Our series on out queer Stockholm women making a difference in this diverse city.
Stockholmer Louise, 23, is currently studying Human Resources and working as a receptionist at hotel Radisson Blu. She likes to run and hang out with her friends. Here she tells us about her favorite places in her home city.
What is your favorite Stockholm neighborhood?
My favorite area in Stockholm is Södermalm which is the southern part of the city. I like this area because it feels more relaxed than other parts of the city, the people are nice and there’s a range of good restaurants and cafés. You will also see a mix of people, everything from young hipsters to older couples strolling the city with their grand kids.
What museums would you recommend in Stockholm?
It is very rare that I visit museums in Stockholm since I’ve been living here almost all my life. I have a friend from Texas that came to visit me this past year and we went to the Vasa museum. There you can see Swedish warship Vasa, built in 1626. After sailing 1,400 yard on her first voyage the ship sank. The ship was then located and salvaged in the 20th century. Both my friend and I were very impressed by the fact that the ship is huge, ‘no wonder that thing foundered’ was my first thought. It is definitely worth a visit and something I can strongly recommend.
What is your favorite café?
A café in Stockholm that is pretty cool is Café String close to Nytorget on Södermalm. They only have second-hand furniture and it’s possible to sit and have a coffee or lunch in the windowsills. This is a place that attracts mostly a younger crowd and they have great coffee and a relaxed atmosphere perfectly suited for a Swedish fika.
A good lunch spot?
A good place to have lunch is vegetarian restaurant Hermans. It’s great even if you are, like me, not a vegetarian. The view from this restaurant is stunning and really makes the whole experience. It is a perfect restaurant for a summer date. If you are not in the mood for lunch they also offer coffee, desserts and some alcoholic beverages.
What restaurant would you bring your girlfriend to?
If my girlfriend were to be a first time visitor in Sweden I would bring her to restaurant Koh Phangan, mostly for the interior. They serve Thai food in a great atmosphere with a jungle-inspired interior teamed with neon lights. A few times every hour you can hear an artificial thunderstorm, the lights all go out when the ‘thunder’ begins and then they flash like lightning.
What is the best place in Stockholm for a date?
The best place in Stockholm for a date, depends on what you’d like to do. There are a lot of places with great views, provided that the weather is good. Stockholm has an amusement park called Gröna Lund but if you are afraid of heights or attractions in general there is also a zoo nearby at open-air museum Skansen where you can see the famous Swedish moose. Here you can also get a feel for how Sweden used to look centuries ago. You can go inside old houses and cottages and get a look at how Swedes used to live in the 17th century.
What is your best recommendation for a date in Stockholm?
An ideal date would be starting with a picnic at Skinnarviksberget, from where you have a beautiful view over Stockholm and the sunset. In summers the sun sets late at night and after dawn you continue to a bar for drinks. A fun experience is a visit to cocktail bar Vampire Lounge. It is a vampire-inspired bar and everything from the sounds to the interior makes you think of vampires. A big plus is that they are experts at mixing drinks.
Best bar in Stockholm?
A bar in Stockholm that is worth a visit is Tiki Room. The bongo-drum music and the interior brings your mind to Polynesia. Here you and your friends can share a “Volcano” which is a drink made for 2-3 people served out of a volcano-shaped bowl with fire on top and foam in the bottom. If you would like a drink all for yourself I recommend a Mai Tai, a Hawaiian Eye or why not a Waikiki Wipe-out?
What is your favorite place to shop in Stockholm?
My favorite store in Stockholm is Weekday. Here you can find all sorts of clothes and they sell the Swedish brand Cheap Monday. At Weekday you will find trendy clothes to affordable prices. For all of the luxury shoppers out there Weekday also offers some high end one-of-a-kind brands from well-known designers. Another store that offers a great variety of clothes is Beyond Retro, a second hand store where you can find everything from masquerade outfits to baseball jackets and plaid shirts.
What are you proud of as a Stockholmer?
Sweden in general is a great country with a high standard of life and since Stockholm is essentially the heart of Sweden it’s great to live here. Stockholm has managed to preserve a lot of its origins and it’s a city with a lot of history and lots of things to see and do. The people here are nice and welcoming and all of this makes me proud to be from Stockholm.
Best Club?
I would definitely go out in my favorite neighborhood Södermalm, where you can find a variety of bars and clubs. My favorite club is called Debaser and depending on what day you are there you can listen to live music, dance or just have a drink. Every once in a while Debaser is also the location for girl parties hosted by the Swedish DJ-duo Swedish Dyke Vibes.
Best Swedish Band or DJ?
My friend told me that Sweden is the third biggest music exporter in the world so there’s a lot of good Swedish music to choose from. Robyn, Avicii and Icona Pop are some great internationally known artists but I like the artists that sing in Swedish and therefore are only known in Sweden. Three of my favorites are Veronica Maggio, Oskar Linnros and Maskinen.
What’s the best place or way of meeting girls in Stockholm?
In Stockholm there are plenty of ways to meet girls. The best way is through friends or when you are at a club. You can also use websites such as qruiser.com or applications like Brenda or Badoo to meet girls.