POSTED ON: Saturday, June 21, 2014 @ 4:50 AM | 0 comments
So during my last week in Stockholm, with all my exchange friends gone and me being alone all by myself, I decided to visit a few cafes around Stockholm. Some of them were recommended by my neighbours, some were recommended by other tourists on travel pages, and others were just chanced upon while roaming around the streets of Stockholm. As usual, photos are taken by me unless otherwise stated so please credit them if you're gonna use them somewhere alright?
Maybe one day if you're as bored as I am and with nobody to play with, consider visiting these cafes? I've included the address and the nearest T-bana stop for each place too (:
#1 Cafe Saturnus
Find Stockholm's largest kanelbullar (cinnamon buns) here at Cafe Saturnus! This lovely cafe is tucked away on a hill along Eriksbergsgatan. Highly raved about by my Swedish and French neighbours, I knew I had to visit this place before I leave Sweden. And indeed, it has met my expectations. The cafe itself is pretty big and spacious, not too crowded either. Great for chilling either indoors or outdoors on a sunny day. I love the interior decor of the cafe, with cool bluish walls, chic mosaic floors and uplifting music to complete the whole experience.
Since Saturnus is popular for their XXL kanelbullars, I ordered one kanelbullar, one cheesecake, and a macchiato. Too much for one person to finish though, especially with the cinnamon bun being so huge. The cheesecake was pretty good. It had blueberry swirls, a hint of cinnamon and just the right degree of sweetness.
The kanelbullar was great! They were generous with the filling and yet not too sweet. The outside was well toasted and crunchy and the insides were moist and fluffy and full of cinnamon goodness. Favourite icing sugar bits to top it off too. I'm sure these would taste heavenly if they were fresh out of the oven, still warm and all. Check out the size of the bun (with my fingers and a piece of it for comparison...)! Do bring a friend or two to share this XXL kanelbullar with yeah?
Other than pastries and desserts displayed on the counter, they serve sandwiches, salads and other drinks as well. The staff were super friendly, attentive and approachable too. Oh and there's free wifi (:
Address: Eriksbergsgatan 6, 114 30 Stockholm, Sweden. (Östermalmstorg T-bana)
#2 Lindquists Konditori
This one was the first cafe I visited in Stockholm together with one of my exchange buddies. We were on our way to the bank when we passed this konditori. The pretty display of cakes and pastries was way too attractive and we knew we had to go back after we were done at the bank.
The wide variety of pastries, desserts, sandwiches and salads made it very difficult for us to decide on what to order. I got myself a passionfruit cheesecake, a mini puff pastry with custard inside and a latte. My exchange buddy bought me a strawberry cheesecake and a strawberry tart from the same place a week later for my birthday. The super smooth and creamy cheesecakes were my favourite.
I only wished this place was less crowded so we could enjoy our little desserts and drinks in peace. And maybe wished that I had many many stomachs and the ability to never grow fat so I could try all the yummy looking desserts~
Address: Odengatan 27, 113 51 Stockholm. (Tekniska Högskolan T-bana)
#3 Jerntorgith
Swedish neighbour agreed that Gamla Stan was a good place to look for cafes, and this one was among the top few on TripAdvisor. Indeed there are many lovely little cafes in Gamla Stan, I would have been spoiled for choice if I hadn't looked them up on TripAdvisor. The weather was great today so everyone was seated outside. Upon entering the cafe, I was warmly greeted by the owner and was engaged in small talk (hey he's been to Singapore!). The place isn't as big as the first two I mentioned above, but this one is extremely cozy with superb service and great atmosphere. Assuming this cafe is ran by the two handsome guys I met?
Since I had two servings of desserts yesterday, I decided to be a little less sinful today and ordered a salmon salad with pasta (you can choose between pasta and quinoa) and a berry juice (authentic Swedish juice, according to the friendly owner). For 164kr, I thought these were rather value for money. Food is expensive in Stockholm anyway. The portion was pretty big and they gave me a generous serving of smoked salmon. There was my favourite bread at the side too! I love restaurants/cafes who serve their food with bread *hints*. And when I was done with my food, the owner came to clear my plate immediately. Super attentive!
After my salad, the owners came out with a tray of chocolate-coated nougats and offered me some for free! It was so delicious! "Mumsig" was what the owner taught me as to how to describe it, apparently it means "yummy". Oh and when the owner saw me taking my laptop out, he immediately offered me their cafe's wifi network name and the password. Happily encouraging me to use theirs so that I could "save some money on the data". Such adorable people~!
Love the service and the friendly cheerful owners here! A great place to chill on a nice sunny afternoon. Sipping my drink and watching the world go by. Suddenly wished that I could stay in Stockholm a little longer just to visit all the wonderful cafes like this one (:
{Edit: I went back on my last day in Stockholm with my daddy who flew over from Singapore. It was a weekend so the cafe was a lot more crowded than when I first went so the owners had less time to interact with their customers. But as usual, the food and drinks never failed to impress.}
Address: Järntorget 85, 111 29 Stockholm. (Gamla Stan T-bana)
#4 Cafe Sten Sture
Beautiful evening when I chanced upon this cafe while roaming around Gamla Stan. Yes I know that most of the cafes on this list are in Gamla Stan, probably because this area is pretty near the central and easily accessible by the metro from where I live.
