Södermalm

You'll find several outposts of Swedish wood-fired bakery Fabrique across the capital, but the Söder location is our favorite. With Moroccan-style tiles on the floor contrasting with all-white tile walls, you'll struggle to find a prettier bakery spot to enjoy a kardemummabullar, the more modern, cardamom-spiced, buttery sister to the better-known cinnamon bun.

Café Nizza (Italian for French Riviera city Nice), serves Mediterranean food cooked with the best of Swedish ingredients. Standout dishes are the seabass with the classic Scandi flavors of cucumber and preserved fruit, or the simply sauteéd cavolo nero. While the food at this neighborhood joint is undeniably good, we love to pop in for a casual drink. The wine list changes almost daily so there's always something new from small producers to try—the best accompaniment to any glass of wine at Café Nizza is a basket of their freshly baked rye sourdough bread, slathered in their salty, homemade, butter.

A very casual bar in Stockholm's trendiest district, Södermalm, the outdoor terrace fills up early. The kitchen serves up all manner of Asian food from sushi and Vietnamese noodles to Thai street food, and the cocktails are particularly good. The lunch service can be a little slow—we recommend taking a seat at the outdoor bar for a drink and a few pieces of their excellent sushi, rather than committing to a full sit-down meal.

Fotografiska is one of those rare museums that offers a permanent collection, while also doing an amazing job of nurturing local creatives with a full calendar of exhibits, lectures, photography courses, and workshops. Housed in a 1906 Art Nouveau building that was once the city's customs house, the original brick exterior of the structure was kept intact while the interior has undergone major renovations. The museum hosts four major photography-focused exhibits a year (previous ones have included talents like Annie Leibovitz, David LaChapelle, and an Irving Penn retrospective), and around 20 smaller ones celebrating new talent. The rooftop café and bar fills up in the summer months, which isn't surprising given the sweeping views of the lake and the city.

Started by an American ex-pat who settled in Stockholm after a few youthful years traveling the world, StikkiNikki now has eight shops in Stockholm and the surrounding suburbs. They make all of the gelato by hand using organic ingredients and offer a dairy-free vegan version that's among the best we've tried at home. Some of their locations are seasonal (meaning they close for the winter months), so double check what's open on the website before heading out.

The founders of this adorable caramel shop first bonded over their mutual love of the 1940s–when, it turns out, caramels first became the rage. Their caramel factory is open to the public, with wide glass windows where you can peek through and view the copper kettles boiling down their ingredients. Their gift boxes and mason jars full of caramel sauce make excellent souvenirs.

Few businesses treat crafting the perfect cup of coffee as seriously as this Söder café. Joanna Alm and her team are committed to elevating the lives of the farmers who produce their beans, all of which are direct-trade, sourced from plantations in Bolivia, Colombia, Ethiopia, and Kenya. In 2012 Drop Coffee constructed their own roaster nearby and have enjoyed their status as Stockholm's consistent coffee roaster champions ever since. This is the spot for one (or several) cups of coffee you can feel really good about.

While Stockholm is definitely better known for its vintage furniture than clothing, Lisa Larsson is the exception to the rule locals have been trying to keep secret forever. Occupying the same spot for more than twenty years, this store is a major treasure trove of designer collectibles and unlabeled vintage. Be prepared to dig through the racks for the best haul.

This cool jewelry store stocks pieces from a few different Swedish designers. You'll find unique, delicate little pieces like architectural infinity bands, elegant gemstones clutched by ultra-thin prongs, and simple, streamlined bangles in yellow and white gold.

Stockholm has in recent years experienced a wave of new cultural diversity, benefitting the food scene enormously. Falafelbaren is one of those under-the-radar spots the locals are desperate to keep secret. The menu is mostly vegan, the kombucha is great, and the falafel is the best in the city. All the pita used is sourdough-based and baked in a traditional stone oven. Don’t order anything without getting one or both of Falafelbaren’s ridiculously good sauces on top—the skhug is chili, garlic, and spices, and the amba (our favorite) is pickled mango and fenugreek.