The best cafés in the Old Town

This organic artisan bakery in Tullhus 1, a former customs house, is perfect for a fika, breakfast or light lunch right on the waterfront. The counter is loaded with delicious cinnamon buns and sourdough sandwiches. Take a pew in the light, airy premises or sit outside and soak up the view when the weather allows.

Kula Stockholm is a charming ice cream bar that serves ice cream from Lejonet & Björnen in numerous flavours and styles. Choose everything from scoops in a homemade cone to banana splits and meringue delights. There are also waffles, milkshakes (including vegan options) and good coffee. A few seating options are available for anyone who wants to enjoy a treat on-site.

The focus at Panem is on craftsmanship, whether it's pastries, pizzas or any of their other edible delights. The counters are laden with ambitious baked goods and confectionery, often inspired by Italy and France, but you can also enjoy lunch or an early dinner if you prefer. For drinks, you'll find everything from coffee and frappes to selected wines and beers.

Restaurant Avi at the Post Museum isn't just a restaurant; it's also a café with a wide coffee menu. Sustainability and awareness are particularly close to their hearts, which is why they only serve Rainforest Alliance-certified coffee. Everyone can enjoy a lovely coffee break in a historical setting, whether they're visiting the museum or not. The coffee menu includes everything from freshly ground filter coffee to Italian specialities such as espresso, cappuccino, americano, and caffè latte.

You'll find Sundbergs konditori, with its original interiors and classic selection, in the heart of Järntorget. The outdoor seating area is often packed in the warmer months with locals and tourists jostling for the best spots in the sun. The place to go if you want to visit a really traditional Swedish konditori.

As the name (which means "Under the Chestnut Tree") suggests, this café is situated right under one of the Old Town's largest trees, a large chestnut on Brända Tomten square. The style is cosy and homely à la grandma's house and they serve traditional pastries - like sponge cake and cinnamon buns - and traditional homecooking, such as soups and meatballs. Much of what they bake is lactose and gluten-free. During the summer months you can sit and eat al fresco under the shade of the leafy tree.

You'll find one of Bröd & Salt's larger cafés on the waterfront of Skeppsbron and its open stone oven bakery often wafts a delicious aroma around the neighbourhood. Passers-by stop in for a quick breakfast or lunch, but you can also take a pew and stay a while to enjoy the view over the entrance to Stockholm harbour. Their selection of sandwiches, cakes and pastries, salads, pizza slices and coffee is also served in their Järntorget branch.

In the centre of Stortorget in the heart of the Old Town, Chokladkoppen welcomes café guests with their cosy, living-room vibes and open hearts and minds. The café calls itself gay-friendly and its location makes it the perfect spot for people-spotting. They serve a soup of the day, sandwiches made to order and cakes and pastries.

You'll find both locals and tourists in search of a good cup of coffee at this cosy café, which is the sister café and neighbour to Chokladkoppen. Have a cake or pastry with your coffee or a proper hot meal, and enjoy the historic 16th century cellar locale.

Why choose between wine and coffee when you can have both? Enjoy homemade cakes and pastries at this charming café, or satisfy your hunger with more substantial dishes. Or how about a wine-fika, with a cinnamon bun and a glass of wine in your hand? Whichever you choose, you can expect high levels of cosiness and a homely atmosphere.

Journey back through time to the 1880s. At Augustas Folksalong, time stands still, with candles and kerosene lamps instead of lights and electricity. Sip on good old-fashioned filter coffee with a cookie or two in period-appropriate surroundings, or maybe try a glass of punch. Staff wear authentic 19th-century costumes.

In a building dating back to the 17th century lies Grillska Huset. Bread, buns and cakes are baked here, and the bakery has been recognised as not only one of the finest in the Old Town, but also one of the best in the whole city. As well as coffee and buns, they serve lunch with both local and more distant flavours.

This colourful ice cream bar is run by the same group that runs popular Skeppsbro Bageri. It's all about ice cream here, but not just any old ice cream but organic ice cream – in large quantities. This is Stockholm's largest organic ice cream bar, boasting dozens of different varieties, as well as soft-serve ice cream and desserts. The outdoor seating area has plenty of seats, a nice sunny position in the mornings, and views of the water, Skeppsholmen, and the Old Town.

Swedes may be known for their prodigious coffee consumption, but you can also find one of Scandinavia's largest selections of teas in a café in the Old Town. Choose between flavours and varieties from all corners of the world, perhaps in combination with a scone, sandwich or tempting pastry. If you really want to take a deep dive into the universe of tea, you can try Chaikhana's tea tasting.

This branch of the popular bakery and café chain is a stone's throw from Gamla Stan underground station. Pop by for a cup of coffee, breakfast or light lunch, or pick up one of Fabrique's famous sourdough loaves. The café is tucked away in a cosy medieval alleyway.

The Old Town is something of a waffle mecca, and one of the most beloved spots for waffles is Belgian Bakery. They serve the large Belgian type of waffle, with a variety of toppings such as chocolate sauces, whipped cream, fruit, and ice cream. They also offer sweet crêpes, churros, and ice cream for anyone who prefers.