What attracted me to this little inconspicuous cafe was their outdoor seating area. They have both outdoor and indoor seating areas but of course I'd choose the outdoor ones on a good day. Pictured above is the outdoor seating area that caught my eye. A neat row of tables and chairs along he sidewalk, complete with large green umbrellas to provide you with a bit of shelter. Another plus point about this cafe is that they have both a Swedish menu, and an equally complete English menu (some cafes for example have an English menu but may not be entirely the same as the Swedish ones for some unknown reason). Yay to tourist friendly cafes!
I ordered a traditional homemade Daim cake and a glass of strawberry juice. Gobbled up my cake quite quickly, together with the two heaps of whipped cream and chocolate sauce. Yum yum (:
I would recommend you try something else other than the strawberry juice though. Maybe a coffee or some tea? Attentive staff as she stood just a few metres away from my table and ready to attend to me. Then again, it was a quiet weekday evening when I visited the cafe so I can't really tell for sure if they will be just as attentive when things get busy.
Address: Trångsund 10, 111 29 Stockholm (Gamla Stan T-bana)
#5 Borgmästar'n Bistro Café Bar
On my last night in Stockholm, my daddy and I were looking for something to eat after 10pm. Most restaurants and cafes were closed by 10pm and most bars do not serve food after that timing either, so I wasn't surprised that it was difficult to find ourselves a proper dinner then. But lucky us found this cafe bar along the cobbled streets of Gamla Stan. Classic traditional Swedish dishes. Excellent food at reasonable prices.
We ordered a toast with shrimps and lettuce (Toast med handskalade Räkor & Kräftstjärtar) as an appetizer for 119kr, and a seafood stew (Sydfransk fisk- & skaldjursgryta
på Rivieravis med Lax, Scampi, Musslor, portvin samt pernod. Serveras med örtkryddat vitlöksbröd) as our main. There was plenty of ingredients in the seafood stew like mussels, salmon, prawns, shrimps etc. and it was served with garlic bread. Everything was extremely fresh and extremely yummy. Definitely worth the money.
Address: Stora Nygatan 35, 111 27 Stockholm. (Gamla Stan T-bana)
#6 Sundsberg Konditori
Was contemplating whether to include this cafe which I have never dined in before, or to include Professorn, our bar/restaurant in Lappis. Professorn is a good place to have a couple of drinks with your friends (and a good place to gather and watch the World Cup as well!). But since I am a fan of desserts, here's Sundsberg Konditori for you, one that is pretty highly rated and recommended by other visitors. I didn't try any of the desserts from this cafe, but those sweets sitting in the display looked attractive and tasty enough for me. The cosy setting indoors and the huge coffee pot with numerous little cups around it was pretty interesting too!
Visit this one and experience it for yourself maybe?
Address: Järntorget 83, 111 29 Stockholm. (Gamla Stan T-bana)
#7 Wayne's Coffee
This coffeehouse chain is everywhere in Stockholm, just like how Starbucks is everywhere in Singapore. My favourite outlet is the one at T Centralen (Stockholm Central Station). You may think that since this outlet is right in the middle of the city centre, it's gonna be super duper crowded. But strange enough it isn't at all! Probably everyone in the city centre is too busy to sit down and enjoy their coffee in the coffeehouse so these busy bees just order a quick take-away. I like sitting at the counter seats by the window, watching all these busy people rush around and minding their own business.
Address: Klarabergsviadukten 49, 111 64 Stockholm (T Centralen T-bana)
#8 Espresso House
Just like Wayne's Coffee, Espresso House is another coffeehouse chain that can be found all over Stockholm. But my favourite outlet is the one at Hötorget. Convenient, fast, reasonably priced, but don't expect any exceptional service from a chain cafe yeah.
Address: Kungsgatan 27, 111 56 Stockholm (Hötorget T-bana)
Now I hope you will have something to do when you're bored and alone in Stockholm. Happy cafe hopping while I enjoy the rest of my trip around Europe and on a short hiatus till I get back to Singapore on 4tth July. Thanks for reading, love you all! (:
Love,
Lorraine
For The Love Of All Nail Stuffs
POSTED ON: Friday, June 13, 2014 @ 3:07 AM | 0 comments
Leaving Stockholm to travel the rest of Europe tomorrow. Been busy packing up, running errands and tying up all the loose ends for the past few days. Apologies for the lack of updates here, but here's a short request from me to all you lovely people out there. Help my friend out won't you?
