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NIGHTLIFE IN SWEDEN (STOCKHOLM)

Sweden Information — Thu Nov 02, 2006 7:10 am

Author: Sweden Information

Posted: Thu Nov 02, 2006 7:10 am

NIGHTLIFE IN SWEDEN

STOCKHOLM

The late evening summer sun in Stockholm seems to stretch on forever, while the long winter nights need to be filled with fun. The result is a city committed to its nightlife. Strong jazz traditions and smart bars cater to older or smoother patrons, while the club scene (often Spanish in flavour) parties hard. The area around Stureplan is the most happening place in the city. Admission to clubs can cost anything between SKr5 and SKr100, while a liter of beer will cost in the region of SKr70-100 and 4cl of vodka around SKr70. The minimum age for buying alcohol is 20 years – 18 years in restaurants or nightclubs. The sale of alcohol is restricted to 1200-2400 (from 1300 on Sunday), although nightclubs or the occasional favoured bar, such as Kvarnen on Södermalm, sell drinks later into the night. Standard hours for bars and clubs are from about 0900-0200, with restaurant bars opening earlier and some clubs closing later (at around 0500). From 1 June 2005 smoking is no longer permitted indoors at Stockholm’s restaurants, bars and pubs.

The official Stockholm tourism website, www.stockholmtown.com, is an excellent source for information on nightlife.

Bars: Halv Trappa Plus Gård, Lästmakargatan 3, is a ferociously trendy bar-restaurant and a great retreat for local celebrities. Another hot spot is Spy Bar, Birger Jarlsgatan 20, an intimate and stylish place. Gondolen, Stadsgården 6, serves drinks to match its unbeatable view. The Sturehof Bar, Stureplan 2, and its upstairs cousin, O-bar, are benchmarks in the style-conscious re-branding of the old Sturehof Restaurant. The Grand Hotel’s Cadier Bar, Södra Blasieholmshamnen 8, is the place to enjoy a classy cocktail, while the Opera Bar, Karl X11’s Torg, offers quiet surroundings for a relaxing drink. Conversely, Kvarnen, Tjärhovsgatan 4, is a beer hall with a typically rootsy Södermalm charm, open until 0300 and hugely popular. Tennstopet Bar, Dalagatan 50, is over 100 years old and another solidly traditional drinking hole. The Absolut Ice Bar in the Nordic Sea Hotel, Vastaplan 7, while not unique in the world any more, is still a special place, with its year-round temperature of -5° C (23° F). Drinks are served in hollowed-out ice cubes from a bar also made of ice. Even the walls and tables are made of ice taken from the Torne River on the border between Sweden and Finland. It costs Skr140 to get in, and the price includes the ice glass and a drink.

Casinos: Casino Cosmopol, Kungsgatan 65 (tel: (0 781 8800; website: www.casinocosmopol.se) opened in 2003, is the biggest casino in Sweden and the main casino in the capital. There are 31 casino tables, and Roulette, Black Jack, Caribbean Stud, Punto Banco, Sic Bo, Touch Bet Roulette and poker are played. There are also some 300 slot machines on the premises. Only those over 20 years of age are admitted, and guests must carry some form of official photo ID.

Clubs: Some of Stockholm’s liveliest clubbing goes on under the palm trees at Blue Moon, Kungsgatan 18, which incorporates the Havana Bar, dispensing Cuban cigars along with the drinks. Equally Latin in flavour but more upmarket, Sophie’s Bar, Biblioteksgatan 5, plays host to the rich and funky. Café Opera, Kungsträdgården, draws an eclectic crowd of all ages and tastes to its fabulous interior, plying mainstream partygoers with cutting-edge sounds. Fasching Jazzclub, Kungsgatan 63, has jazz, soul and Latin American sounds at the weekend. Tre Remmare, Vasagatan 17, feeds, waters and entertains night owls long after the other venues close and boasts the Sinatra Bar, offering cocktails in a mini-shrine to crooner Frank. Köket (The Kitchen) at Stureplan is one of the most popular and stylish nightclubs in Stockholm with three bars and a relaxed atmosphere.

