After living in Stockholm for almost a month this summer I can proudly say that my sister Emma and I know most parts of the inner city like the back of our hands. Here is a compiled list of our favorite things to do, places to eat, and ways to enjoy yourself in the district of Östermalm if you ever find yourself visiting the hidden gem of Scandinavia, Stockholm.

ÖSTERMALM

Östermalm is like the equivalent of Buckhead to Atlanta. Think of streets lined with designer stores, expensive apartments, and a great selection of restaurants to choose from. Bougie, poppin,’ with an abundance of things to do.

FOOD

Ostermalmshallen

Established in 1888 and home to over 15 vendors, this food hall is a must-see spot in Stockholm for its history and delicious selections. The two restaurants we tried while there were Nybrœ Smørrebrød and 4 Corners; both blew me away! At 4 Corners we got a slice of their buffalo chicken and margarita pizza, as well as a caesar salad. Our family split down the middle at Nybrœ Smørrebrød in terms of who ordered a Gravlax and Skagen & Shrimps, but I will say, we were all equally content with our choices!

Meno Male Pizza

Although I personally haven’t been able to eat at this place, we heard raving reviews from our friend Fabio who also spent the summer in Stockholm. If you ever end up craving Antico’s in Stockholm, this is the closest you’ll get to a stellar Neopolitan pizza equivalent.

Riche

This is another restaurant you need to add to your Stockholm culinary bucket list. Emma and I had a TIME when we went there for dinner on a random Sunday night and ended up staying at our table for two hours crying laughing the whole time. You have to try the Swedish meatballs when you go – it was one of my all-time favorite dishes that we tried in Stockholm.

Any of the hot dog and ice cream stands you see on the street

I know this sounds out of character for a seemingly sophisticated country like Sweden, but just trust me on this one. There’s something about eating a glizzy and vanilla soft serve with sprinkles alongside the harbor on a warm summer night. After lots of experimentation, I’ve come to the conclusion that the stands lining Kungsträdgården by NK is the best in the city. Don’t skimp on the crunchy onions either!

Sushi Sukai

All of this was the equivalent of only $12 and ended up being some of the best sushi I had in Europe.

DRINKS

Dramatenterrassen

A rooftop bar on steroids. Dramatenterrassen is situated on top of the Swedish Royal Theatre, so it unsurprisingly has one of the best views for people watching along the street that lines the harbor in Östermalm, Strandvägen. It has a great atmosphere filled with yo-pros around happy hour and an awesome selection of summertime-friendly spritzes.

The Grand Hotel

This is my mom’s favorite place to get a drink when we visit Stockholm. You will undoubtedly feel boujee from the top-tier service they offer and won’t regret trying their espresso martini either.

Sjö & Land

I couldn’t make a guide on where to drink in Stockholm without mentioning this hidden gem of a spot along Strandvägen. Emma and I randomly stumbled upon this place after wanting to find a place to get dinner during our last harbor bar crawl before moving on to the rest of our European travels. It had an overall amazing value. The gin and cucumber goblet pictured above was only $13, which is rare to find even in Atlanta, and delicious. Service was excellent, the music was a combination of traditional Swedish summertime ballads and hits from the 2000s, and its location on the harbor can’t be beaten.

Strandbryggan

Considering this is the harbor bar where we met Post Malone, all you need to know is that Strandbryggan is also a must-see place when visiting Stockholm. While we sipped on this stunner of a cocktail, Posty opted for splitting a rhubarb pitcher with his posse. This spot has a great selection of smaller Asian-inspired dishes (steamed bao buns anyone?) that pair great with the drinks mentioned above. Who knows, you may get lucky and run into a celebrity or Swedish influencer Jan Emanuel!

NIGHTLIFE

Sturecompaignet

Sturecompaignet happened to be the only nightclub we went to this summer and it was one to remember for various other reasons. The music was exactly what you’d want for a Scandinavian nightclub to play (house obviously) and it was crawling with beautiful Swedish boys. I would go back in a heartbeat.

Spy Bar

We didn’t have the chance to go here during our time in Stockholm, but heard raving reviews nonetheless. It apparently has more of an ‘alternative’ crowd than Sturecompaignet so take that information as you wish.

International Bar

The International Bar happened to be the last stop on a bar crawl Emma and I went on with our friend Fabio. It’s the perfect place to get a casual drink or nightcap from its laid-back atmosphere while being reasonably priced for a Stockholm bar. This place will forever hold a special place in my heart, as its the place where I tried my first pint of Guinness.

THINGS TO DO

• Walk around NK
• Take a stroll (or harbor bar crawl!) down Strandvägen
• Go window shopping along the streets of Birger Jarlsgatan and Hamngatan
• Visit Humlegården and look inside the National Library of Sweden
• Visit the Nationalmuseum

💘 Hanna