Remember I used to buy polishes every week from Mr Happy Nail Polish guy at SMU's little push cart store? Yes the store was called Nail Deck and they used to sell polishes online as well. Now Mr Happy Nail Polish guy has a new product in mind and would love to hear your feedback.
Appreciate your help and have a good weekend everyone! (:
Love,
Lorraine
8 Things I Will Miss About Stockholm
POSTED ON: Tuesday, June 10, 2014 @ 4:49 AM | 0 comments
Sent my exchange buddies off on Thursday. Teary eyed, sniffling and whatnot, it was such a horrid feeling. Why do all good things have to come to an end? And after about 20 hours or so of flying around the globe, my dear exchange buddies are back home in Singapore, safe and sound. It'll be my turn soon too. Leaving Stockholm this coming Friday, and will be back in Singapore in less than a month's time.
5 months in Stockholm passed in a flash. It's kind of depressing to think about leaving lovely Europe and having to return to Singapore (and of course the highly dreaded SMU). So before I leave Stockholm for good, here is a list of 8 things that I will miss about Stockholm. Gonna enjoy and appreciate all of these for the last time now... )':
#1 Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter
Singapore is just hot and humid all year round. Here in Stockholm, I could experience three seasons all within half a year. When we arrived in January, it was winter and everything was covered in fluffy white snow. Spring was still cold and wet and a little gloomy. But in a flash, summer was here and all the trees and flowers seemed to have bloomed overnight. Really a beautiful sight to see the landscape and scenery change from season to season. Probably one of the things I will miss most about Stockholm. Dreading the hot and humid weather in Singapore as I am typing this... :/
The view from my Lappis room window in winter and in summer.
#2 Clean & Green
Stockholm is such a clean city you can feel it in the air you breathe. I usually have sinus problems back in Singapore so there are many things that I have to eat less of (e.g. dairy products, chicken, chocolates) so that my sinus condition wouldn't worsen. But here, I can eat anything I want and still breathe perfectly! The air is so so so clean. Swedish are also really serious about recycling and all. Where we live, every kitchen has different trash bags for us to sort out our rubbish before we bring them downstairs and dispose them in the different bins. Only 1% of wastes go to the rubbish dump can you believe that?!
#3 The Transport System
Fast, efficient, not crowded, and convenient. Did I mention we get unlimited rides on the trains, buses and trams with the SL card? And yes, I so love the part where public transport isn't crowded like those in Singapore. Back in Singapore, I have to squeeze and push just to get on a train or bus. Not to mention endure being squashed by other commuters next to me. Here in Stockholm, I can saunter into the train and even choose where I would like to sit.
#4 Wifi/3G
Internet access is never a problem here in Stockholm. My comviq 3G plan has great coverage all over Sweden (not just in Stockholm alone), and it works even underground (like when I'm in the train and such). Wifi is also widely available at cafes, restaurants and the convenience stores Presbyrån. Singapore is so small yet we can't enjoy stable and fast internet connection around the island ):
#5 21 Inhabitants /sq km
The population density here is just right IMO. No squeezing on public transports, no traffic jams, no super long queues at restaurants or supermarkets, no overcrowded streets. I wish Singapore was the same too, but unfortunately we have a population density of 7669 /sq km. When I saw these statistics, I was like "ARE YOU KIDDING ME"?! People people everywhere~
#6 Music
Almost all my favourite DJs are from Sweden. And of course Spotify is from Sweden too. Being the No.1 exporter of music per GDP, good music is everywhere in Stockholm! Shops, bars, clubs all play good music. Even the bus drivers play good music on the bus! Got to know a couple of budding DJs and producers and oh my do they have potential. Love seeing the passion for music in them (:
P.S. I think guys who can play any instrument or write compositions are super sexy.
Size In The Park #SITP and Göta Källare for after partaye~
#7 20 Hours of Sunlight
The sun rises extremely early (like 2am?) and sets super late (like 11pm?) in summer. The days are so long and it's such a wonderful feeling because you feel like you have so much more time to enjoy each and every day. We could sit around outdoors till late at night since the sky never seems to get dark and so it's never time to go home. It's also great to see the sky slowly lighting up when we head home after partying till 3am (it's not so scary to go home at such unearthly hours too). Long days are perfect for travelling too. The only problem is that these long days only happen in summer. In winter and early spring, the days are super short. I remember when I first arrived in Stockholm in January, the sky starts to get dark at around 3pm. Well, I LOVE STOCKHOLM'S SUMMER!
#8 My Exchange Buddies + Lappis Neighbours
Of course my exchange experience wouldn't be complete without my exchange buddies, my P21 neighbours, SU/KTH classmates, and all the other random friends I've met here. I can't imagine how terribly depressed I would be without all these lovely people I've met. Travelling with Blanche and Grace to Finland, with Robin to Denmark and Germany, with Grace to France and Switzerland, and having all of them here with me in Stockholm, is probably more than I could ever ask for. Am struggling to survive my last week in Stockholm without my exchange buddies. Really really thankful to have super awesome neighbours at P21 too. Every single one of them are all so nice and friendly. No drama, no trouble, just plain awesomeness. Gonna miss all these people so so much... Funny how I've been dreaming about my neighbours and all of us doing silly things together during my last few nights in Stockholm.