Live Music: The hotel bar at Lydmar, Sturegatan 10, regularly holds unadvertised soul and jazz gigs. Nalen, Regeringsgatan 74, is run by the Swedish Artists' and Musicians' Interest Organization in a wonderful old building with four concert venues where pop, rock and jazz from big international stars as well as obscure Swedish bands can be heard. Mondo, Medborgarplatsen 8, is another versatile venue that attracts both international and Swedish artists and has a wide-reaching program of musical and other events. Stockholms Stadion, Lidingövägen, is the venue for large-scale stadium rock.

GOTHENBURG

To the Gothenburger, there's nothing more exciting than sitting outdoors at a cafe along the Avenyn enjoying the short-lived summer season. Residents also like to take the whole family to the Liseberg amusement park. Although clubs are open in the summer, they're not well patronized until the cool weather sets in.

For a listing of entertainment events scheduled at the time of your visit, check the newspapers (Götenborgs Posten is best) or inquire at the tourist office. If Swedish dinner theater interests you, see Restaurang Gillestugan.

Theatre:The Gothenburg Card allows you to buy two tickets for the price of one. Call the particular theatre or the tourist office for program information. Performances also are announced in the newspapers.

MALMO

For serious after-dark pursuits, many locals, especially young people, head for nearby Copenhagen. However, there are several local amusements, as well, the best of which are previewed below.

From May to September, locals head for Folkets Park (People's Park), Amiralsgatan 35 (tel. 040/709-90), where sprawling amusement grounds and pleasure gardens, dancing pavilions, vaudeville performances, and open-air concerts all draw big crowds. Children will enjoy the playhouse, small zoo, reptile centre, and puppet theatre. Restaurants also dot the grounds. Hours are daily from 3pm to midnight in summer, noon to 6pm in winter. Admission is free; however, some performances require an admission price of Skr50 to Skr110. Take bus no. 11, 13, or 17 from the Gustav Adolfs Torg.

Dancing is the rage at the creatively designed Nightclub Etage, Stortorget 6 (tel. 040/23-20-60). Initially conceived as an upscale bar and restaurant in the late 1980s, this nightspot lowered its prices and began marketing to a mass audience in the early 1990s. Despite its lowered expectations, the bar has not seemed to suffer as a result. It's reached by climbing a circular staircase from an enclosed courtyard in the town's main square. Satellite bars open and close regularly on every floor. The complex is open Monday and Thursday through Saturday from 11pm to at least 4am, depending on the crowd. Cover for the dance club ranges from Skr60 to Skr80.

Many love affairs, some of which have segued into marriages, have gotten a boost at Swing Inn, Hamburgsgatan 3 (tel. 040/12-22-21), where romantic dancing is the norm. Attendees tend to be over 35 and the recorded music is reminiscent of a '60s variety show. There's a restaurant on the premises serving platters of traditional Swedish food Thursday to Saturday between 10 and 11:30pm. Main courses cost from Skr120 to Skr175. Music and bar activities are scheduled on Thursday 10pm to 1am, Friday from 10pm to 3am, and Saturday from 10pm to 4am. The cover charge is Skr80 after 11pm.

The largest nightclub in Malmö, Club Privée, Malmborgsgatan 7 (tel. 040/97-46-66), contains five floors and tends to attract a slightly younger (20-25) clientele on Friday than it does on Saturday (20-30). Set near the Gustav Adolfs Torg, in the center of town, it has a decor that replicates an English pub -- there are, for example, lots of Chesterfield sofas. There's a bar, and different music is played on each of the establishment's five floors. It's open only on Friday and Saturday nights from 11pm to 5am. The cover ranges from Skr80 to Skr100, and a large beer costs Skr45.

Nostalgic for Britain? The best replica of a British pub is the Bishop's Arms, Norra Vallgatan 62 (tel. 040/664-48-8, at the Savoy Hotel. Some of the best and coldest beer in town is served here, and there's always a congenial crowd.

Those seeking cultural activities after dark should get tickets to the Malmö Symphony Orchestra, which is renowned across Europe. It performs at the Konserthus, Föreningsgatan 35 (tel. 040/630-45-06). The tourist office distributes programs of other cultural events.

