Healthy Guide to Stockholm

The call to visit Stockholm has been strong for quite some time now. I have been attracted to the “Lagom” and “Fika” lifestyles (described below), and the foodie scene in the city is top-notch. Luckily, I had the opportunity to check out the city for a few days in April with one of my dear friends. I hope this guide will inspire you to check out Stockholm for yourself or help guide you as you plan your trip!

Lagom (pronounced “lar-gohm”) is a Swedish word meaning something like “just the right amount”. Sweden boasts one of the happiest populations in the world, and Lagom is supposedly part of the secret to the Swedes living a balanced and happy life. The concept can mean different things in different situations, but essentially it means living in a way that is not too little and not too much, adopting a more balanced, slower lifestyle. This could translate to living more in the moment and enjoying life’s simple pleasures or adopting a minimalistic approach to belongings. More of this please!

Fika is essentially a Swedish coffee break, but there’s more to it than that. Fika is a break, taken during the day, to slow down and appreciate the simple pleasures of life. The pause usually involves coffee (or a tea) and a baked good, and can be taken alone, with coworkers, or with friends and family. Since I’ve moved to Europe, I’ve really remarked and appreciated the fact that Europeans normally sit and slowly enjoy their coffee or tea. It’s an entire enjoyable experience. It’s really a start contrast to what I was used to in the US, coffee normally grabbed on the go without any ceremony. I think we could all use a little more Fika!

eats

As soon as we checked into our Airbnb, we headed to Nook. They specialize in simple Nordic dishes with the influence of some Asian flavors. They couldn’t seat us in the restaurant (definitely pre-plan and make a reservation!) but we grabbed seats at the adjoining bar where they serve their small bites. And it was phenomenal. The fermented french fries with mushroom mayo were so good we almost put in another order! And our server was so sweet and gave us a bunch of recommendations. Which is how we ended up at Cafe Nizza…

When our server at Nook told us about this fermented cacio e pepe across the street at Cafe Nizza, we knew we had to check it out. And oh my word was it good. Id never even heard of fermented pasta before but it was amazing. And you can’t go wrong with cacio e pepe. I highly recommend adding this to your to eat list! 

I read about Rosendals Trädgård in several articles/blog posts before I came, and it was recommended to me by a friend as well. It was everything I was expecting and more! To get there, you can walk or bike through this beautiful park (I also believe you can drive). It’s a beautiful garden with an orchard, cafe, farm shop and anything your plant lady heart desires. They practice biodynamic sustainable farming and exemplify the farm to fork movement. We had to wait in a pretty long line to eat at the cafe (we were there on a Friday in April) but it moved quickly and was definitely worth the wait. They offered seasonal warm and cool dishes, soups, fresh baked breads, pastries made with organic, sustainable ingredients. You can eat inside or outside and even in the orchard if you like! Hands down my favorite place we visited in Stockholm. 

Another place I read about online was Falafelbaren, and so many people said absolutely don’t miss it on your trip to Stockholm. We went on a Saturday in the late afternoon and didn’t even know we were miraculously making it in 1 minute before they closed (They close at 5pm, FYI!) They we’re so sweet and let us order and enjoy our food while they prepared to close. I ordered a falafel and halloumi bowl and it was SO good. If I lived in Stockholm I would eat here every week! There were so many yummy options on the menu. I believe they have four different locations in Stockholm so don’t skip it 😉 

I usually like to check out at least one wine bar when I travel. Tyge & Sessil is a trendy wine bar with an excellent wine menu and cozy upscale vibe. We ordered the burrata and the honeybaked carrots with goat cheese and sunflower seeds and were pleased with our choices. The burrata had some pickled plums and almonds, and we both agreed we never wanted to eat anything without pickled plums on it ever again. They were outstanding!

Not only is Fotografiska an incredible photography museum, they are also well known for their food! We went on a Saturday and opted to eat in the café before seeing the exhibits. They also offer a bunch/museum combo ticket and their brunch is supposed to be incredible. We had not made a reservation and didn’t feel like waiting, but I would definitely do it next trip. The cafe was excellent and we loved everything we ordered! We shared a tarte with puff pastry, kale, crème fraiche, pickled mushroom, aged cheese and parsley and I ordered a bowl with kamut wheat, a soft egg and a mix of fermented and fresh veggies. The concept focuses on green seasonal dishes.