My beloved exchange buddies...
So yeap, goodbye Stockholm thanks for the memories~ (':
Love,
Lorraine
Gröna Lund
POSTED ON: Tuesday, June 3, 2014 @ 2:19 AM | 0 comments
As promised, a post on Gröna Lund Tivoli. I have an exam tomorrow and another one the day after so I know I'm not supposed to be blogging right now. But I really can't help it since I've gotten terribly sick of studying. Gonna keep this post a short one and attempt to conquer my lecture notes again.
Last weekend we visited Gröna Lund. Took a tram from T Centralen and alighted right outside the amusement park. The amusement park only opens in spring and summer when the weather gets warmer. Didn't take many photos because we were all too excited and too busy with the rides and such!
Our first ride was Fritt Fall, or what is usually know as the big drop. Yes, that tower where you go all the way to the top, hover up there for what seems like infinity as your heart threatens to jump out, and drops super suddenly. Some of the drops are at such insane speeds that all the air gets knocked out of your lungs and you can't even scream when you open your mouth. The Big Drop is my second favourite ride after those 360 roller coasters. This one at Gröna Lund doesn't drop super quickly, but still sudden and fast enough to give me that wonderful adrenaline rush.
There you go, it doesn't seem that scary after all eh. Congrats to travel buddy who conquered his fears and went on the ride. A round of applause please...
Next was Vilda Musen, a family coaster with pictures of mice all around. I don't know what's up with all the mice either but yeah it was a nice ride. Kvasten is another family roller coaster with your legs dangling in the air. It feels like you're flying on a broomstick as you cruise past the haunted house next to it. It's not as scary as it looks by the way. Jetline, another action packed roller coaster was fun too. This one is a little more exciting than Vilda Musen and Kvasten.
What are amusement parks without bumper cars? I love bumper cars and I love crashing into other cars! Teehee... Barnradiobilarna is the name to look out for if you're a fan of bumper cars. These little cars are painted to resemble the taxis in Stockholm! Super cute!
A smoky dragon caught our eye as we wandered around the park (for there was no English brochures/maps available for us on that day). Bla Taget, or Ghost Train, takes your through a dark cave like route and tries to scare you at every turn. Watch out guys, you'll never know when you're gonna get poked/grabbed next.
Hello Mr Dragon~
Pretty little houses all around the amusement park.
Katapulten looks similar to the Big Drop, with the tall tower and seats all around. But this shot and drop tower is slightly different in the sense that it shoots upwards without warning, free falls without warning, stops halfway on the way down and continues with the up and down exhilaration until your heart is in your mouth (and my hair all in my face)! I love how the ride overlooks the river and we get a really nice view of Stockholm when we're right at the top of the tower (:
Take a walk through the fun house Lustiga Huset. Climb up moving stairs, walk through spinning tunnels and wobble your way across vibrating bridges. End of with a magic carpet ride feeling like Aladdin and Princess Jasmine!
We realised that there were two areas in the amusement park, one right in front of the entrance and one that is further inside. The one near the entrance was more for younger kids, with lower impact rides that were child friendly. Of course we skipped those and headed further into the park.
Pretty little bicycle bush (:
We took Rock Jet as well, a spinning coaster on uneven ground. Going backwards then forwards with your hands up in the air was quite a different experience. A slightly dizzy one for me too...
With utmost reluctance, I was forced to enter the haunted house (Spökhuset) by my two exchange buddies. I never liked haunted houses even though I very well know everything inside isn't real and all the ghosts are just actors. Nevertheless, I was screaming the whole time and clinging onto my friend's shoulder for dear life. Had to pay an additional 40kr to enter the haunted house since it was not included in the day pass. 40kr to scare the shit out of myself...
Much to my disappointment, the most prominent roller coaster was closed on that day. A vertical spinning roller coaster that has its tracks painted purple and white. Insane is the name and insane it looks indeed. Twister, the wooden roller coaster, was closed that day too. Booo ):
Of course there are many other rides that we didn't have time to go on. Many game stalls where you could win plushies as well! Yay plushies are my favourite! We reached the park after lunch and had to leave at around 6pm. My advise is to go as early as possible, like when the park opens in the morning, and be prepared to spend your whole day there. Admission alone is 110kr if you are between 7 to 64 years old. The ride pass costs another 310kr for an unlimited number of rides within the same day. Check out Gröna Lund's website for more details. The park opens at different timings on different days too so do check on their website before you go. Definitely a place to visit if you're here in Stockholm for a few days!
Alright... now it's back to my lecture notes. Wish me luck, enjoy the lovely summer weather and look out for my last post on Stockholm soon!
