Why a Stockholm Get Away is All You Need This Autumn:

During the past year, all I did living in Sweden was absorb all the elements that make the Scandinavian culture truly unique. Starting with its cuisine, which is still heavily influenced by the local fish and meat market paired with seasonal ingredients such as caviar, vegetables, roots and berries.

I didn't manage to speak Swedish fluently but, here are some takeaways.

"A true Viking has Aquavit for breakfast instead of pancakes".  Says my husband, who is a born and bred Swede. I laughed out loud when he said that, whilst we were heading for breakfast during our stay at the Nofo Hotel & Wine Bar, in Stockholm.

Since the pandemic kicked in 2020 we swapped the buzzing lifestyle in London for long walks into the woods, bonfires and 'korv bröd' (traditional Swedish hot dog) and mushroom and berries picking.

I also played frisbee golf, ate the classic meatballs and lingon and 'löjrom' (Tradicional Swedish caviar), celebrated Midsommar with friends, learned how to make flowers crowns and had the best crayfish you can imagine. All surrounded by an idyllic nordic atmosphere, with big lakes reflecting the silhouette of the trees into the water and boats standing on the pier.

I checked all these boxes whilst having a baby, getting into the Swedish social security system and working 9-5 jobs. Although what we missed was spending some time in the city, exploring stuff we both enjoy like fine-dining restaurants, trying the world's culinary-inspired street food, art galleries, fashion, design, must-sees etc.

So I booked ourselves into a hotel and managed to escape the routine with an 11-month baby, which was surprisingly fun.

If you're used to travelling the world, often flying to cities like New York, Paris, London or Tokyo, Stockholm is anything but a 'big city' destination. It's more like a charming European getaway, which some of the equivalents would be Amsterdam, Copenhagen,  Geneva or Vienna.

In the Swedish capital you can easily move around walking or by a quick bus or tram, reaching the city centre in 10-20 min. Amongst our favourite boroughs in Stockholm are Östermalm, Norrmalm and Södermalm. We love the latter, which has vibrant creative culture, lots of hip coffee shops, pre-loved designer spots and cool independent fashion designers boutiques, all surrounded by a cosy neighbourhood feel.

Here are 7 places you MUST visit in Stockholm this Autumn:

1) NOFO Hotel and Wine Bar

Located in the sprawling Södermalm, a place for curiosity, creativity, and open-mindedness, NOFO is a boutique design hotel with eclectic retro-feeling and interiors inspired by famous world's capitals boroughs: from Brooklyn in New York to Carnaby Street in London. 💜

The quaint 18th-century building, which hosted a brewery in the past, now receives travellers who have a penchant for a stylish yet laid back hotel stay.
If you enjoy the pampering of a 5-star hotel, but feel like at times it can be a bit too stiff, especially if you're travelling with a toddler, you will appreciate the casual vibe printed across the ambience and hospitality at NOFO. It's a great place for discerning travellers that look out for personality as opposed to mainstream stays.

We've got a superior room which was inspired in New York's cinema and movie scene, with frames in the walls paying homage to Marylin Monroe and the Cotton Club, a nightclub in New York which operated during the years of Prohibition and racial segregation which ironically became home for the likes of Louis Armstrong, Billy Holiday, Aretha Franklin and more.✔️

2) FOTOGRAFISKA

The modern photo/art gallery which has addresses in Berlin, Tallin, New York and Stockholm is located just a stone's throw away from NOFO hotel. If you're into the arts and creative industry it's definitely a must-see. Fotografiska is located by the lake and has a stunning view as well as hosting the artwork of world-class contemporary photographers such as Annie Leibovitz, Robert Mapplethorpe, Sarah Moon, Sally Mann, Anton Corbijn and Albert Watson.

3) BAGERI PETRUS

Also located in Södermalm just by Maria Torget square, that's the ultimate place to try traditional Swedish FIKA with a neighbourhood feel. I think I've been having FIKA all my life and I didn't know. Well, as Italian and it can be, I don't live without coffee and Swedes are pretty much the same. So if you're a bit demanding when it comes to your pastries and coffee, stop by and have a bite and a sip whilst people watch. The place has a seating space outside, so you can eat and get distracted by the trendy people passing by. I absolutely adore that. Especially when you can soak up so much about how people dress and live here.

4) MISSHUMASSHU by Adam/Albin

Ok, this place has a special meaning for us and I tell you why. Before the baby was born when we still were out and about trying the food, I would meet my partner after work and would go exploring local restaurants. We tried to have a seat at MISSHUMASSHU twice, the first time it was fully booked and they didn't take walk-ins, the second we arrived by the time the kitchen was closing. So we decided to go back there this time with Oscar during lunchtime and it was surprisingly good. Not only the ambience it's super cool and vibrant with Asian decorations hanging from the ceilings, but the soundtrack is also unbeatable and the food top-notch. I am a sucker for green curry and I am gonna tell, theirs it's just an explosion of flavours, so it's nothing but a MUST try.o

5) NK

Forget everything you know about a department store. Even if this looks like one from the outside, it certainly feels like something else from the inside. NK is the epitome of  compacted luxury contemporary fashion. Expect lavish interiors, marble flooring and walls, brass fixtures and a very Scandinavian sense of ethereal elegance, combining all your favourite fashion houses in one place,  expect the likes of Versace, Balenciaga, Prada, Saint Laurent, Chanel Beauty, Byredo and more. My top tip: Take the lift and go up to the top floor, explore their lovely book shop.

6) Nordiska Galleriet

If you're crazy about design and interiors, this is going to feel like a tour in an art gallery, not a shop. Visiting Nordiska Galleriet is a great way to understand what the Swedish word "lagom" means. The translation for it in English is moderation, no more, no less. And that's Swedish culture in a nutshell. The magic happens in Nordiska, because the carefully curated design and interior shop manage to translate the concept of minimalism and moderation into spaces, often creating a harmonic yet eccentric ambience. People try to copy this style all over the world, when in essence, all the design and interiors pieces are telling us are nothing more than a vision, a concept, a conduct, a way of life. Immersive, interesting, Intense.

7) Brasserie Astoria

Brasserie Astoria is Frantzén Group newest baby. They've been working on the project through pandemic and successfully opened its doors earlier this year bringing all character, perfectionism, knowledge and theatre-like immersive food experience, which has become the group's restaurants signature,  into a bubbly and exquisite restaurant.

Named after the theatre Astoria, which used to be a cinema in the same building, the space has undergone extensive renovation. Original details from the 1870s have carefully been restored and updated with modern architecture. I couldn't miss spotting a roman style water font just by the wine fridges located in the lounge.

There is also a nostalgic and tropical feel to it, with plants hanging from the ceilings and forest green carpets, which make the ultimate brasserie environment.

After a roll of beautifully kept staircases and stunning lighting design signed by Paloma Design Studio, you finally get into the main dining room. Where food is seamlessly orchestrated by a staff, who wears a genderless old-school brasserie-style uniform, mixing bow tie and braces.

The place is known for its superb steak and homemade pizzas, so I went for salmon carpaccio followed by ribeye Aus steak tartar.

Both dishes were impeccable, but I loved the tartar, beautifully executed with sauce béarnaise, deliciously rounded capers and finished with egg yolk.

All of it paired with parmesan and garlic fries and green salad with parmesan whilst sipping a lovely Negroni. It's most certainly a dish for parmesan lovers. 🇮🇹🙈 Absolutely, recommend it!