5 best garden cafés in Stockholm

What is it? A classic café on Djurgården that has been welcoming Stockholmers and visitors in search of fika for decades. Today, the culinary direction is led by renowned chef Paul Svensson, who is known for his focus on sustainability.

Why we love it? Because no Stockholm summer is complete without a visit to Rosendals Trädgård. And because nowhere earns the descriptions ‘lush oasis’ and ‘bursting with greenery’ quite like this place. Tucked away on leafy Djurgården, you’ll find kitchen gardens, apple orchards and greenhouses that are home to both a plant nursery and a garden café. Flowers are in bloom everywhere, while the beds are filled with vegetables, herbs and berry bushes, all grown without pesticides or artificial fertilisers. The café also sources as many ingredients as possible from KRAV-certified farms. Alongside freshly baked fika, you’ll also find light lunches and salads.

Time Out-tips: Keep the floral theme going and head further out on Djurgården with a visit to the art museum Prins Eugens Waldemarsudde.

Rosendalsterrassen 12, Djurgården. Open daily 11.00-17.00. It’s around a 20-minute walk from Djurgårdsbron, or you can get there by bus or tram.

What is it? A small café with a front-row seat beneath the shade of towering elm trees in the heart of Kungsträdgården.

Why we love it? Is it full of tourists? Yes. Is it still worth it? Absolutely. Not only can you enjoy a coffee in one of Stockholm’s most beautiful and central locations, Tehuset also offers a slice of the city’s living history.

This is where the legendary Battle of the Elms unfolded, when protesters climbed into the trees and made headlines around the world by chanting ‘The elms belong to the people’. More than 50 years later, the trees, now over 150 years old, are still standing as living proof that civil disobedience can pay off. Hug a tree, pick up a cinnamon bun and take in the grand silhouette of the Royal Dramatic Theatre while watching Stockholmers and visitors pass by.

Time Out-tips: If you’re in the mood for something stronger afterwards, head to Le Hibou, the cocktail and roof top bar at Bank Hotel. Here, drinks are treated with almost reverential care.

Tehuset, Karl XII torg 9, Norrmalm/City. Open daily from 10.00.

What is it? A charming café housed in a large yellow seventeenth-century villa with a wild garden right by Långholmen Beach.

Why we love it? Despite its central location, Långholmen, tucked between Södermalm and Kungsholmen, is easy to overlook if you don’t live nearby. Which is a shame, because this little island beneath Västerbron is a real haven for swimming and scenic walks. Stora Henriksvik serves light lunches and fika, and its location, just 30 metres from Lake Mälaren, makes it the perfect stop as part of a half-day trip to the beach.

Time Out-tips: Unlike nearby Långholmens Wärdshus, which is also well worth a visit, your four-legged friend is welcome here. Good news if you’ve got a furry companion who enjoys the island’s leafy walking trails just as much as you do.

Långholmsmuren 21, Långholmen. Open daily during the summer, 11.00-17.00.

What is it? A charming garden café perched on the hill in Bellevueparken on the edge of Vasastan. Just across the way, you’ll find Hagaparken and Brunnsviken bay.

Why we love it? Despite being so close to the city, you’re surrounded here by birdsong and a gentler pace of life. Yes, you’ll catch the faint hum of the nearby Norra länken motorway, but it only adds to the café’s urban-meets-nature charm. Settle in at one of the tables on the lawn and lose yourself in a good book. Perhaps something by Strindberg, whose likeness has been immortalised in bronze just outside.

Time Out-tips: Pair your fika with a visit to Carl Eldh’s Studio Museum, right next door to the café. Opening hours are limited, but it’s usually open throughout the summer. Check the website for the latest details.

Bellevuevägen 10, Vasastan. Open daily 11.00-17.00.

What is it? A stylish café and lunch spot serving traditional Swedish home cooking and fika right next to a charming allotment garden, with views over Karlberg Canal.

Why we love it? Kungsholmen may be one of Stockholm’s less-visited islands, at least among tourists, so why not make a Sunday of it and discover a different side of the city? Mariedals Trädgårdscafé is the perfect place to pause during a walk along Kungsholms Strand. Grab a seat at one of the green metal tables lined up along the neat gravel paths beneath white parasols. There’s also a small lawn with deckchairs where you can sit back and watch joggers and dog walkers go by.

Time Out-tips: Carry on along Kungsholms Strand and you’ll reach Piren, a waterside restaurant and bar with one of Kungsholmen’s best outdoor terraces.

Hornsbergs Strand 14, Kungsholmen. Opens at 09.00 on Sundays, otherwise at 11.00.