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POSTED ON: Saturday, June 21, 2014 @ 4:50 AM | 0 comments
So during my last week in Stockholm, with all my exchange friends gone and me being alone all by myself, I decided to visit a few cafes around Stockholm. Some of them were recommended by my neighbours, some were recommended by other tourists on travel pages, and others were just chanced upon while roaming around the streets of Stockholm. As usual, photos are taken by me unless otherwise stated so please credit them if you're gonna use them somewhere alright?
Maybe one day if you're as bored as I am and with nobody to play with, consider visiting these cafes? I've included the address and the nearest T-bana stop for each place too (:
#1 Cafe Saturnus
Find Stockholm's largest kanelbullar (cinnamon buns) here at Cafe Saturnus! This lovely cafe is tucked away on a hill along Eriksbergsgatan. Highly raved about by my Swedish and French neighbours, I knew I had to visit this place before I leave Sweden. And indeed, it has met my expectations. The cafe itself is pretty big and spacious, not too crowded either. Great for chilling either indoors or outdoors on a sunny day. I love the interior decor of the cafe, with cool bluish walls, chic mosaic floors and uplifting music to complete the whole experience.
Since Saturnus is popular for their XXL kanelbullars, I ordered one kanelbullar, one cheesecake, and a macchiato. Too much for one person to finish though, especially with the cinnamon bun being so huge. The cheesecake was pretty good. It had blueberry swirls, a hint of cinnamon and just the right degree of sweetness.
The kanelbullar was great! They were generous with the filling and yet not too sweet. The outside was well toasted and crunchy and the insides were moist and fluffy and full of cinnamon goodness. Favourite icing sugar bits to top it off too. I'm sure these would taste heavenly if they were fresh out of the oven, still warm and all. Check out the size of the bun (with my fingers and a piece of it for comparison...)! Do bring a friend or two to share this XXL kanelbullar with yeah?
Other than pastries and desserts displayed on the counter, they serve sandwiches, salads and other drinks as well. The staff were super friendly, attentive and approachable too. Oh and there's free wifi (:
Address: Eriksbergsgatan 6, 114 30 Stockholm, Sweden. (Östermalmstorg T-bana)
#2 Lindquists Konditori
This one was the first cafe I visited in Stockholm together with one of my exchange buddies. We were on our way to the bank when we passed this konditori. The pretty display of cakes and pastries was way too attractive and we knew we had to go back after we were done at the bank.
The wide variety of pastries, desserts, sandwiches and salads made it very difficult for us to decide on what to order. I got myself a passionfruit cheesecake, a mini puff pastry with custard inside and a latte. My exchange buddy bought me a strawberry cheesecake and a strawberry tart from the same place a week later for my birthday. The super smooth and creamy cheesecakes were my favourite.
I only wished this place was less crowded so we could enjoy our little desserts and drinks in peace. And maybe wished that I had many many stomachs and the ability to never grow fat so I could try all the yummy looking desserts~
Address: Odengatan 27, 113 51 Stockholm. (Tekniska Högskolan T-bana)
#3 Jerntorgith
Swedish neighbour agreed that Gamla Stan was a good place to look for cafes, and this one was among the top few on TripAdvisor. Indeed there are many lovely little cafes in Gamla Stan, I would have been spoiled for choice if I hadn't looked them up on TripAdvisor. The weather was great today so everyone was seated outside. Upon entering the cafe, I was warmly greeted by the owner and was engaged in small talk (hey he's been to Singapore!). The place isn't as big as the first two I mentioned above, but this one is extremely cozy with superb service and great atmosphere. Assuming this cafe is ran by the two handsome guys I met?
Since I had two servings of desserts yesterday, I decided to be a little less sinful today and ordered a salmon salad with pasta (you can choose between pasta and quinoa) and a berry juice (authentic Swedish juice, according to the friendly owner). For 164kr, I thought these were rather value for money. Food is expensive in Stockholm anyway. The portion was pretty big and they gave me a generous serving of smoked salmon. There was my favourite bread at the side too! I love restaurants/cafes who serve their food with bread *hints*. And when I was done with my food, the owner came to clear my plate immediately. Super attentive!
After my salad, the owners came out with a tray of chocolate-coated nougats and offered me some for free! It was so delicious! "Mumsig" was what the owner taught me as to how to describe it, apparently it means "yummy". Oh and when the owner saw me taking my laptop out, he immediately offered me their cafe's wifi network name and the password. Happily encouraging me to use theirs so that I could "save some money on the data". Such adorable people~!
Love the service and the friendly cheerful owners here! A great place to chill on a nice sunny afternoon. Sipping my drink and watching the world go by. Suddenly wished that I could stay in Stockholm a little longer just to visit all the wonderful cafes like this one (:
{Edit: I went back on my last day in Stockholm with my daddy who flew over from Singapore. It was a weekend so the cafe was a lot more crowded than when I first went so the owners had less time to interact with their customers. But as usual, the food and drinks never failed to impress.}
Address: Järntorget 85, 111 29 Stockholm. (Gamla Stan T-bana)
#4 Cafe Sten Sture
Beautiful evening when I chanced upon this cafe while roaming around Gamla Stan. Yes I know that most of the cafes on this list are in Gamla Stan, probably because this area is pretty near the central and easily accessible by the metro from where I live.
