Outlet Shopping in Stockholm

Photo: qualityoutlet.com

Finding great shopping deals and hitting the outlets in different cities are popular pastimes for many visitors... and this has just become easier to do in Stockholm. At Stockholm Quality Outlet you can find 50 stores with over 100 brands collected in one place. They promise prices between 30 and 70% cheaper than in the city. Considering that Stockholm is known as an expensive city, this is a good option for visitors to get their shopping on! What is even better for visitors is that many popular Swedish designers are found there... including ACNE, Björn Borg, Filippa K, J Lindeberg, Nudie Jeans, Odd  Molly and Wesc.

Stockholm Quality Outlet is located in the northern suburb of Barkarby. In the past, this has meant a combination subway/bus ride for those without a car. But now, they are teaming up with Savor Media and providing a bus shuttle. The buses will depart from in front of the Stockholm Information Center at 10:15am and return from Barkarby at 2:15pm... giving you 4 hours to put a dent in your wallet. A round trip ticket costs 150 SEK (free for children under 12) and can be purchased on board or at certain hotels in advance. Cash and credit/debit cards accepted. In May the busses will run only on Saturday & Sunday but, when the tourist season gears up in June, they will run daily. If they notice a large interest in this service, they have promised extra busses in the future. If you are interested in going there on your own, then they have subway and bus directions on their website which I have linked to above. Click here for more shopping tips or, if you are staying at the Rival Hotel, contact me directly!

Guided Tours with Stockholm Our Way!

There are many great ways to explore and discover Stockholm... either with established bus & boat sightseeing tours (like with Strömma) or more intimate tours. The company Stockholm Our Way offers several guided tours of the city and allows you to explore on foot, by bike or even by kayak. All with an experienced guide! If you want a more private experience or have any special interests, you can also book a private guide through them.

They offer several guided walking tours... either a visit to the historical city center (Gamla Stan & Riddarholmen), an expanded tour which includes Gamla Stan as well as nearby sites or you can have a bit of fun and immerse yourself in Swedish culture with a Viking guide. While most tours are in either Swedish or English, they do also offer a walking tour in German. If you feel like getting more physical, then you can either try their kayak tour or their bicycle tour. Stockholm is best seen from the water as well as being an excellent city to bike in, so these two tours are perfect for the visitor who wants to leave the beaten path!

Something else they offer, which I think sounds like a fun idea, is a visit to a Stockholm home. Have you ever been in a foreign city and wondered what it looked like inside a home? I can't be the only one who is curious! This experience also includes a walking tour of Kungsholmen and a traditional Swedish "fika". So, as you can see, quite a variety of tours. Please note that certain tours are only available on certain days, check their website for dates. They can all be booked on their website or, if you are staying at the Rival Hotel, you can contact me directly for help. (Edit: all pictures in this article provided by Stockholm Our Way... thank you!)

Restaurant East

Entrance to dining room

Restaurant East has been a popular mainstay in culinary Stockholm for quite awhile now. I think it is safe to say that they were one of the first restaurants in Stockholm to serve Asian fusion cuisine... and they still do it well! Over the years, most Stockholmers have probably visited East at some point or another, whether for a business lunch, dinner with friends or a drink in their popular bar.

Sashimi

I was there last Sunday for dinner with my colleagues from the hotel reception. While many restaurants are closed on Sundays, East has very generous opening hours... in fact they are open every day of the year except Christmas Eve, New Year's Eve and Midsummers Eve, which, as a Concierge, I appreciate!

Beef Korat, New Style

The menu is expansive with dishes and ingredients from east and southeast Asia (Korea, Japan, Thailand, Vietnam, India, etc;). They have a great choice of sushi as well (maki and nigiri) which you can either order individually or in different mixed platters. This evening I started with some Maguro Tataki Sashimi (seared peppar tuna) and then followed it with Beef Korat (beef with mango, mint and red onions which you eat wrapped in a salad leaf, dumpling style). It was all delicious. Finally, I ended the dinner with some coconut sorbet. I never pass up coconut when I get the opportunity!

