I’m a professional browser, and if you ask me, Stockholm is the best shopping city in Europe. Why? Chalk it up to notable fashion brands that have their roots in Sweden (among them, Acne, Hope, and &Other Stories) and a slew of inspired interiors shops. And they’re located in some of Stockholm’s most interesting historic buildings. Here are five spots where old mingles with edgy.
A Customs House-Turned-Photography Museum
Above: Every time I’m in Stockholm, I have to see what’s on at Fotografiska, one of the leading photography museums in Europe. Located in a vast brick structure that once was a customs house, it’s worth visiting for the building alone, not to mention its views over Stockholm. Photograph via Standing Ovation.
A Hotel in a Former School for Girls
Above: The Miss Clara Hotel was once a school for girls, and Miss Clara was the principal. The Art Nouveau building’s original steel staircase is preserved, and one of the suites was once a room where students went to pray. The rooms are decorated with elegant restraint–the conversion is the work of Swedish architect Gert Wingí¥rdh–bentwood valets at the ends of the beds included. See more in our post Glamorous Comfort in Stockholm. Photograph via Miss Clara.
Jeans for Sale in a Bank
Above: The Acne flagship store is housed in a former bank–a famous one: The Kreditbanken became known worldwide after a 1973 robbery in which the hostages developed a bond with their captors, hence the term Stockholm syndrome. While checking out the clothes, you get a firsthand look at the bank’s big safe and steel bars. Photograph via Behance.
A Garage-Turned-Vintage Shop
Above: Dusty Deco, a wonderful place for vintage Scandi modern finds, outgrew its original location in Stockholm’s Sodermalm. The owners found the space they were after in a former garage in up-and-coming Hornstull. It’s open on Saturdays and Sundays only and filled with not only great finds but charming room vignettes. Photograph via HD.
A Restaurant in a Restored Electrical Building
Above: The owners of Farang arrived in Stockholm last year after opening a trio of very good restaurants in Helsinki (Farang, Gajin, and Boulevard Social). Farang focuses on food from South East Asia and encourages guests to dine family style. The space is divided into a bar and a restaurant area, all located in an old electricity building. Photograph via Arch Daily.
Our Weekend Guide columnist, Pauline Egge, is the founder and editor of the travel site Petite Passport. Pauline divides her time between the Netherlands and Spain, and spends much of the year crisscrossing the globe. She shares her favorite addresses with us city by city; have a look at some of her other guides:
- Madrid Design Spots in Happening Las Salesas
- The Best Coffee in Melbourne, World Coffee Capital
- The Not-Yet-in-the-Guidebooks Guide to Barcelona
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