Stockholm - 3rd International Academic Conference on Teaching and Education

October 15, 2024

Dining in Stockholm

Matbaren: Casual dining in an elegant setting

Situated in the luxury Grand Hôtel, Matbaren (meaning “food bar”) has an accordingly grand setting overlooking the harbor. It serves bistro style small and medium size dishes in a relaxed atmosphere with friendly staff. It is run and owned by the well-known chef Mathias Dahlgren, who has several Michelin stars under his belt from his various restaurants.

Bakfickan: A cozy restaurant housed in the Royal Opera House

Small with only 28 seats but cozy and atmospheric with pictures of operas hanging on the walls, Bakfickan (“The Back Pocket”) is tucked in the back of the Royal Swedish Opera in Östermalm. For a formal dining experience in the most opulent setting in Stockholm, there is Operakällaren with one Michelin star (run by the same chef, Stefano Catenacci) on the other side of the building, but Bakfickan is the place to be for intimate dining.

Oaxen Krog & Slip

There are many attractions in the island of Djurgården but Oaxen Krog — a fine dining restaurant with two Michelin stars — and its sister restaurant Slip are good enough reasons to visit this small island which is within easy walking distance from central Stockholm.

Rosendals Trädgård: An organic garden cafe/restaurant

Especially on sunny days, it’s lovely to eat at this garden cafe, another gem in Djurgården. Whether eating in the greenhouse or outside in the orchard, this is one of the locals’ favorites in the summer.

Den Gyldene Freden: One of the oldest restaurants in the world

Stepping inside Den Gyldene Freden (meaning “The Golden Peace”) is like being transported to a forgotten era.

The interior is dimly lit and still looks like an old inn. It serves Swedish classics such as Baltic herring, meatballs and veal sausages with sweetbreads, but with an international touch. With its setting and history, and the good food that goes with them, a restaurant hardly gets more atmospheric than this.

Fotografiska: The best museum restaurant

Strictly speaking, Fotografiska is an exhibition space for photography, rather than a museum, as it has no permanent collection. Regardless, situated on the water in the hip and trendy Södermalm, south-central part of Stockholm, the Art Nouveau industrial building is one of the most popular attractions in Stockholm.

Gondolen: For the best view of Stockholm

Another Sodermalm classic, Gondolen is an upscale restaurant famous for its sophisticated cuisine and refined service, but even better known for its spectacular views. The Stockholm dining scene is competitive, as there are so many top-notch restaurants, but not many can compete with this setting.

Östermalm Saluhall: A historic food hall

Any foodie will be thrilled to visit this historic food hall in the heart of the Ostermalm neighborhood which dates back to 1888. Food stalls — some of which have been here for generations — displaying all kinds of Swedish culinary fares are a delight to behold.

Stockholm’s Hidden Gems

Many visitors of Stockholm spend much time visiting must-sees like beautiful palaces, old parts with beautiful historic buildings, crowded restaurants, churches and museums. Nothing wrong with that of course, but you will spend much of your time queuing with tourists. Here, we have picked some gems in Stockholm, discovered by local people.

The gallery street

Hornsagatan is one of the main streets in Söder, when you cross number 50, the street branches out and one of the two ends becomes narrow and steep, paved with cobblestones and populated by a long series of art galleries: paintings, sculptures, glass, and fine Scandinavian art. Well, if you keep walking till number 8, you’ll find my favorite: Galleri Kontrast!

Historical Stockholm walk

Prästgatan is often overlooked by visitors to Gamla Stan, or the Old Town, simply because there is less than a handful of shops and only one restaurant found here. Unlike Västerlånggatan, it lacks window displays and commercial signboards and still retains its original character of a medieval street.

Prästgatan, or Priests Street, gets its name from the priests serving the main Cathedral Storkyrkan who have traditionally had their lodgings on Prästgatan 18. A tradition traced back to the 14th Century.

Record shops for vinyl lovers

If you’re a music freak, this is the area to be for music collectors and vinyl lovers. On St Eriksgatan alone you will find five different shops to look around in. Not to mention other streets like Odengatan nearby where even more gems are to be found.

I usually start at the beginning of the street, close to where I live and make my way around to whatever I’m in the mood for that day. Nostalgipalatset (see image), doesn’t have only 2nd hand vinyl but also has 2nd hand toys and Record Hunting has an online registry on discogs.com.

The museum of spirits

On the famous city island Djurgården, where you can find all kinds of cultural experiences, you will also find the Spiritmuseum. That is, a whole museum about the booze culture of Sweden! Here you’ll definitely have fun. It consists of two exhibition rooms and the permanent exhibition “Sweden: Spirits of a Nation”. Here visitors take part in the Swedes’ bittersweet relationship with alcohol while walking through the seasons of the year taking in scenery, scents, tastes, and music.