An indoor bar...

Besides being a great restaurant, East is well known in Stockholm as being a trendy watering hole. Their bar, including outdoor seating, is very popular and open until 3am every day of the week. East's location, where the street Biblioteksgatan meets Stureplan, adds a lot to their bar's popularity. In this neighbourhood you will find many high-end restaurants, bars and nightclubs. I think that the only negative thing about East is due to their bar's popularity... and that is that the furniture and furnishings can show a little wear and tear at times.
To get to East from the Rival Hotel, you can either take the subway (4 stations on the red line to Östermalmstorg, exit Stureplan) or a 7-8 minute taxi ride. Click here if you want to read about other restaurants I have visited recently.

...and the outdoor bar seating

Hornstull Neighbourhood

For years, most of the neighbourhood of Hornstull has been one big construction site. The majority of the construction is over and the area is emerging as one of Stockholm's new "in" areas. Located on the westerly tip of the island of Södermalm, the area has long been a transportation hub for western Stockholm with bridges connecting the island to Kungsholmen and the southern suburbs as well as tram, bus and subway stops.

The island of Södermalm (also the location of the Rival Hotel) has for the past couple of centuries been the home of Stockholm's working class. Gentrification of the island over the recent 40-50 years has changed it into a chic area with boutiques, galleries, restaurants and cafés and the home of artists, bohemian culture and young up-and-comers. One of the most famous gentrified areas is SoFo (South of Folkungagatan)... and as SoFo has become slightly over-exploited (it is found in just about every tourist guide), Hornstull has developed into the place where young Stockholmers want to live, work & play. In fact, some people have taken to calling the neighbourhood NoHo (North of Hornstull).

Hornstull shopping center

So, what is new? The underground passageways connecting the subway station to street level have been refreshed, adding many new boutiques. In fact, the passageways also connect to a small shopping center with stores selling fashion (H&M among others), technical gadgets, books, flowers as well as a larger liquor store (Systembolaget) and grocery store. Probably the most obvious change is a new, three story, leaning glass building adjacent to the shopping center's street entrance. Housed within this building are two restaurants... Hornhuset and Trattoria Enzo's. There is even a rooftop terrace which should prove to be very popular during the summer.

Hornhuset with rooftop terrace

As the area has increased in popularity, more and more restaurants have moved in over the past few years. Some well-known ones, representing a wide range of cuisines and price ranges, are Ho's, Ramblas, Linje 10, Judit & Bertil, Calexico's and Lasse i Parken. Cafés, always popular with Stockholmers, are in abundance! Another reason, as a tourist, you might visit Hornstull is its proximity to green areas. The small, leafy island of Långholmen is nearby... a great place to take a swim or to rent a kayak during the summer months. On the other side you have the park Tantolunden and the waterfront promenade Hornstulls Strand. Another fun thing to do is walk across the bridge Västerbron, which connects the area to Kungsholmen. Great views of the city!

View from Västerbron

There is still some minor construction going on (beautification of the sidewalks), but this is already a great place to visit. It is easy to get to from the Rival Hotel... just a 20 minute walk down the street Hornsgatan, or else two subway stops on the red line.

Restaurant Pocket at Pontus!

Open kitchen at Pocket

This is not a new restaurant, more a new concept at an already existing restaurant. To start off with, I should explain the name. Many high end restaurants in Stockholm have a more casual, smaller second restaurant in the same locale (often sharing the same kitchen) which we call a bakficka, meaning "back pocket". Thus the name... Pocket is the Restaurant Pontus' bakficka.

Escargot Provencale

Pontus itself is a very nice restaurant, run by celebrity chef Pontus Frithiof, and is often on lists of Stockholm's best restaurants. Pocket is their version of a casual French bistro. The locale for Pocket was the home of Pontus Seafood Bar earlier. I was invited last Monday to stop by and check out the changes. They have changed the interior, making it more intimate. On the menu you will find French favorites such as escargot, beef tartar, vichyssoise and tuna nicoise. Uncomplicated, yet well-made dishes. Pocket doesn't accept table reservations... just drop-in customers. It's location, just one block from Stureplan, makes it a great place to drop in for a bite after a day of shopping or before a night on the town. Otherwise book a table at Pontus itself or have a drink in their Avec Vinbar.

