The guide to the best cafés in Stockholm

Café of the year 2018

With their decadent French pastries, freshly-baked bread, excellent breakfast deals and homemade lunches, Fosch Artisan Pâtisserie draws in the crowds from morning until dinner time. In 2018 they won a prestigious award for Stockholm's best café.

Quaint and kitschy by Nytorget

Gilda’s Rum is a popular and cosy café with a distinct boho-chic vibe à la your kitschy grandmother. Settle into an armchair with a cuppa and pastry in hand. The candlelit interior offers a cheerful respite; during the summer the sun-drenched terrace facilitates prolonged coffee-sessions.

Award-winning interior

Foam combines Scandinavian minimalism with continental flare. Grey with pink accents punctuates the decor. The café’s centrepiece is its Italian-style coffee bar; the menu offers scrumptious pastries, salads, pasta and sandwiches.

Traditional meets trendy

Judging by the classic interiors, this is a very traditional Swedish café. The atmosphere is laid-back and homely, perfect for anyone wanting to stay a while and work, eat lunch with friends or have a coffee in peace and quiet. Yet the menu is modern and on-trend, with Insta-friendly avocado on toast, smoothie bowls, omelettes and Asian salads. An excellent combination of two worlds.

Day tripping

Take a trip out to Herrängens Gård by Fruängen where you can go for a walk in leafy surroundings around Lake Långsjön before stopping for a cosy coffee or lunch at this historic house. They serve hearty lunch dishes and delicious cakes and pastries for the sweet-toothed.

A classic coffee bar

Mellqvist is one of Stockholm’s most famous cafés and the reason is simple - the coffee is amazing and the fika and pastry selection bountiful. During the summer months the outdoor terrace is a popular hangout.

Edgy in Vasastan and Södermalm

Exposed brick walls, bistro chairs and top-notch ingredients. Pascal has quickly become a favourite café of in-the-know Stockholmers and both branches are stylish and ambitious - whether you're after breakfast, lunch or just a fantastic fika.

Green oasis

Kafé Himlavalvet occupies a sunny vantage point at the top of Observatory Hill. Stop by for lunch, coffee and a homemade cake or pastry, or a glass of wine. During the summer months they serve freshly made waffles which you can enjoy outside in the leafy surroundings.

For the health conscious

Anyone looking for a more nutritious place to fika should drop by the healthfood concept BodyBuddy where all the food they serve is good for your body, and the environment. Rawfood cakes and pastries, smoothie bowls and hearty salads are served all day and everything is made on site, from scratch. Their weekend brunch menu includes classics such as avocado sandwiches and banana pancakes.

Sweet as sugar

When you're in the mood to try something a bit different, head to Dirty Coco, where they serve up decadent desserts such as pancakes, waffles, chocolate fondue and chocolate-dipped strawberries. Eat in unique, completely pink premises, covered with thousands of flowers.

On the Old Town quayside

This organic artisan bakery and popular café is housed in a former customshouse on Skeppsbrokajen. Have a coffee and cinnamon bun or sourdough sandwich and enjoy the view over the water, either indoors or outside when weather allows.

Baked goods and a good deed

Grillska Huset is owned by Statsmissionen's charity. With emphasis on organic and local produce the menu combines international influences with Swedish tradition. Their award-winning pastries are well worth the trip.

Popular espresso bar

Caffè Ugo is a small, laid-back espresso bar. They import their coffee directly from Italy and are well known for their excellent espresso. The menu includes Italian salads, sandwiches and cakes and pastries and at breakfast you can choose from sandwiches with delicious fillings and an Italian version of the croissant - a cornetto filled with gruyère cheese and prosciutto.

A cosy retreat

Amidst Bergius Botanical Garden an old conservatory has been converted into lovely café and farmers market complete with an outdoor terrace for sunny afternoons. Gamla Orangeriet offers fresh pastries, food and coffee from a local coffee roaster. The café is a popular destination, be it summer or winter.

Award-winning coffee bar

This award-winning Italian coffee bar is popular with hipsters and toddler-lugging parents alike. Make yourself at home and choose from a tempting assortment of delicacies, sandwiches, salads and pasta.

Organic bakery

This quaint bakery has been located on Kungsholmen since the 1920s. The current owners have preserved the authentic vibe in combination with modern, organic and sustainable practices. Bulleboden is famous for its sourdough buns.

Historic surroundings

A classic konditori where it feels as though time has stood still since the 1930s. Take a seat for lunch or breakfast, or coffee and dinner. During the summer months you can eat al fresco, with views over Vasa Park.

Organic and biodynamic food

After a promenade around the scenic gardens of Rosendal and Djurgården an afternoon pick-me-up is a prerequisite. The greenhouse-cum-café offers a completely organic menu with biodynamic food and pastries.

One of the city's largest outdoor terraces

With its prime location and beautiful views, Sjöcaféet appeals to tourists and locals alike. Go for a walk, run or kayaking excursion along the picturesque shores of Djurgården before treating yourself to coffee and sating your sweet-tooth.

Biggest buns in town

Decidedly Parisian Saturnus offers petite dejuner, lunch and baked goods throughout the day. Despite classic offerings such as croissant and pain au chocolat the Swedish influences are apparent, illustrated by the gigantic cinnamon and cardamom buns proudly displayed upon the counter.