If you haven't come across the word "Fika" (pronounced fee-ka) yet, you probably haven't been in Stockholm very long. Fika is both a noun and a verb meaning to have a coffee break at home or in a café, preferably accompanied by something to eat and ideally twice a day. But it's about more than just drinking coffee (although Swedes are definitely keen on that element of it), it's an integral part of Swedish culture. While many nationalities grab their coffee standing up or on the go, sitting down for a while and having a catch-up with friends or colleagues is an essential part of the fika ritual. Although drinking a matcha latte and eating a rawfood ball definitely counts as fika, follow our guide to Stockholm's best cosy, old-fashioned cafés and classic konditoris where you can get a cup of black filter coffee and a cinnamon bun or some home-baked biscuits for a truly authentic, old-school fika experience.
The best places in Stockholm to enjoy traditional Swedish fika
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The best fika in Stockholm
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1Vete-katten Twenties charm and cardamom buns
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2Tössebageriet Classic konditori with award-winning staff
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3Systrarna Andersson Old meets new
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4Ritorno Forties nostalgia and free refills
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5Bageriet Bulleboden Popular neighbourhood bakery
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6Sundbergs Konditori Fika since 1785
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7Gunnarsons Family-run in Södermalm
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The best fika in Stockholm
Twenties charm and cardamom buns
Vete-katten is a Stockholm institution. They now have several outposts around town but the original 1920s bakery and coffee rooms on Kungsgatan are the place to go for their well-preserved, genteel style and excellent bread, pastries, cakes and "kaffebröd" all made from scratch on-site.
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Kungsgatan 55, City/Norrmalm
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Website
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Vete-Katten Kungsgatan
08-20 84 05 - Read more on Thatsup
Classic konditori with award-winning staff
Tössebageriet has been at the same address in Östermalm since it was founded in 1920 and in 1996 it was taken over by award-winning pastry chef Matthias Ljungberg. They make all their cakes and pastries on site and on sunny days you can fika outside and watch the well-heeled locals go about their business.
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Karlavägen 77, Östermalm
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Website
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Tössebageriet
08-662 24 30 - Read more on Thatsup
Old meets new
This Vasastan café has been around since the Thirties and these days it combines its long heritage with a modern twist. Those in search of a more health-conscious fika can satisfy their sweet-treat cravings with a rawfood Snickers bar while traditionalists can choose from all the classic buns and pastries.
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Karlbergsvägen 45, Vasastan
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Website
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Systrarna Andersson
08-33 18 82 - Read more on Thatsup
Forties nostalgia and free refills
Despite the Italian-sounding name, this classic Odengatan café and konditori serves far more filter coffee and cinnamon buns than it does macchiatos and muffins. Sit for a while and enjoy the retro furnishings and free coffee refills.
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Odengatan 80-82, Vasastan
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Website
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Ritorno Konditori Etc. Odengatan
08-32 01 06 - Read more on Thatsup
Popular neighbourhood bakery
This family-owned gem on Kungsholmen has been around since the 1920s and it continues to draw in the crowds, who will queue around the block for one of their organic, stone oven-baked cardamom buns.
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Parmmätargatan 7, Kungsholmen
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Bageriet Bulleboden
08-653 05 42 - Read more on Thatsup
Fika since 1785
Stockholm's oldest konditori, in the heart of the Old Town, retains its classic style with crystal chandeliers and a copper samovar of coffee from which you serve yourself.
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Järntorget 83, Old Town
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Sundbergs Konditori
08-10 67 35 - Read more on Thatsup
Family-run in Södermalm
With numerous big coffee chains in the area, Gunnarsons is a little oasis of tradition in central Södermalm that's been run by the same family for more than 70 years. The downstairs counter is often packed with locals buying bread and cakes but you can take your coffee and cake upstairs for an undisturbed fika moment.
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Götgatan 92, Södermalm/Skanstull
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Website
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Gunnarsons Specialkonditori
08-641 91 11 - Read more on Thatsup