FOOD & DINING IN SWEDEN

Sweden Information — Thu Nov 02, 2006 6:57 am

Author: Sweden Information

Posted: Thu Nov 02, 2006 6:57 am

FOOD & DINING IN SWEDEN

GENERAL

Traditional Swedish cooking cannnot be compared with the sophistication of, say, French or Italian cuisine. Swedish food is usually simple and satisfying, and nowadays also healthy. In the last few decades immigrants from all over the world have enriched Swedish food culture with a host of exciting dishes. Foreign fast food, for example, has become an inseparable part of Swedish youth culture.

Increasingly, visitors are viewing Sweden as a culinary citadel of renown. Part of this derives from the legendary freshness of Swedish game and produce; part derives from the success of Sweden's culinary team at cooking contests everywhere. Some social pundits claim that the fame of Sweden's culinary team now rivals that of its national hockey team. There are today an estimated 1,500 restaurants and bars in Stockholm alone.

Smörgåsbord

The word smörgås means something like "open sandwich", and bord is the Swedish word for "table", but still a smörgåsbord is not a table full of sandwiches. This specialty instead consists of a number of small dishes, from which you can take your pick. An average smörgåsbord may, for instance, contain a number of herring dishes (sweet-pickled herring, pickled herring with onions, mustard, dill, etc.), Swedish meatballs, salmon, pies, salads, 'Jansson´s temptation' (sliced herring, potatoes and onions baked in cream), eggs, bread, boiled and fried potatoes and so on. Smörgåsbord was served already in the18th century but at that time it was used as an appetizer before the main course. Gradually, however, it has become a meal in itself. Today few people ask for more after having tried everything on a smörgåsbord.

Special Dishes

In the cities, there are always restaurants where you can find a today´s special (dagens rätt) go to about 50 kronor. If you visit a restaurant in the evening, you should be prepared to pay about 100 - 150 kronor for an average dish. Also, don´t forget that alcohol is very expensive in Sweden.

If you want to try some typical Swedish fast-food, you can go to a hot-dog stand (korvkiosk). There you can choose between fried and boiled hot dogs, served with French fries or mashed potatoes together with mustard and/or ketchup (Senap eller ketchup? you will be asked). Lately, some new dishes have turned up in the stands, like baked potatoes.

If you want to taste some Swedish homely fare you can try pea soup with pork and pancakes for dessert. This dish is usally served on Thursdays and if you want to go the whole works you should order some Swedish punch for the pancakes, a yellow and very sweet alcoholic beverage, usually served ice-cold.

Pytt i panna, a hash of fried diced meat with onions and potatoes is another specialty. It is served with fried eggs and slices of pickled red beets. You can also try kåldolmar, or stuffed cabbage rolls, a dish brought home by King Charles XII (Karl XII) after an involuntary residence in Turkey, nearly three hundred years ago.

If you are here in August you might get invited to a crayfish party. The crayfish are boiled with dill, sugar and salt and you eat them using your hands. The meat is found in the claws and in the tail of the animal.

Midsummer is perhaps the Swedish greatest festival. This is one occasion where the smörgåsbord is served. Herring, meatballs and fresh potatoes are almost compulsory dishes, and usually a lot of snaps is served too.

Christmas and Easter have their own traditional dishes.There are also special days during the year for waffles and cream buns with almond paste (semlor); both these days occur in the spring, but you might find 'semlor' already in January.

Bread, Pastry and Coffee

Sweetness is a prominent characteristic of Swedish bread, although unsweetened types are available in most stores. If you want to spread something typically Swedish on a slice of bread, try messmör, which is a soft whey-cheese from the north of Sweden. It is quite sweet, too!

When it comes to drinking coffee, Swedes rank second in the world (per capita, of course). People usually drink coffee for breakfast, after lunch or during the highly esteemed coffee breaks, but there are also special coffee parties (kafferep). If you are invited to one, you can expect to find at least seven sorts of home-made buns and cakes, a kind of minimum amount according to Swedish housewives´standards.