What attracted me to this little inconspicuous cafe was their outdoor seating area. They have both outdoor and indoor seating areas but of course I'd choose the outdoor ones on a good day. Pictured above is the outdoor seating area that caught my eye. A neat row of tables and chairs along he sidewalk, complete with large green umbrellas to provide you with a bit of shelter. Another plus point about this cafe is that they have both a Swedish menu, and an equally complete English menu (some cafes for example have an English menu but may not be entirely the same as the Swedish ones for some unknown reason). Yay to tourist friendly cafes!
I ordered a traditional homemade Daim cake and a glass of strawberry juice. Gobbled up my cake quite quickly, together with the two heaps of whipped cream and chocolate sauce. Yum yum (:
I would recommend you try something else other than the strawberry juice though. Maybe a coffee or some tea? Attentive staff as she stood just a few metres away from my table and ready to attend to me. Then again, it was a quiet weekday evening when I visited the cafe so I can't really tell for sure if they will be just as attentive when things get busy.
Address: Trångsund 10, 111 29 Stockholm (Gamla Stan T-bana)
#5 Borgmästar'n Bistro Café Bar
On my last night in Stockholm, my daddy and I were looking for something to eat after 10pm. Most restaurants and cafes were closed by 10pm and most bars do not serve food after that timing either, so I wasn't surprised that it was difficult to find ourselves a proper dinner then. But lucky us found this cafe bar along the cobbled streets of Gamla Stan. Classic traditional Swedish dishes. Excellent food at reasonable prices.
We ordered a toast with shrimps and lettuce (Toast med handskalade Räkor & Kräftstjärtar) as an appetizer for 119kr, and a seafood stew (Sydfransk fisk- & skaldjursgryta
på Rivieravis med Lax, Scampi, Musslor, portvin samt pernod. Serveras med örtkryddat vitlöksbröd) as our main. There was plenty of ingredients in the seafood stew like mussels, salmon, prawns, shrimps etc. and it was served with garlic bread. Everything was extremely fresh and extremely yummy. Definitely worth the money.
Address: Stora Nygatan 35, 111 27 Stockholm. (Gamla Stan T-bana)
#6 Sundsberg Konditori
Was contemplating whether to include this cafe which I have never dined in before, or to include Professorn, our bar/restaurant in Lappis. Professorn is a good place to have a couple of drinks with your friends (and a good place to gather and watch the World Cup as well!). But since I am a fan of desserts, here's Sundsberg Konditori for you, one that is pretty highly rated and recommended by other visitors. I didn't try any of the desserts from this cafe, but those sweets sitting in the display looked attractive and tasty enough for me. The cosy setting indoors and the huge coffee pot with numerous little cups around it was pretty interesting too!
Visit this one and experience it for yourself maybe?
Address: Järntorget 83, 111 29 Stockholm. (Gamla Stan T-bana)
#7 Wayne's Coffee
This coffeehouse chain is everywhere in Stockholm, just like how Starbucks is everywhere in Singapore. My favourite outlet is the one at T Centralen (Stockholm Central Station). You may think that since this outlet is right in the middle of the city centre, it's gonna be super duper crowded. But strange enough it isn't at all! Probably everyone in the city centre is too busy to sit down and enjoy their coffee in the coffeehouse so these busy bees just order a quick take-away. I like sitting at the counter seats by the window, watching all these busy people rush around and minding their own business.
Address: Klarabergsviadukten 49, 111 64 Stockholm (T Centralen T-bana)
#8 Espresso House
Just like Wayne's Coffee, Espresso House is another coffeehouse chain that can be found all over Stockholm. But my favourite outlet is the one at Hötorget. Convenient, fast, reasonably priced, but don't expect any exceptional service from a chain cafe yeah.
Address: Kungsgatan 27, 111 56 Stockholm (Hötorget T-bana)
Now I hope you will have something to do when you're bored and alone in Stockholm. Happy cafe hopping while I enjoy the rest of my trip around Europe and on a short hiatus till I get back to Singapore on 4tth July. Thanks for reading, love you all! (:
Love,
Lorraine
For The Love Of All Nail Stuffs
POSTED ON: Friday, June 13, 2014 @ 3:07 AM | 0 comments
Leaving Stockholm to travel the rest of Europe tomorrow. Been busy packing up, running errands and tying up all the loose ends for the past few days. Apologies for the lack of updates here, but here's a short request from me to all you lovely people out there. Help my friend out won't you?