Tuna Nicoise

It's easy to get to Pontus and Pocket from the Rival Hotel... just four stops on the subway (north bound on the red line to Östermalmstorg, exit Stureplan). Click here for more restaurants I have visited recently...

Looking down into the Pontus dining room from Pocket

Stockholm on the List of 50 Best Restaurants in the World

The final restaurant award of the season! The annual list of the 50 best restaurants in the world has been announced... and it is good news for the restaurant Frantzén/Lindeberg who has moved up the list to #12. Mathias Dahlgren, another great Stockholm restaurant, unfortunately slipped off the list and came in at 55th place (still not too shabby!). Read the judges verdict about Frantzén/Lindeberg, which has also been awarded 2 Michelin stars this year, by clicking here. (EDIT: ironically enough, it was just announced today, a few minutes after I wrote this blog post, that the chef duo are "splitting up". An amicable split, but now the restaurant will just go by the name Restaurant Frantzén).

Now, if you feel that Frantzén is a little out of your budget... then I have some good news for you! They have recently opened their own take on an English pub, gourmet style but with great prices, called The Flying Elk. It is located in Gamla Stan right around the corner from Restaurant Frantzén. I haven't eaten there yet, but I have visited both their cocktail bar (Corner Club) and wine bar (Gaston), which are located at the same address, and I have tried both the Truffel Burger and their version of the pulled pork sandwich. Both were fantastic! I am planning a visit to The Flying Elk and will write more then! Stay tuned...
In the meanwhile, click here if you wish to read more restaurant awards and guides from this and past seasons.

Valborg (Walpurgis) Celebrations!

Tonight is Valborgmässoafton (or Walpurgis Eve) here in Sweden! This is a great, traditional spring celebration where Swedes gather in the evening, light bonfires and sing traditional songs. Tomorrow, May 1st, is a bank holiday (International Workers Day) so younger celebrants can get a little rowdy. But it is all in good fun. There are official bonfires being lit tonight throughout the city, but if you are staying at the Rival Hotel then there are two that are conveniently close to the hotel... if you wish to witness and partake in the festivities.

Valborg at Skansen, photo by Dan Larsson

The first is in Gamla Stan and Riddarholmen. A torch procession starts at the square Stortorget in Gamla Stan at 8:10pm and winds its way through the old town to Riddarholmen where the bonfire will be lit at 8:30pm. There will be entertainemnt in the form of an orchestra, choir and open microphone. They will start selling torches at Stortorget at 7:45pm if you wish to be part of the procession. The second celebration is at Skansen on the island of Djurgården. There will be things (concerts, speeches) going on all afternoon and early evening... but the all important bonfire will be lit at 9pm. Happy Spring!

Riddarholmen Church

Swedish Design at HAPPYsthlm

Pretty soon Stockholm will be filled with happy summer visitors! Swedish/Scandinavian Design has really become a famous and popular concept these days and one of the top questions I get from visitors is where they can see and purchase great design knick-knacks in the city. As you can imagine, Stockholm is filled with interior design stores, some better than others, from small independent shops to larger chain stores.

A new boutique, called HAPPYsthlm, has recently opened in Gamla Stan and offers a great opportunity to find some unique objects... whether for your home, yourself or souvenirs for friends & family. On a side note I can explain that "sthlm" is a shortened form of Stockholm, used by Swedes. Behind HAPPYsthlm is a trio of local designers (Katarina Andersson, Kajsa Aronsson and Caroline Lindholm) who have worked together for many years. Each of them has had success in their respective fields of design (product, textile and jewellery) but always dreamed of opening their own independent boutique together. A dream that was fulfilled late last summer when they opened HAPPYsthlm!