Surströmming

If you try surströmming, or fermented Baltic herring, we are confident that you will never forget it. It is sold in cans, and when you open them a strong, foul smell is released, the result of a fermentation process. This method of preservation was invented long ago, when brining food was quite expensive due to the costs of salt. When fermentation was used, on the other hand, just enough salt was required to keep the fish from rottening. Surströmming is served with boiled potatoes and onions and often rolled into a slice of tunnbröd, a type of thin, flat unleavened bread. Although lots of people do not like it, you have to eat it a couple of times before you really appreciate the taste, there is a hard core of surströmming devotees, most of them in the north of the country.

Other National Specialties

• Köttbullar (small meatballs).

• Smoked reindeer from Lapland.

• Gravlax (salmon that has been specially prepared and marinated).

• Wild strawberries and cloudberries.

INTERESTING PLACES TO DINE IN STOCKHOLM

Edsbacka Krog
Six restaurants in Stockholm have been awarded a star in the Guide Rouge. One has two stars: Edsbacka Krog i Sollentuna. It was opened by Christer Lingström in 1983 in a building where there used to be an inn serving food and drink as early as 1626. The restaurant has an inventive menu with dishes characterized by creative combinations of ingredients and immaculate taste. This is continental cooking at its best – with a Swedish twist. The restaurant is not very conveniently located for tourists, however – all the way up in Sollentuna to the north of the city, some 30 minutes by taxi.

Sollentunavägen 220
Tel: (0 963 300. Fax: (0 964 019.
E-mail: info@edsbackakrog.se
Website: www.edsbackakrog.se

Berns
Given a makeover by British style guru Sir Terence Conran just a few years ago, this restaurant in the Berns Hotel has a born-again quality. On a busy night, Berns can squeeze in around 250 diners, who come to enjoy the top-rate cooking and the added attraction of the new crustacean bar, which is a must for seafood lovers. There is a wide variety of fresh shellfish served with various sauces and cooked according to the diner’s personal preference. Other Berns specialties are the excellent lobster and the dessert option of delicious armagnac (brandy) ice cream. The restaurant was once a grand theatre hall and the impressive decor, with gilded ceilings and huge chandeliers, creates a remarkable setting for dinner.

Berzelii Park
Tel: (0 5663 2222.
E-mail: info@berns.se
Website: www.berns.se

Bon Lloc
Another fine dining temple that proves how much the Swedes love top-quality cooking, Bon Lloc has a relaxed atmosphere and food with a Spanish influence. In the dining room, the straight-back, upholstered chairs are teal and wine coloured, with crisp white tablecloths for silver service. With arguably the finest chef in all of Sweden at the helm, Bon Lloc cannot really go wrong. Mathias Dahlgren’s ‘nouveau Euro-Latino’ cooking well deserves its Michelin star and booking well ahead is essential. One of the best dishes is oven-roasted ham with apple cider glaze, while the willingness to experiment is evident in main courses such as roasted pig’s foot.

Regeringsgatan 111
Tel: (0 660 6060. Fax: (0 107 635.
Website: www.bonlloc.se

PA & Co
This used to be one of the undoubted stars of the Stockholm restaurant scene, but its most fashionable times are now behind it. Once responsible in many ways for helping to kick-start the city’s culinary renaissance, PA & Co is nevertheless still going strong, despite its detractors. This longevity is largely due to the excellent value of the food on offer. The decor is simple and understated, while the Swedish produce is still as fresh as ever, with well-cooked red-meat dishes including excellent reindeer. PA & Co serves French, Swedish and Thai cuisine.

Riddargatan 8
Tel: (0 611 0845.

Wedholms Fisk
Stockholm is a city that is surrounded by rivers, lakes and the sea, so it is no surprise that seafood is so popular here. The accolade of best fish restaurant in the city is much fought over, although many locals and discerning visitors agree that the honour goes to Wedholms Fisk, whose freshly prepared seafood has earned the restaurant a Michelin star. The creamy sauces that cover the freshly caught sole, turbot and salmon are legendary on the Stockholm culinary scene. The classical cooking style varies between Swedish and classical French, while the decor tends toward the pale and purely stylish. Closed Sunday.

Nybrokajen 17
Tel: (0 611 7874.

