01 June 07
Hedonistic Travel
HEDONISTIC WEEKEND - Stockholm
Refrigerated ice bars, rocking venues and royals getting
tiddly the self-proclaimed "Capital of Scandinavia" is put
through
its pleasure-filled paces by local resident Charlotte WestThe Stockholm gig
Mälarrocken Västerås,
29 June to 1 July Well, it's actually an hour by train from
Stockholm but Mälarrocken festival (www.malarrocken.se) on the
shores of a lake is the one to see. Catch Swedish headliners such as
Lion's Share, Avatar, Emma Varg and Neverstore (above) as they jam at
this three-day festival. Visit www.ticnet. se for tickets. |
| PARTY
PALACES Top left: no chance of warm beer at the Absolut Icebar. Above: post-drink mixers. Left: Café Opera's glitz still attracts the stars  STOCKHOLM is
at its funkiest in the summer, and while the Swedes' love affair with
nature prompts many natives to hightail it to rural summer cottages,
just as many choose to live it up in the capital. Cough up the kronor
and you can immerse yourself in the complete Scandinavian design
experience at the Nordic Sea Hotel with its huge aquarium and
famous
Absolut Icebar, -5°C all year round. For accommodation that's easier on the wallet, the Gustav Vasa Hotel at Odenplan is just three stops from Central Station on the subway (known as the T-bana). As it's all about beautiful design in this part of the world, check out up-and-coming designers at Design Torget, Sergelstorg. Cheap Monday on Götgatan in Södermalm is worth a visit and you can pick up cheap finds at Street open-air market at Hornstull. For more exclusive shopping, head to Biblioteksgatan, Grev Turegatan and Birger Jarlsgatan in Östermalm for Swedish brands such as Whyred and Acne. After a full day of shopping, chomp on Spanish fare and sip sangria at Mamas and Tapas on Scheelegatan in Kungsholmen. Head across the street to Lemon Bar or Lokal for after-dinner cocktails. Restaurang Arirang on Luntmakargatan offers a Korean alternative with delicacies such as bibimbap and kimchi. True gourmets with some extra kronor to spend should hop a cab to suburban Sollentuna and Edsbacka Krog -- the only restaurant in Sweden boasting two Michelin stars. Start your night on the town in one of the many pubs sprinkled across the bohemian quarter of Södermalm. Check out the spectacular view of the Stockholm skyline from the outdoor terrace at Mosebacke. Other classics include the drinking hall Kvarnen and |
Debaser,
a pop and rock venue at Slussen. Since most of Söder's pubs
close at 1am, the die-hard head to Stureplan, to pop champagne corks at
Laroy, Riche and Köket. You might even run into royalty (or,
at least, a celeb) at Stockholm staples such as
Café Opera on
Kungsträdgården and Berns at Berzelli Park. For
something more laid back, check out the industrial environs at
Allmänna Galleriet 925, a bar two floors up behind an unmarked
door at 37 Kronobergsgatan, near Fridhemsplan. For Sunday morning
brunch Americanstyle, head to Café Sirap on Surbrunnsgatan,
near Odenplan. For vegetarians, Hermans in Södermalm is a
must. Other options include sipping coffee on the roof terrace at the
City Mission's Grillska Huset café at 3 Stortorget in Gamla
Stan, the medieval old town. You can also experience the famed
Stockholm archipelago with Strömma Kanalbolaget's brunch
cruise departing from Strandvägen.
STOCKHOLM ON
THE CHEAPDevour authentic French crêpes at Creperie Fyra Knop, 4 Svartensgatan near Slussen. To quench your thirst, order a storstark (big and strong beer) at Carmen, 14 Tjärhovsgatan. Book a bed at the Red Boat
hostel (www.theredboat. com), moored across the water from the Old Town. For the culturally-inclined, Stockholm City Theatre (www.stadsteatern. stockholm.se) offers free music, dance and theatre performances in Vitabergsparken during the summer.
Images © Wire Image, Alamy
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