The Voi Café Guide – secret inspectors go undercover to find best cafés in town

The Voi Café Guide explores Stockholm City’s most unique local cafés and eateries – all within a 15-minute ride from anywhere in the city.

One hundred years ago, there were hardly any cars in Europe. To increase the need for its service, a leading tyre manufacturer invented a guide that would inspire people to travel outside of their cities and visit different restaurants. Since then, the Michelin Star concept has been spread all over the world, and today, a one, two, or three-star restaurant is recognised as being the absolute tops at what it does.

However, as times change, so do the ways we move around cities. Today, the focus is shifting away from cars to more sustainable alternatives. Cities want to become greener and that’s a vision that Voi shares too. Voi is on a mission: to create cities made for living.

We believe in strong local neighbourhoods. And we want to inspire citizens to explore new cafés in their surrounding areas. That’s why Voi created The Voi Café Guide, a caffeine (or fruity tea) lover’s guide to the best Stockholm coffee shops within 15 minutes from anywhere in the city – without using a car.

So, we sent out our own Michelin-inspired investigators. These secret inspectors have been out and about in the city, looking for the best coffee shops and patisseries in town, and evaluating them. According to Voi’s own special rating system (menu, service, value, atmosphere, and “Voiability” – how Voi-friendly are the surroundings and how easy is it to park nearby?), the highest-rated café in each part of the city has received one, two, or three scooters. Here are the winners.

Södermalm

Älskade Traditioner

Menu: 4/5
Service: 3.5/5
Value: 4/5
Atmosphere: 5/5
Voiability: 5/5

Known just as much for its eccentricity as it is for its waffles, you’ll hear plenty about the unexpectedness of this charming café/eatery. But it isn’t until you walk through the doors that you really understand the magic of the place. A tribute to the Sweden and USA of the ‘50s, you’ll find a mix of old advertisements and pop culture references throughout the restaurant, including old phones, jukeboxes, vinyl records and eccentric life-sized mannequins.

“We tried the waffle toast [ham, cheese and salad] and the roe waffle [waffle with fish eggs], and a healthy and heart-warming rooibos tea. Both waffles were delicious! The waffle toast was crisp and chewy in all the right ways, and the comforting combo of ham, cheese and salad went down incredibly well with the potato and wheat-based dough. But wow, were we surprised by the roe waffle?! It’s a mix of traditional and experimental so this was our ‘curiosity’ choice. We were delighted with how well balanced and mouth-watering the flavours were.”

So, if you like to be surprised and fancy a trip back in time, get on your Voi and roe!

Fern & Fika

Menu: 5/5
Service: 4/5
Value: 4/5
Atmosphere: 4/5
Voiability: 4,5/5

Located on the busy street of Långholmsgatan, Hornstull, this bustling vegan oasis is packed with life and plant-based goodies. Its mission is to pump your body full of wholesome ingredients and essential nutrients. And its menu is completely free from gluten, additives and white sugar.

“The menu really is sugar free – they use dates to sweeten the food – so we couldn’t wait to try a few of the highly recommended dishes. We sampled the peanut butter bowl, raw taco bowl, the strawberry/vanilla glamshake, the raw chocolate cake, and the golden latte! And let’s just say, if “fika heaven” is a place, we found it. After the first sip of the shake, we couldn’t believe that it was actually “healthy”. And the banana-based peanut butter bowl tasted more like a dessert than a bowl!

The raw taco bowl was a bit lighter so it’s a great choice if you’re looking for something less heavy. And the raw chocolate cake was the perfect mix of fresh and indulgent – so rich and coconutty, it was the highlight of the meal! We loved the space too, from people-watching the variety of queuing customers to taking in the greenery – there are ferns climbing the walls – it really is an urban jungle!”