Bakfickan
This restaurant is a firm favorite with local businesspeople and is a trusted venue for a business lunch or dinner. This small and stylish counter restaurant (with seating either at the bar or narrow tables) is the least formal of the venues located at the State Opera House, serving up a fresh selection of traditional Swedish dishes including open smörgåsar - sandwiches. Diners can choose to eat either at the long counter or at the small tables. Closed Sunday.

Operahuset, Karl XII Torg
Tel: (0 676 5800. Fax: (0 209 592.
E-mail: info@operakallaren.se
Website: www.operakallaren.se

Franska Matsalen
For unabashed glamour and old-world style, Franska Matsalen at the Grand Hotel is hard to beat. The restaurant has been at the Grand Hotel since the beginning in 1874, and the setting is still popular among the local business community, as a classy place for winning over clients and introducing people to the city for the first time. Fresh fish and red meat feature strongly on the menu and main courses include seared turbot with chanterelles and white wine sauce or peppered glazed reindeer with Jerusalem artichoke and Swiss chard. Savvy diners book a window seat with views across to the Royal Palace.

Grand Hotel, S. Blasieholmskajen 8
Tel: (0 679 3584. Fax: (0 611 8686.
Website: www.franskamatsalen.se

Fredsgatan 12
The classical surroundings of this first-rate restaurant are renowned as a great setting for a business lunch or dinner, with top-quality cuisine to match. The interior is unfussy and cool, reflecting the simple Swedish fusion food on the menu. The cooking has earned Fredsgatan 12 a Michelin star and the verandah outside is the business place to be seen on a summer day. All courses are starter sized and the restaurant recommends five dishes be chosen. Samples dishes include shellfish tempura, fillet of beef carapaccio, and venison sauteed with pak choi (an East Asian vegetable). Diners can also try the delicious yellow cloudberries, when in season. The chef, Melker Andersson, is a Swedish celebrity and has twice been voted ‘Chef of chefs’ by 50 of his most distinguished colleagues in Sweden.

Fredsgatan 12
Tel: (0 248 052. Fax: (0 237 605.
E-mail: info@fredsgatan12.com
Website: www.f12.se

Mårten Trotzig
At the most expensive end of the business market, this restaurant hits the mark for those trying to impress potential clients or thank old ones. During summer, diners can enjoy the sun in the courtyard, while things move inside during winter – to the cosy interior rooms, heated by a roaring fire. Specialties include deer and hare, while the homemade ginger beer is legendary. For those on a tighter budget, there is also a cheaper menu that explores a similar mix of Swedish and international dishes.

Västerlånggatan 79
Tel: (0 442 2530. Fax: (0 204 420.
Website: www.martentrotzig.se

Restaurant Lux Stockholm
This excellent establishment opened its doors in 2003 on the island Lilla Essingen, a part of Stockholm that has experienced a Renaissance in recent years. The restaurant is located in an old and very pretty industrial building with great views just by the waterfront. A star in the Guide Michelin is one of many signs of public acclaim so far. The food is modern European but with distinctly Swedish flavours.

Primusgatan 116
Tel: (0 619 0190. Fax: (0 619 0447.
E-mail: info@luxstockholm.com (not for bookings)
Website: www.luxstockholm.com

Stadshuskällaren
This is where they cook the dinners for the Nobel Prize ceremonies and it is also a good place for rewarding business contacts and cementing new relationships. The restaurant is particularly renowned for the quality of its omelets, which come with a variety of fillings. Guests can dine in style on white linen tablecloths in the City Hall, under the beauty of the paintings on the ceiling that date back to its opening in 1923.

City Hall, Hantverkargatan 1
Tel: (0 5063 2200. Fax: (0 5063 2299.
E-mail: stadshuskallaren@profilrestauranger.se
Website: www.profilrestauranger.se

Buddha Dining & Bar
Buddha Dining & Bar is a busy and buzzy place with an exotic kitchen blending Chinese, Japanese and many other influences. The menu is very eclectic and includes sushi and dim sum as well as some Swedish classics. Particularly popular are the set menus which consist of a selection of dishes served in tapas portions. The atmosphere is decidedly oriental and guests are encouraged to sample dishes that stimulate all the senses.