In the store you will find vases, ceramics, napkins, tea towels, cushions, place mats, fabric, silver earrings & pendants and much, much more. All making it easy to give your home that Scandi feel when you get return from your vacation. The boutique's location in Gamla Stan is just a 10-12 minute walk from the Rival Hotel, otherwise it is just a couple of blocks from the Gamla Stan subway station (green & red lines). All three pictures in this article were taken by Karin Björkquist, with thanks to HAPPYsthlm.
Click here for some earlier shopping tips!

Royal Apartments at the Palace

The Royal Palace (Kungliga Slottet) is hard to miss if you are visiting Stockholm... located on the north-east corner of Gamla Stan, this palace actually has one more room than Buckingham Palace (in other words, quite large). The palace was built in the early to mid 1700's on the site of the original castle, Tre Kronor, which was destroyed in a fire in 1697. It is the main royal palace in Sweden and where the offices of the king and other royal family members are located, though their official residence is at Drottningholm Palace.

Just about every tourist that comes to Stockholm visits the palace at some point during their trip... whether they just take a walk around and admire the facade, see the changing of the guard or visit one of the many museums inside the palace (Royal Armoury, The Treasury, Tre Kronor, Museum of Antiquities). Another option is to visit the Royal Apartments, which is part of the palace interior, including the Guest Apartments, Hall of State, banquet hall as well as exhibition on the Swedish Orders of Chivalry.

Embarrassing as it is to admit, it had been decades since I last visited the Apartments... so I took an afternoon last week and rectified this. The entrance fee is 150 SEK for adults (75 SEK for children between 7 and 18 years) and it also includes entrance to the Treasury, Tre Kronor Museum and the Gustav III Museum of Antiquities. Don't worry... the ticket is good for 7 days, so you don't have to visit all of the museums on the same day! Also included in the entrance fee are the guided tours of the Apartments and Treasury. Click here for the times for the guided tours this summer (May 15th to Sep 15th). I wandered through the Apartments on my own without guide. It is a very interesting window on Swedish history from the 1700's to today as well as the design and style of the times. I also liked the room that contained the heraldic crests of the different kings & queens of Europe and Asia (all recipients of the Swedish Order of the Seraphim).

It is very easy to get to the Royal Palace from the Rival Hotel... just a 15 minute or so walk through Gamla Stan (old town). Photography is not allowed in the Apartments, so the pictures taken by me in this blog post (above) are from the stairwells and corridors outside of the Apartments. Please be aware that this is a "working" palace and the Royal Apartments may be fully or partly closed on certain days due to official receptions of the king.

Gustav III's Bedchamber, photo by Alexis Daflos, Kungliga Hovstaterna

Stockholm Culture Night (Kulturnatt)

kulturnattstockholm.se 

This Saturday, April 20th, is Culture Night (Kulturnatt) in Stockholm. This is the fourth annual Culture Night in Stockholm and it has become quite popular! So, what is a Culture Night? Well, it basically is an evening devoted to all things cultural... and FREE! Different cultural institutions in Stockholm are open during the evening (6pm to midnight), including museums, art galleries, libraries, churches, palaces, clubs, theatres, cinemas and more. To break it down in numbers, this festival will have around 350 events taking place at over 90 different locations throughout the city! And, as I mentioned earlier, admission is free... so this is a great opportunity to get cultural without damaging your wallet.

Photo by Robert Höglund, Kulturnatt Stockholm

So there is a lot to choose from... art & museum exhibitions, concerts, guided tours, performances, viewings and parties. Something for every taste! You can find a program to download in English on their website (click here) in which they have hand picked events where knowledge of the Swedish language isn't necessary. More detailed information in Swedish along with the full program can be found by clicking here.

Photo by Robert Höglund, Kulturnatt Stockholm

The official After Party, with free admission of course, will take place at the iconic Stockholm City Hall (Stadshuset)... where the Nobel dinner/party takes place every year. It starts at 10:30pm and goes on to 3am. The City Hall is located on Kungsholmen. If you are staying at the Rival Hotel, stop by and talk to me and I can explain in more detail about the different events.