Remember I used to buy polishes every week from Mr Happy Nail Polish guy at SMU's little push cart store? Yes the store was called Nail Deck and they used to sell polishes online as well. Now Mr Happy Nail Polish guy has a new product in mind and would love to hear your feedback.
Appreciate your help and have a good weekend everyone! (:
Love,
Lorraine
8 Things I Will Miss About Stockholm
POSTED ON: Tuesday, June 10, 2014 @ 4:49 AM | 0 comments
Sent my exchange buddies off on Thursday. Teary eyed, sniffling and whatnot, it was such a horrid feeling. Why do all good things have to come to an end? And after about 20 hours or so of flying around the globe, my dear exchange buddies are back home in Singapore, safe and sound. It'll be my turn soon too. Leaving Stockholm this coming Friday, and will be back in Singapore in less than a month's time.
5 months in Stockholm passed in a flash. It's kind of depressing to think about leaving lovely Europe and having to return to Singapore (and of course the highly dreaded SMU). So before I leave Stockholm for good, here is a list of 8 things that I will miss about Stockholm. Gonna enjoy and appreciate all of these for the last time now... )':
#1 Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter
Singapore is just hot and humid all year round. Here in Stockholm, I could experience three seasons all within half a year. When we arrived in January, it was winter and everything was covered in fluffy white snow. Spring was still cold and wet and a little gloomy. But in a flash, summer was here and all the trees and flowers seemed to have bloomed overnight. Really a beautiful sight to see the landscape and scenery change from season to season. Probably one of the things I will miss most about Stockholm. Dreading the hot and humid weather in Singapore as I am typing this... :/
The view from my Lappis room window in winter and in summer.
#2 Clean & Green
Stockholm is such a clean city you can feel it in the air you breathe. I usually have sinus problems back in Singapore so there are many things that I have to eat less of (e.g. dairy products, chicken, chocolates) so that my sinus condition wouldn't worsen. But here, I can eat anything I want and still breathe perfectly! The air is so so so clean. Swedish are also really serious about recycling and all. Where we live, every kitchen has different trash bags for us to sort out our rubbish before we bring them downstairs and dispose them in the different bins. Only 1% of wastes go to the rubbish dump can you believe that?!
#3 The Transport System
Fast, efficient, not crowded, and convenient. Did I mention we get unlimited rides on the trains, buses and trams with the SL card? And yes, I so love the part where public transport isn't crowded like those in Singapore. Back in Singapore, I have to squeeze and push just to get on a train or bus. Not to mention endure being squashed by other commuters next to me. Here in Stockholm, I can saunter into the train and even choose where I would like to sit.
#4 Wifi/3G
Internet access is never a problem here in Stockholm. My comviq 3G plan has great coverage all over Sweden (not just in Stockholm alone), and it works even underground (like when I'm in the train and such). Wifi is also widely available at cafes, restaurants and the convenience stores Presbyrån. Singapore is so small yet we can't enjoy stable and fast internet connection around the island ):
#5 21 Inhabitants /sq km
The population density here is just right IMO. No squeezing on public transports, no traffic jams, no super long queues at restaurants or supermarkets, no overcrowded streets. I wish Singapore was the same too, but unfortunately we have a population density of 7669 /sq km. When I saw these statistics, I was like "ARE YOU KIDDING ME"?! People people everywhere~
#6 Music
Almost all my favourite DJs are from Sweden. And of course Spotify is from Sweden too. Being the No.1 exporter of music per GDP, good music is everywhere in Stockholm! Shops, bars, clubs all play good music. Even the bus drivers play good music on the bus! Got to know a couple of budding DJs and producers and oh my do they have potential. Love seeing the passion for music in them (:
P.S. I think guys who can play any instrument or write compositions are super sexy.
Size In The Park #SITP and Göta Källare for after partaye~
#7 20 Hours of Sunlight
The sun rises extremely early (like 2am?) and sets super late (like 11pm?) in summer. The days are so long and it's such a wonderful feeling because you feel like you have so much more time to enjoy each and every day. We could sit around outdoors till late at night since the sky never seems to get dark and so it's never time to go home. It's also great to see the sky slowly lighting up when we head home after partying till 3am (it's not so scary to go home at such unearthly hours too). Long days are perfect for travelling too. The only problem is that these long days only happen in summer. In winter and early spring, the days are super short. I remember when I first arrived in Stockholm in January, the sky starts to get dark at around 3pm. Well, I LOVE STOCKHOLM'S SUMMER!
#8 My Exchange Buddies + Lappis Neighbours
Of course my exchange experience wouldn't be complete without my exchange buddies, my P21 neighbours, SU/KTH classmates, and all the other random friends I've met here. I can't imagine how terribly depressed I would be without all these lovely people I've met. Travelling with Blanche and Grace to Finland, with Robin to Denmark and Germany, with Grace to France and Switzerland, and having all of them here with me in Stockholm, is probably more than I could ever ask for. Am struggling to survive my last week in Stockholm without my exchange buddies. Really really thankful to have super awesome neighbours at P21 too. Every single one of them are all so nice and friendly. No drama, no trouble, just plain awesomeness. Gonna miss all these people so so much... Funny how I've been dreaming about my neighbours and all of us doing silly things together during my last few nights in Stockholm.