Biblioteksgatan 9
Tel: (0 545 18500. Fax: (0 545 18509.

Folkhemmet
Folkhemmet, a trendy and bohemian place with an award-winning bar, is an excellent example of the new trend for relaxed restaurants that serve up the best of fresh Swedish produce. A lively crowd occupies the candlelit tables in the main restaurant, which features an open-plan kitchen where the chefs can be seen at work. When the weather allows, there are also tables outside. Menu highlights include starters such as beetroot with goat’s cheese and honey, or asparagus with hollandaise sauce, and mains such as vegetarian cannelloni. The wine list is good value for Stockholm.

Renstiernas Gata 30
Tel: (0 640 5595. Fax: (0 643 8728.

Halv Trappa Plus Gård
This trendy place, with its avant-garde Scandinavian decor, serves up inspired cooking in surroundings that recall the glories of the 1970s. Diners can choose between the quirky interior and the tables outside during the warmer months. Halv Trappa Plus Gård reopened in April 2003 and now serves an excellent selection of exciting Chinese dishes.

Lästmakargatan 3
Tel: (0 678 1050.

Ristorante Paganini
This is a popular Italian restaurant on one of the most bustling streets of Gamla Stan (Old Town). Inside it is cosy and stylish, with large mirrors, plain walls and starched white tablecloths. The menu is a mix of Italian and Swedish dishes with T-Bone steaks and pasta courses such as tortelloni with gorgonzola or with beef.

Vaster Langgatan 75
Tel: (0 406 0607. Fax: (0 244 121.
Website: www.paganini.nu

Rolfs Kök
One of the trendiest places to eat in Stockholm, Rolfs Kök is where the local cognoscenti head. The sparse interior veers towards minimalism and the food tends towards the style (and often small portions) of nouvelle cuisine. The menu is a collage of Swedish and international influences, which are given innovative reinventions in the Rolfs Kök style.

Tegnergatan 41
Tel: (0 101 696.
Website: www.rolfskok.se

Manna Gourmet
This relaxed restaurant offers excellent vegan food in no-nonsense surroundings – the interior is somewhat Spartan, down-to-earth and almost clinical. Dishes are healthy and filling and many think this is the best vegetarian restaurant in the city. Menu items include veggie dishes with pasta, potatoes or unpolished rice. Guests can make up their own mix of the main courses on offer or have some hot soup on a cold day.

Åsögatan 102
Tel: (0 640 5969.

Gondolen
Gondolen easily offers the best view of any restaurant in Stockholm. Decor is functional and simple but this purpose-built viewing capsule lends diners panoramic vistas of the Stockholm skyline. The menu mixes French and Swedish cuisine and changes regularly. Menu highlights include gravadlax (marinated salmon) with asparagus or the roasted reindeer fillet served in cranberry sauce. Closed Sundays.

Stadsgården 6
Tel: (0 641 7090. Fax: (0 641 1140.
E-mail: info@eriks.se
Website: www.eriks.se
Price: SKr450. Wine: SKr235.

Restaurant J
This restaurant is a boat ride outside the city centre. Its aquatic locale, on a marina by Nacka Strand in south-east Stockholm, complements the cooking, which focuses on seafood. Culinary wonders are worked in the kitchen with the day’s catch, which often includes turbot and salmon. The menu also features a range of salads and, in the colder months, hearty soups. The sunbathed terrace is a heavenly place to be on a hot summer day, although the restaurant is also enjoyable for cosy autumnal dinners.

Augustendalsvägen 52
Tel: (0 601 3005. Fax: (0 601 3029.
E-mail: nackastrand@restaurantj.com
Website: www.restaurantj.com

Nordic Hotel Restaurant
For those either arriving at or leaving from Stockholm’s main international airport, the bright and breezy restaurant at the Nordic Light Hotel is only a two-minute walk from the airport’s Arlanda Express train terminal. The restaurant is the perfect alternative to the ramble of fast food joints in the railway building itself. Lunches are light and good value, while the evening meals are more interesting, with seafood taking centre stage. One innovative idea for lunch is the ‘Swedish platter’, a one-dish meal that features Swedish sausages, gravadlax and fish roe.