Came to Mahalo for the smoothie bowls! And it was extra special because I met up with my dear friend and coach Fernanda. The menu offers a rainbow of tasty smoothie bowls, plant based eats and fresh juices. I ordered a smoothie bowl made with pitaya, raspberries, banana and pineapple and then topped with mango, pomegranate, passionfruit, coconut and granola. It was, of course, amazing. We also shared the “Breakfast in Bread”, which was essentially scrambled tofu and avocado toast but everything about it was next level. I would order it again next visit! They have locations in Södermalm and Vasastaden.

I visited Hermans Garden Restaurant for their Brunch (and it happened to be Easter!) and man, was it an experience! They serve a huge vegetarian buffet (with plenty of vegan options) every day, 11am-10pm and also have a large selection of vegan desserts. The buffet is one set price and then you can eat your little veggie heart out. It was definitely worth it, and I would encourage fellow veggie fanatics to check it out. The view over the water was beautiful and the food was delicious, satisfying and definitely prepared with lots of love. They call their earth conscious concept “planet friendly food” and you can feel it.

I am not a huge fan of pastries. I typically opt for savory foods over sweet foods. These traditional kardemummabullar, cardamom buns, are just divine. They are in cafes and bakeries all over Stockholm, and i’m mildly obsessed. I even brought a cookbook back so I can try and bake these bad boys on my own. When you bite in, you receive an explosion of cardamom flavor in your mouth. It’s heavenly. If you’re not hot on cardamom, the Kanelbullar, cinnamon buns, are equally tasty. My favorite ones from this trip came from Robin Delselius Bageri. Pick up one of these delicious buns, order a coffee and enjoy and relax during your afternoon Fika.

For our last dinner together of the trip, we made a reservation at Oaxen Slip. Oaxen is divided into two restaurants – “Slip” which has a casual bistro vibe and “Krog” where you can indulge in a fine dining experience. Slip is located in a beautiful converted boathouse and they serve delicious Swedish bistro fare. Everything we ordered was simple but decadent. We started with the the grilled sourdough with lard, kale, capers and mushrooms and a rich dish of Jerusalem artichokes with whey, black roe and breadcrumbs. My favorite dish might have been their kale salad. The dressing was so flavorful and it was topped with breadcrumbs and chives. We finished with grilled arctic char served with fennel, and it was the perfect light way to round out the meal after some pretty heavy started. They also offer solo dining, which I find a brilliant concept and think more restaurants should offer. Wednesday and Friday nights you can go out to dinner alone and meet new people! 

I think my friend I was travel with’s #1 goal was to check out one of the floating bars! We stopped by Standbyggan Sea Club for sunset, rosé and some chill beats. Located directly on the water, the view at sunset was stunning and the ambiance was great. We loved the DJ and the relaxing vibe. 

Things to do

Visiting the vasa museum is a must if you are in Stockholm! This maritime museum displays the nearly fully intact warship Vasa that sank shortly after sailing away on her maiden voyage in 1628. The ship has been salvaged and beautifully preserved and the museum is incredible. 

We also did a canal tour and it was short, only an hour or so, and an excellent way to view the city from the water. I recommend and would book in advance. 

I’ve already mentioned Fotografiska for the food, but I would absolutely recommend viewing the exhibits as well! This center of contemporary photography is located in the Södermalm district. They display 4 unique large exhibits and 20 or so smaller ones. 

One of my favorite ways to see a new city is by bike! We booked a “Stockholm at a Glance” bike tour through Stockholm Adventures. It was the perfect blend of biking (about 16km) and sightseeing. 

This bike tour takes you by popular landmarks such as City Hall, Riddarholmen Kyrka, the Royal Palace, Gamla Stan (The Old Town), and the Vasa Museum. I like to do bike yours on my first day to get a feel for the city and see places I want to revisit. 

The public transportation in Stockholm is excellent! I recommend buying a SL Access card for 20 SEK at the airport or central train station. Convenience stores sell them as well. You can buy 24hr or 72hr passes and it’s a great deal. 

Have you been to Stockholm? Would love to hear about your experiences and recommendations in the comments! 

Also Read : Healthy Guide to Prague