My beloved exchange buddies...
So yeap, goodbye Stockholm thanks for the memories~ (':
Love,
Lorraine
Gröna Lund
POSTED ON: Tuesday, June 3, 2014 @ 2:19 AM | 0 comments
As promised, a post on Gröna Lund Tivoli. I have an exam tomorrow and another one the day after so I know I'm not supposed to be blogging right now. But I really can't help it since I've gotten terribly sick of studying. Gonna keep this post a short one and attempt to conquer my lecture notes again.
Last weekend we visited Gröna Lund. Took a tram from T Centralen and alighted right outside the amusement park. The amusement park only opens in spring and summer when the weather gets warmer. Didn't take many photos because we were all too excited and too busy with the rides and such!
Our first ride was Fritt Fall, or what is usually know as the big drop. Yes, that tower where you go all the way to the top, hover up there for what seems like infinity as your heart threatens to jump out, and drops super suddenly. Some of the drops are at such insane speeds that all the air gets knocked out of your lungs and you can't even scream when you open your mouth. The Big Drop is my second favourite ride after those 360 roller coasters. This one at Gröna Lund doesn't drop super quickly, but still sudden and fast enough to give me that wonderful adrenaline rush.
There you go, it doesn't seem that scary after all eh. Congrats to travel buddy who conquered his fears and went on the ride. A round of applause please...
Next was Vilda Musen, a family coaster with pictures of mice all around. I don't know what's up with all the mice either but yeah it was a nice ride. Kvasten is another family roller coaster with your legs dangling in the air. It feels like you're flying on a broomstick as you cruise past the haunted house next to it. It's not as scary as it looks by the way. Jetline, another action packed roller coaster was fun too. This one is a little more exciting than Vilda Musen and Kvasten.
What are amusement parks without bumper cars? I love bumper cars and I love crashing into other cars! Teehee... Barnradiobilarna is the name to look out for if you're a fan of bumper cars. These little cars are painted to resemble the taxis in Stockholm! Super cute!
A smoky dragon caught our eye as we wandered around the park (for there was no English brochures/maps available for us on that day). Bla Taget, or Ghost Train, takes your through a dark cave like route and tries to scare you at every turn. Watch out guys, you'll never know when you're gonna get poked/grabbed next.
Hello Mr Dragon~
Pretty little houses all around the amusement park.
Katapulten looks similar to the Big Drop, with the tall tower and seats all around. But this shot and drop tower is slightly different in the sense that it shoots upwards without warning, free falls without warning, stops halfway on the way down and continues with the up and down exhilaration until your heart is in your mouth (and my hair all in my face)! I love how the ride overlooks the river and we get a really nice view of Stockholm when we're right at the top of the tower (:
Take a walk through the fun house Lustiga Huset. Climb up moving stairs, walk through spinning tunnels and wobble your way across vibrating bridges. End of with a magic carpet ride feeling like Aladdin and Princess Jasmine!
We realised that there were two areas in the amusement park, one right in front of the entrance and one that is further inside. The one near the entrance was more for younger kids, with lower impact rides that were child friendly. Of course we skipped those and headed further into the park.
Pretty little bicycle bush (:
We took Rock Jet as well, a spinning coaster on uneven ground. Going backwards then forwards with your hands up in the air was quite a different experience. A slightly dizzy one for me too...
With utmost reluctance, I was forced to enter the haunted house (Spökhuset) by my two exchange buddies. I never liked haunted houses even though I very well know everything inside isn't real and all the ghosts are just actors. Nevertheless, I was screaming the whole time and clinging onto my friend's shoulder for dear life. Had to pay an additional 40kr to enter the haunted house since it was not included in the day pass. 40kr to scare the shit out of myself...
Much to my disappointment, the most prominent roller coaster was closed on that day. A vertical spinning roller coaster that has its tracks painted purple and white. Insane is the name and insane it looks indeed. Twister, the wooden roller coaster, was closed that day too. Booo ):
Of course there are many other rides that we didn't have time to go on. Many game stalls where you could win plushies as well! Yay plushies are my favourite! We reached the park after lunch and had to leave at around 6pm. My advise is to go as early as possible, like when the park opens in the morning, and be prepared to spend your whole day there. Admission alone is 110kr if you are between 7 to 64 years old. The ride pass costs another 310kr for an unlimited number of rides within the same day. Check out Gröna Lund's website for more details. The park opens at different timings on different days too so do check on their website before you go. Definitely a place to visit if you're here in Stockholm for a few days!
Alright... now it's back to my lecture notes. Wish me luck, enjoy the lovely summer weather and look out for my last post on Stockholm soon!
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