Nordic Light Hotel, Vastaplan 7
Tel: (0 5056 3000. Fax: (0 5056 3060.
E-mail: info@nordichotels.se
Website: www.nordichotels.se

Salzer Restaurant & Bar
This restaurant is unique in Stockholm for its 1950s interior, which has made it an instant favourite with the city’s stylish set. It might remind some diners too much of Happy Days, but the food is fresh, modern and international. The large portions of the Swedish mainstays, such as Åseda isterband (a type of smoked sausage) with potatoes in white sauce, keep the locals coming back for more, with dishes.

John Ericssons gata 6
Tel: (0 650 3028. Fax: (0 651 3028.
E-mail: info@saltzer.nu
Website: www.salzer.nu

Tranan
This is the type of simple but genuine place that is popular with Swedes who want to dine out without breaking the bank. Not only do few tourists ever make it here but the menu is written in Swedish only, so adventurous visitors will have to trust the friendly staff and other diners to fill them in on translations of the traditional Swedish dishes. One excellent example of the food on offer here is the fillet of beef served with fried potatoes, horseradish and egg yolk. Tranan also serves several vegetarian dishes, such as goat’s cheese on toast. The decor is that of a typical French bistro, giving it a wonderfully relaxed atmosphere.

Karlbergsvägen 14
Tel: (0 5272 8100.
E-mail: tranan@tranan.se
Website: www.tranan.se

SHOPPING IN SWEDEN

Sweden Information — Thu Nov 02, 2006 6:23 am

Author: Sweden Information

Posted: Thu Nov 02, 2006 6:23 am

SHOPPING IN SWEDEN (STOCKHOLM & GOTHENBURG)

GENERAL

Sweden has set the pace for modern design the world over. High-quality cutlery, china, sports equipment, textiles, handicrafts, furs, crystal, jewelry, silver, fine glassware, pottery, furniture, quality cars and mobile phones.

Bargain hunting – look for the special signs indicating sales. “REA” indicates a sale; “Extrapris”, used along with red price labels, indicates discounts of at least 10%; and “Fynd” indicates special offers.

Best buys: High-quality glass and crystal are widely available throughout Sweden. For bargains in low-cost “seconds” visit the major glassworks shops, such as Orrefors, Kosta Boda, etc. located in Småland. For ceramics, Nya Höganäs-Keramik, at Höganäs in southern Sweden, offers bargains at up to 40% below normal retail levels.

Everywhere in Sweden, even in small villages, you’ll find “hemslöjd” (handicrafts) shops where you can buy traditional handicrafts like knitwear, needlework and woodcarvings.

Many traditional markets and country fairs are held in Sweden throughout the year. Some are big events attracting thousands of visitors. Inquire at local tourist offices about markets in the area you are visiting.

In Sweden, value-added tax (VAT) is always included in the purchase price. Non EU-residents can get a refund of the VAT when you leave the EU via Global Refund Sweden.

Christmas Markets

In late November Christmas markets spring up all over Sweden, it is a very old tradition and various stalls sell Swedish delicacies and handicrafts.

Christmas spirit abounds in Gothenburg with the approach of the holiday season. Gothenburg’s main boulevard, Avenyn, is adorned with lights and a giant Christmas tree stands in the main square at Gustaf Adolfs Torg. The city’s pedestrian streets and town squares are beautifully decorated with restaurants serving a traditional Christmas buffet with a maritime twist.

Christmas markets spring up all over the city, including the Haga Old Town and Kronhuset, Gothenburg’s oldest official building. However the largest by far can be found at Liseberg amusement park where more than four million fairy lights illuminate the festivities. Some 80 rustic market stalls sell arts, crafts and festive foods and an ice rink provides hours of entertainment for visitors along with several children’s attractions. The coronation of Gothenburg’s Lucia takes place on 12 December. The market will be open between 17–19, 24–30 November, 1–3 December and daily between 6–23 December.

Stockholm offers a whole host of Christmas markets, both in the city and outlying areas. At Skansen open-air museum visitors can enjoy festive stalls, music, entertainment, food and warming glögg (hot spiced wine). Stockholm’s Lucia will be crowned on 10 December when there will be a procession and magnificent fireworks display. There are also markets in Gamla Stan (the old town) and visitors can take a boat out to markets in the archipelago.

