How Swede It Is - March 2022

Sweden - so close yet so far. At least that is how it felt after we had to reschedule out trip to Stockholm twice. A month and a half later, we made it, and we were not disappointed. It feels super Scandinavian (but of course), while still having a vibe that is distinctly its own.

After work one Friday, we took the short flight over and then boarded the high speed train into town. After checking into our hotel, we walked over to a gin bar, where they serve very creative and delicious cocktails - just what we needed to kick off the weekend! After a slight delay due to a Google maps downtime, we headed over to a restaurant known for its Swedish dishes - we shared the meatballs and the reindeer. When in Rome, after all!

The next day, we went on a free walking tour in the old town area (Gamla Stan). It was super interesting; the tour guide told us stories about medieval Stockholm (a person sentenced to death had the option to become the executioner), more recent Stockholm (painted on windows around town were because of the window tax), and, of course, the rivalry between Stockholm and Copenhagen (Ikea names its rugs after places in Denmark). After the tour, it was a bit chilly, so we stopped for some warm beverages and cake.

Later that day, we found a lovely wine bar where both the wine and the service were fantastic. After another stroll around town (and a few souvenir purchases), we attempted to track down our dinner reservation spot. After an extended tour of the mall, we realized that the restaurant was about ten floors up from where we were. We had a lovely view of the city and Spotify's headquarters (haha) while we ate a tasty Michelin star meal.

Our final morning in Stockholm, we went for one more walk by the water. It is a wonderful city to stroll around, admire architecture old and new, and find trendy little spots to cozy up for a drink or a meal. I'd gladly visit again.