eyed people roaming around quaint, cobblestoned squares by the sea. The reality of course, is vastly different: Sweden’s capital is the largest in Scandinavia and considered to be the hub of the Nordic region, a hotbed of haute cuisine, charming hotels, world-famous bars, and art. Its metro, in fact, has been called the longest art gallery in the world due to the beautiful pieces that adorn its underground, labyrinth-like walls.

Photo Credit: Visit Stockholm

And while I love history, what appeals to me most of about a city is finding what makes it current. And that, my friends, is the intention here — to share that knowledge.

WHERE TO STAY

Photo Credit: Joakim Ström

The Grand Hôtel in Stockholm is considered to be the epitome of luxury, an international hub for high-profile events and celebrities since 1874, on the waterfront, overlooking the Royal Palace and Gamla Stan, Stockholm’s old town. And that should definitely be on your list — but for those that appreciate Art Deco beauty, a gorgeous option is the nearby The Bank Hotel.

Photo Credit: Joakim Ström

Completed in 1910 at the tail end of the art nouveau movement, what is now a five-star property started in 1910 as the head of the Södra Sverige Banking company, transforming into a variety of separately owned banks before it became a hotel. Each left their mark on the property historically. Two massive, dramatic bronze doors open onto the former bank’s carefully reimagined lobby. Light from floor-to-ceiling windows illuminates the marble floor and the mahogany clad walls, while gorgeous chandeliers, specially commissioned from Venice, Italy, hang from the ceiling. Swedish art adorns the walls.

Meanwhile the rooms feature a warm, classic style that utilize natural materials such as stone and wood in soft tones, all selected by Sweden’s most famous interior stylists, Ida Lauga and Lo Bjurulf.  The top rooms include the Penthouse Executive Terrace Suite, which has said aforementioned terrace running the full length of the suite. There’s also an elegant dining area and an opulent lounge, with its centerpiece being a beautiful, Royal-like bedroom. The Bank Rooftop Terrace Suite follows suit, combining both penthouses suites into one for the ultimate in privacy.

Photo Credit: Bank Hotel

The hotel is also known for its F&B outlets, including Bonnie’s a beautiful eatery with high glass ceilings serving up coastal European fare; Sophie’s bar, highlighted by generous velvet chairs, art, a decorated floral ceiling, and interesting cocktails; the Papillon Bar, an elegant, intimate space with wall-to-wall carpeting and mahogany panelling; a rooftop bar, with double terraces overlooking both the archipelago and downtown Stockholm; and the cocktail and terrace bar Le Hibou on the top floor, whose interior is inspired by an exclusive Parisian suite.

DINING

Unsurprisingly, there are Michelin-starred restaurants galore in the capitol. Among our favorites are the three-Michelin-starred Frantzén courtesy of world-renowned chef Björn Frantzén, an exquisite, tasting menu-only eatery focusing on Nordic cuisine with a touch of Asian flavor.

Photo Credit: Julia Donka

Make sure not to miss  Matbaren, a modern bistro with daily changing menus courtesy of award-winning chef Mathias Dahlgren; Ekstedt, from Niklas Ekstedt, who uses Scandinavian cooking techniques to make contemporary fare with carefully-selected season ingredients, focusing on Swedish flavors, smoke, and fire; and Aira, a stunning restaurant near Royal Djurgården that serves up beautifully-presented dishes comprised of Nordic ingredients and produce from its own on-site garden.

DRINKING

Photo Credit: Röda Huset

Röda Huset, or Red House, is a gorgeous bar overlooking the famous Sergels Torg square with a distinct pedigree in that it has a place on the World’s 50 Best Bars list. This might be because the bar takes so much pride in its home country, with a 17-strong cocktail menu comprised of Swedish ingredients that changes when the seasons do.  Owner Hampus Thunholm nails the clear milk punch Good Crème, which clarifies dairy milk with vodka, green apples, and vernal grass. Another standout is the coriander and gooseberry, comprised of Roku Gin and Mancino Sakura Vermouth flavored with coriander seeds from Mia and gooseberries from Österlen 185.

Photo Credit: Bohman+Sjöstrand Photography

Then, there’s Lucy’s Flower Shop, a speakeasy hidden inside an abandoned flower shop that showcases a purple interior, mood lighting, and excellents cocktails. The agave & carrot is one that’s particularly interesting: a blend of Ocho tequila, Bruxo mezcal, carrot and violette, though I also recommend the seabuckthorn and coffee, with Torres 15 brandy, seabuckthorn, coffee, and whey.

Photo Credit: David Thunander

The Grand Dame of Stockholm is Cadier Bar at the Grand Hotel, which offers the most elegant bar in the city, where bartenders are suited and bow-tied, looking like something out of time’s past, and whose menu is both artfully beautiful and inventive, highlighting the most distinctive things about Scandinavia in a truly imaginative way. “The Craftsmanship Menu” offers unmissable libations like The Florist — paragon labdanum, rose, lavender, butterfly pea flowers, wild pansy, and sparkling tea — and The Stonemason, made with Gotlands Ginfabrik gin, sour cherries, hazelnut, and Meadowsweet vermouth.

WHAT TO DO

Photo Credit: Julia Donka

The late Swedish DJ Tim ‘Avicii’ Bergling is from Stockholm, and as such, the city has given back to one of its most famous residents in several ways. First, they’ve renamed the former Stockholm Globe Arena — which was the largest spherical building on Earth until 2023 — the Avicii Arena; there is also the Avicii Experience tribute museum, created in his honor. The museums here in general are world class, like the famous Vasa Museum, deemed to be the best in Scandinavia; the photo gallery Fotografiska; and the modern art Moderna Museet.

Photo Credit: Visit Stockholm