Malmö comes alive at Christmas, with the streets transformed by sparkling fairy lights, decorations and candles in every window. Traditional markets open at Södertull and Gustav Adolf’s Torg between end of November until 23 December, along with an ice rink at Lilla Torg in the city centre complete the festive scene.

SHOPPING IN STOCKHOLM

Stockholm is filled with shop after shop of dazzling merchandise -- often at dazzlingly steep prices that reflect the high esteem in which Swedish craftspeople are held.

Bargain shoppers should proceed with caution. Some good buys do exist, but it takes a lot of searching. If you're a casual shopper, you may want to confine your purchases to handsome souvenirs and gifts.

Swedish glass, of course, is world-famous. Swedish wooden items are outstanding, and many people love Swedish functional furniture in blond pine or birch. Other items to look for include playsuits for children, silver necklaces, reindeer gloves, stainless-steel utensils, hand-woven neckties and skirts, sweaters and mittens in Nordic patterns, Swedish clogs, and colourful handicrafts from the provinces. The most famous souvenir to buy is the Dala horse from Dalarna.

Shopping Streets & Districts

Everybody's favourite shopping area in Stockholm is Gamla Stan (Old Town). Site of the Royal Palace, it even attracts such shoppers as the queen. The main street for browsing is Västerlånggatan. Many antiques stores are found here, but don't expect low prices.

In summer, Skansen is an interesting area to explore because many craftspeople display their goods here. There are gift shops (some selling "Skansen glass") as well as individuals who offer their handmade goods on temporary stands.

In the Sergels Torg area, the main shopping street is Hamngatan, site of the famous shopping centre Gallerian, at the corner of Hamngatan and Sergels Torg, and crossing the northern rim of Kungsträdgården at Sweden House. Big department stores, such as NK and Åhléns, are located nearby.

The Kungsgatan area is another major district for shopping, stretching from Hötorget to the intersection of Kungsgatan and Vasagatan. Drottninggatan is one long pedestrian mall, flanked with shops. Many side streets branching off from it also are filled with shops. Hötorget, home to the PUB department store, is another major shopping district.

Shopping Hours

Stockholm shops are open Monday through Friday from 10am to 6pm, and Saturday from 10am to somewhere between 1 and 4pm. Once a week, usually on Monday or Friday, some of the larger stores are open from 9:30am to 7pm (July-Aug to 6pm).

SHOPPING IN GOTHENBURG

Many residents of Copenhagen and Helsingør come to Gothenburg just for the day to buy Swedish merchandise. You can, too, but you should shop at stores bearing the yellow-and-blue TAX-FREE SHOPPING sign. These stores are scattered throughout Gothenburg.

Major Shopping Districts

Nordstan, with its 150 shops and stores, restaurants, hotels, patisseries, coffee shops, banks, travel agencies, and the post office, is the largest shopping mall in Scandinavia. Here you can find almost anything, from exclusive clothing boutiques to outlets for the major confectionery chains, to bookshops. There's also a tourist information centre. Most shops here are open Monday through Friday 10am to 7pm and Saturday from 10am to 4pm.

Kungsgatan/Fredsgatan is Sweden's longest pedestrian mall (3km/1 3/4 miles in length). The selection of shops is big and varied. Near these two streets you'll also find a number of smaller shopping centers, including Arkaden, Citypassagen, and Kompassen.

At Grönsakstorget/Kungstorget, little carts are put up daily with flowers, fruits, handicrafts, and jewelry, among other items. It's right in the city center, a throwback perhaps to the Middle Ages.

The often-mentioned Avenyn, with its many restaurants and cafes, also has a number of stores selling merchandise of interest to visitors.

Kronhusbodarna, Kronhusgatan 1D (tel. 031/711-08-32; see "Architectural Highlights"), houses a number of small-scale and rather sleepy studios for glassblowers, watchmakers, potters, and coppersmiths, some of whom sell their goods to passersby. They can be visited, if the artisans happen to show up (call ahead to make arrangements). Take tram no. 1 or 7 to Brunnsparken.