cities

in short…

• small, exquisite restaurant from Joel Hellner, who used to cook at the fabulous Fäviken

• just like dining in a close friend's living room

• from the best tomatoes to the finest scallops – all cooked to perfection

Of course, this little restaurant in Vasastan has more than just a table, as its Swedish name might suggest.

Joel Hellner’s Bord, near the Vanadislunden city park, actually feels more like the host has invited us into his private dining room and put in as many tables as the room can possibly hold.

The white-tiled kitchen is separated only by a serving counter, where a few guests can also sit and watch the chefs at work.

And, in the very tradition of the wonderful Fäviken, where Joel used to cook, they conjure up exquisite dishes from the very best ingredients, cooked to perfection.

in short…

• Stockholm’s super-cool deli chain

• our favourite spot – the charming shop by Nytorget Park

• picnic in the park or eating right there - both great choices 

Supermarket, delicatessen, café, diner, neighbourhood hangout, caterer, even a hotel - the Stockholm deli chain is all of these things.

A hip little world of its own, enriching Sweden's capital at three locations.

Added to this is „Urban Farming“ - a concept on which Urban Deli is working in collaboration with the Royal Institute of Technology. Here, „Farm to Table“ is implemented in a way that’s suitable for a metropolis and conserves resources.

Whilst these visionary ideas can be seen in Norrmalm and Hagastaden, the two large Urban Deli branches, our favourite is the cute, flower-adorned shop by Nytorget Park, which has all the charm of a genuine New York deli.

in short…

• a beautiful Stockholm interior design store from the 1920s 

• handcrafted furniture and textiles from local manufacturers 

• genuine Swedish design treasures - a significant part of the selection is made exclusively for Svenskt Tenn and therefore hard to find else where in the world 

In a round of quick-fire questions, almost all of us would probably respond to „Swedish interior design shop?” with „Ikea!”.

The far more exciting answer, however, is „Svenskt Tenn”!

This gorgeous traditional establishment has been located on Strandvägen, Stockholm’s elegant boulevard right by the water, since 1927.

As we make our way through the rooms aligned one after the other, up and down the stairs, our design-loving hearts beat a little faster.

in short…

• just one bedroom in this cute hotel in Vesterbro

• delicious breakfast included – served in the hotel’s own café

• luxury like at the big ones – Aesop toiletries in the bathroom and a complimentary welcome drink

“I can recommend a cute little hotel.” 

Whenever someone states this, they usually mean a hotel with twelve, perhaps fifteen rooms.

When we say that we love the tiny Hotel Central on Tullinsgade, we really do mean tiny!

There’s just one room here, perched above a charming mini café.

When we’re lucky enough to get this room booked for our stay in Copenhagen, it’s always a very special treat, because every luxury is on offer in this smallest of spaces, topped off with a very personal touch and plenty of warmth.

in short…

• historic tea merchant with a tea room on Kronprinsengade 

• this small shop still preserves some of its original furnishings from 1835 

• from organic Assam to White Temple tea - a must for tea lovers

I have an English great-grandmother – Grandma Gitta, a delicate, refined lady with neatly curled red locks.

Her passion for beautiful things has left us with several twelve-piece, ornate tea services.

And her traditional British fondness for a proper five o’clock tea has been passed on to us in every way.

Putting the kettle on, finding a pretty cup, some biscuits – sweet or savoury, a little milk or rock sugar – tea always brings that moment of calm to life.

For us, A. C. Perch is one of Europe’s finest tea houses (even if my British great-grandmother wouldn’t be keen to leave the field to the Danes).

So anyone who loves tea as much as we do should definitely visit this little shop in Copenhagen’s Indre By.

in short…

• sweet boutique hotel in the heart of Östermalm

• spacious rooms in a charming vintage look and a wonderful breakfast

• our tip - take an evening stroll through the park to Hantverket, then slip slightly tipsy into your cosy hotel bed

Everyone knows the saying „A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush“.

In German, this proverbial bird is specifically a sparrow.

It means you’re better off having something little and good for sure than chasing after something bigger out of reach.

The Sparrow Hotel in Stockholm’s Östermalm not only has a plump sparrow as its logo, but is exactly that – a small, really good, charming boutique hotel.

If you're considering staying here, you really don't need to search any further.

in short…

• Swedish squid and Norwegian oysters

• pub atmosphere in a cosy basement in Vasastan

• the perfect way to while away time - watching the friendly team in the open kitchen

This little restaurant, tucked away in a cosy basement in trendy Vasastan, describes itself rather well:

“Främmat is a cosy, charming restaurant where the scent of good food and a great atmosphere linger in the air. Our food and drink menus are constantly changing. We have one foot in classic French cuisine and the other in innovative, creative cooking with no rules.”

And we can only add how incredibly welcoming Främmat is, with its open kitchen and friendly team - definitely one of our all-time favourites in Stockholm!