A garden fit for a prince

Once the stately home of Prince Eugene, it was donated to the State along with his vast collection of art in order for it to be enjoyed by the public. But as much as I enjoy going to art exhibitions in his former home, now a museum, it is the garden and park that I find to be the main draw to Waldemarsudde.

Overlooking the harbor inlet of the city, the main thoroughfare into Stockholm for centuries, the Prince had a great panorama to enjoy.

Everyone’s park

Marabouparken is the biggest public park in Sundbyberg, kinda hidden, on the west side of the neighborhood. It has something for everyone such as a sculpture collection, an art gallery with exhibitions of local and international artists, and they organize workshops for kids and adults.

Marabouparken, as it is now, was designed between 1937 and 1955 by two Swedish landscape architects: the basic concept behind the park design is the symbiosis between nature and urban landscape without any of the parts taking over the other one.

Stockholm’s Attractions

Gamla Stan (Old Town)

Dating from the 1200s and crammed with must-see sights, attractions, cafés, authentic restaurants, and boutique shops, the area of Gamla Stan (Old Town) is a living-breathing museum in its own right. For many, this is the first stop on their journey of exploration. Certainly there\’s no better way to instantly absorb the feel of Stockholm and get to grips with the city\’s culture. Plenty of souvenirs and gifts are available in the Old Town, and you will find yourself transported back to medieval times as you meander through a bewildering labyrinth of tiny, winding streets. Mysterious vaults and ancient frescoes lurk behind picturesque facades.

Vasa Museum

The incredible Vasa battleship was intended to be the pride of the Swedish Imperial fleet, yet in a forerunner of the Titanic disaster centuries later, sank on its maiden voyage in 1628. An amazing salvage operation took place in 1961, and now you can marvel at this glorious time capsule, 95 percent of which is entirely original. The three masts on the roof of the museum are not just a tourist draw; they were reconstructed to the exact height and specifications of the original masts. This is the most visited museum in Sweden, and rightfully so.

Djurgården

A tranquil oasis in the heart of the city, the island of Djurgården draws tourists and locals alike, particularly during the summer months of long lazy days and short nights. The park forms part of the Royal National City Park, and it\’s a perfect place for a stroll and picnic as well as being home to several of Stockholm\’s top museums and other attractions. Scattered about are pleasant cafés, restaurants, snack-bars, and hotels. You can hire bicycles to explore the forest trails or, if you\’re feeling adventurous, take to the waterways in a canoe. The popular Vasa Museum and Abba the Museum are located here, as is the open-air museum Skansen and Gröna Lund amusement park.

The Royal Palace (Sveriges Kungahus)

A visit here could be a day out in itself. Located by the water\’s edge on the periphery of Gamla Stan, this is the official residence of the King of Sweden. Interestingly, the Queen\’s residence lies elsewhere, on the beautiful island and UNESCO World Heritage Site Drottningholm (Queen\’s island), about a 45-minute ferry ride from Stockholm and an easy day trip. A rich taste of the once mighty Swedish Empire, the palace is one of the largest in Europe boasting in excess of 600 rooms and several museums. Dating from the 18th century and Baroque in style, the palace houses many gems.

The City Hall (Stadshuset)

Nestled at the water\’s edge and topped by three golden crowns, the City Hall is one of Stockholm\’s most iconic buildings and stars in countless images and postcards of the city. Dating from 1923, the hall opened on that most Swedish of dates Midsummer\’s Eve. Housed within are assembly rooms, offices, works of art, and the machinery of civil democracy. The prestigious annual Nobel Banquets are held here. Recipients dine first in Blå hallen (The Blue Hall) and then move on to the formal ball in Gyllene salen (The Golden Hall), which has no less than 18 million mosaics adorning its walls. A particular treat is the chance to view the city from the famous tower.

Skansen Open-Air Museum

The oldest open-air museum in the world, Skansen, on the island of Djurgården, is a wonderful attraction for families, particularly those with young children. Not only will you be treated to an authentic taste of Sweden as it once was, but also the wonderful Skansen Aquarium and the Children\’s Zoo. More than 150 different buildings and houses were collected from all around the country and reassembled here. On display are distinct town districts, including manor houses, a bakery, the beautiful Seglora timber church, and a pottery, all brought to life by costumed staff. At the zoo are moose, bears, lynxes, wolves, and seals.

3rd International Academic Conference on Teaching and Education

Category: Stockholm