 

Östermalm

BodyBuddy

Menu: 4/5
Service: 3/5
Value: 3/5
Atmosphere: 3,5/5
Voiability: 5/5

Hidden in a small one way street in Östermalm, and located on top of a yoga studio, you’ll find this yogi-friendly café full of all the power smoothies and veggie bowls you never knew you were craving! Just like its name suggests, the BodyBuddy menu is crammed with healthy tasty dishes to help your body feel lovely and healthy and zen.

“We ordered the signature acai smoothie bowl, the chicken and mango bowl, a matcha latte and a golden (turmeric) latte. Everything was tasty of course and we were really struck by the freshness of the ingredients. None of this was surprising because the cafécreates this feeling that you can just trust whatever comes out of the kitchen. But even so, we still managed to be surprised and delighted! Because the edible flowers placed thoughtfully on the bowls were really something to appreciate. This extra detail along with the openness of the space really created an atmosphere of being present and enjoying the moment. You can’t help but stop and breathe.”

Tössebageriet

Menu: 4/5
Service: 5/5
Value: 5/5
Atmosphere: 5/5
Voiability: 5/5

At Tössebageriet, it’s all about tradition. Located on the busy but wide open street of Karlavägen, you’ll find this 100-year-old café crammed with Swedish cookies, tarts and pastries. Plus, you’ll find excellent e-scooter parking opportunities in the surrounding neighbourhood.

“We ordered a few traditional Swedish cookies (“småkakor”), overnight oats, and an oat latte. Were the overnight oats a sensation? Well, no. But, did the cookies and latte make up for it? Oh yes. Let’s just say that biting into the cookies felt like going back to grandma’s house. Comforting, perfectly balanced in saltiness and sugar (because yes, some cookies can be too sweet), and definitely leaving you wanting more. A must-go if you’re in Stockholm.”

Vasastan

Pom & Flora

Menu: 4/5
Service: 5/5
Value: 3/5
Atmosphere: 3/5
Voiability: 4,5/5

In Sibirien, an area within the popular suburb Vasastan, you’ll find Pom & Flora: an old-school “all-day breakfast” café with an urban atmosphere. With high, open ceilings and earthy, nature-inspired decor, this personable little cafe has a modern yet artisanal feel that’s easy to feel at home in.

“We tasted their renowned “banana split” (a banana granola bowl), 100% eggs (a scrambled egg sandwich), a matcha latte, and a golden milk latte (made from turmeric and other spices). Boy, did it live up to the hype! The food was fresh, beautifully presented, and it felt healthy without compromising on the taste. The banana split not only looked delicious, it tasted just as good. And the scrambled eggs were rich and creamy thanks to the addition of the sharp (parmesan?) cheese. The matcha latte and golden milk latte were both generous in taste and size. A big and unexpected plus was the extremely nice and genuine service of the staff. They spent lots of time explaining the menu to us without any rush. Pom & Flora is a definite must-visit if you’re in Stockholm!”

Kungsholmen/Fredhäll

Café Paloma

Menu: 4/5
Service: 5/5
Value: 5/5
Atmosphere: 5/5
Voiability: 4/5

In the corner of Rålambsvägen and Frödingsvägen, you’ll find the family-owned café Paloma. Decorated with crates of fresh vegetables, this modest little coffee stop was once an old taxi office. With a view over the local park and a short walk from the sea, it’s a special kind of location that encourages you to slow down and enjoy.

“Worth noticing is their seasonally-adjusted menu. It’s clear how much they care about the quality of the food and the environment, from the beginning of the food chain to the end. And the prices are reasonable: a mushroom soup for as little as 90 SEK is uncommon in Stockholm. Not to mention, it was really tasty. The only thing that’s worth knowing is the opening hours. They’re usually closed around 15.00 which makes it hard to drop by after work. But since they open already at 07.00, they’re a great place to stop by on the way to the office or to grab a bite and a coffee at the weekend.”

Gärdet/Hjorthagen

Epiceriet

Menu: 4/5
Service: 5/5
Value: 5/5
Atmosphere: 4/5
Voiability: 5/5

Epiceriet’s vision is to be part of the local area’s everyday life. Located in Norra Djurgårdsstaden, this community-spirited deli-café is stacked full of French and Italian meats and cheeses as well as rich tinned goods, fresh bread and sweet vinaigrettes.

