Stockholm – Awesome and beautiful city!

Three things I really enjoyed about the city:

1) Everybody Parties With Everybody

You don’t realize how awesome Stockholm is until you get out and party.

I arrived in Stockholm at 11PM which is late for me. When I got to the hotel, something told me to get dressed and go explore. I changed clothes and headed out. Across from my hotel (the Hilton Stockholm Slussen) was the Gamla Stan area. There, I found the Secret Garden – a very lively place that looked like a regular bar with a lot of big a** plants on the outside. Inside, I found that it is part bar, part restaurant, part dance club and part dungeon (yes, downstair was literally a darkly lit, dungeon-looking cavern with lots of people dancing the night away. I stayed on main floor where there were great music was playing, people dancing, and deep conversations being had.

Gamla Stan (as seen from my hotel room at the Hilton Stockholm Slussen)

After a few drinks, I connected with a great group of people who gave me the run-down on the party scene in Stockholm. Most clubs cater to patrons of all different backgrounds. Gay, straight or whatever – people were here to enjoy their Friday night. Additionally, they told me that Stockholm has an amazing bar scene where everybody parties with everybody normally – so going out and having a good time is an easy thing. With my new friend group, I chatted the night away and eventually found myself propositioned to go to the next hot spot and then the next hot spot after that. After two cabs rides and an Uber, my night gave way to the rising sun and at that point I knew it was time to go home. My new friends had exhausted me, but I had a good ass time in Stockholm.

The Secret Garden is described as an honest and open-minded bar, restaurant and nightclub – and that it is. If you are in Stockholm and looking for a tribe for the night or deep conversation or a dungeon party, it is a great place to go.

2) Princess Cake

My half eaten princess cake!

As a dessert person, this would go on my best fancy dessert list. However, this cake is surprisingly fancy and good (You know sometimes fancy desserts have a tendency to be overdecorated, dry, and lack the pop you were hoping for in a $25 piece of cake… I digress though). The princess cake (known as prinsesstårta) is a traditional Swedish layer cake or torte consisting of alternating layers of airy sponge cake, jam (typically raspberry jam), pastry cream, and a thick-domed layer of whipped cream. You can find it in most restaurants and bakeries. This piece of heaven was found at the Brunkebergs Bageri in Stockholm.

The Princess Cake is a Big Dome of Goodness

Best thing ever. You must have a piece if you are in Sweden.

3) Old World Architecture

I am a sucker for old buildings.

The country of IKEA, Acne Studios and Swedish meatballs is a great place to see remarkable architecture. While there are lots of modern architectural gems, this city has a treasure trove of old buildings that remind you that Sweden was a major kingdom compromised of Norway and Finland at some points. By the buildings alone, you can tell Stockholm was the place to do business and be see in the kingdom. Many of the buildings are in a gothic style and sit on riverside avenues lining the fourteens islands that make up Stockholm.

Around Stockholm

If you are there in the fall, walking the city alone is a treat as all these building are amongst the magnificent autumn foliage. It’s a real sight to see!