“The pastry selection was limited (they’ve just opened) but the homemade cinnamon bun was a treat and the croissant was TO DIE FOR. (I can say this, I am French). But really, we were very impressed by the quality of it, it was buttery, crispy and melty. And the word that comes to mind is “grandiose”! I would definitely recommend it. We enjoyed a latte and cappuccino to drink: both very good but not outstanding. We thought perhaps it came from a machine as the microfoam didn’t hold properly. Anyway, the service was truly great. They really care about their customers and you can feel it! And, they’re located just across Lilla Skogen where you can enjoy a pre or post-Fika walk. Voi access is no problem at all.”

Skeppsholmen/Djurgården

Café Blom

Menu: 5/5
Service: 5/5
Value: 4.5/5
Atmosphere: 5/5
Voiability: 5/5

Head over to the little island of Skeppsholmen for a dose of caffeine and culture. Café Blom is a short walk from the Moderna Museet and is located right on the very doorstep of ArkDes – Sweden’s National Centre for Architecture and Design. From traditional cinnamon buns and sticky chocolate cakes to artisanal beers from local breweries, this airy, arty coffee shop is a great place to stop for a bite.

“If the Garden of Eden would have its own café, this would be it! And we weren’t even sure to be honest why we loved it so much! Was it the food we ordered or the trees swaying in the sea breeze? Was it all the artsy people we were surrounded and inspired by, or was it just nice to get away from it all? Either way, Blom is like a short holiday where time feels like it stops a little bit. Not for our bellies though! We ordered a big chicken salad, shrimp bowl, matcha latte and a healthy turmeric latte. Was it delicious? Yes. Will we be back? Definitely. Three scooters for Café Blom!”

Rosendals Trädgårdskafé

Menu: 5/5
Service: 4/5
Value: 4/5
Atmosphere: 5/5
Voiability: 4/5

If you’re visiting Stockholm, don’t leave without heading over to Rosendals Trädgårdskafé. Surrounded by a large and vibrant garden, fragrant greenhouses and zesty orangeries, you’ll fall head over heels for this charming planter’s paradise! Here, biodynamic farming, a giant all birchwood oven, and creative chefs all come together to produce ingenious flavour combinations that connect you right to mother nature.

“You’ll find a line-up of seasonally-inspired baked goods and sandwiches, as well as a menu of prepared plates that you can order over the counter. Since this caféis a bit of a city treasure, we’ve actually “inspected” this café before. But we can confirm, everything was just as fresh and as innovative as the last time we came – many of the ingredients even came from the garden! This time around, we tried a vegan burger, tomato soup and cardamom cake, along with an apple and rhubarb soda. As usual, the flavours were delicious and inspiring. And this time, one of the many highlights was having the meal inside of the actual orangery. What an experience!”

Hägersten/Aspudden

Bonne Femme

Menu: 4/5
Service: 5/5
Value: 4/5
Atmosphere: 3/5
Voiability: 3/5

Bonne Femme is a stone-oven bakery with a big heart. Located on a little market street in Aspudden, this understated coffee spot is refreshingly unpretentious. It isn’t trying to impress anybody with anything more than its marvellous buns and bulles. This makes it quite a unique spot in a hipster-esque neighbourhood.

“Delicious bread, pastries, and fresh-pressed juices were all lined up and waiting for us behind the glass counter. And they had such an impressive variety of goodies that we couldn’t help wondering if they’d be able to get rid of everything before the day was over! We ordered a macchiato to start and, when we finished, the waitress checked if it was “good enough” for us – so professional – you could just tell the quality was important for her. Then we ordered a juice, a filled croissant and a walnut bun with cheese. All together this cost 187 SEK, which is a really reasonable price for the quantity and quality that you get!”