Whatever you do, don't miss SoFo when you visit Stockholm

New York and London have their SoHos. Now Stockholm has one too. SoFo comprises the area south of Folkungagatan and east of Götgatan on Södermalm – hence, SoFo. In this district, one of the capital’s trendiest, you’ll find a huge selection of stores and cafés, each with its own individual style. Three words best describe SoFo’s atmosphere: young, hip, and laid-back.


Young people, artists, and designers make their way here to live and work, giving the area a very distinct character. Nowhere in this regal capital is the selection of design, art, and handicrafts bigger. And nowhere else is the atmosphere more easygoing. In SoFo, swarms of small boutiques, restaurants, and cafés vie for attention in an urban environment dominated by older buildings. As you stroll along the streets, you will also discover the squares and parks that help to make this neighborhood so special. Make a mental note of Nytorget, where you can relax in the shade of a tree or enjoy a bite to eat at one of the many restaurants that line the park.
Why not set aside a day for SoFo? Just put on your walking shoes and set out on a stroll. You’ll find cafés, restaurants, and stores all along your route. And to the great delight of visitors and residents alike, the stores in SoFo stay open until 9 p.m. on the last Thursday of every month.

Below are some addresses that will help you get around the neighborhood:


Restaurants

Folkhemmet
Renstiernas Gata 30, Telephone: 08 - 640 55 95
It’s often crowded here, especially in the bar to the right, nicknamed “...and the big, blue sea.” This extraordinarily pleasant bar, with red velvet walls and twinkling disco lamps, creates a delightful ambience. The menu features an assortment of dishes – the fish is usually superb!
Koh Phangan
Skånegatan 57, Telephone: 08 - 642 68 65
Koh Phangan, which specializes in well-seasoned Thai food, adds a touch of the exotic to Skånegatan. As soon as you enter this restaurant, you’ll feel like you’re standing in a Thailand jungle, with sounds to match.
Östgötakällaren
Östgötagatan 41, Telephone: 08 - 643 22 40
Östgötakällaren has a genuine neighborhood pub feel. You’ll do well to hoist a Belgian or Czech beer and enjoy a meal at moderate prices. After-work prices between 4 and 6 pm, music every Monday night.
Öst 100
Östgötagatan 100, Telephone: 08-556 976 70
With its over-the-top designer décor, this huge Asian restaurant is one of Stockholm’s most attractive places to enjoy a meal. Its most enticing aspect is the outdoor dining area, where you can sit in big, luxurious sofas, right down by the water’s edge. What a sensational feeling! DJs spin both Friday and Saturday nights.
Lo Scudetto
Åsögatan 163, Telephone: 08 - 640 42 15
Without a doubt, Söder’s best Italian restaurant. In addition to its congenial atmosphere, Lo Scudetto serves first-rate cuisine. But don’t forget to reserve a table; this little place is almost always full.
Stiernan
Renstiernas Gata 22, Telephone: 08- 643 97 33
Don’t look for a name; there is none. But a big blue star adorns the space above the door and all the menus. This cozy restaurant consistently maintains a high standard of quality in both its cuisine and service. Culinary influences from all over Europe are evident on the menu, and everything is moderately priced – for less than 1,000 kronor you can enjoy several dishes on the menu as well as selected wines. After such a delicious meal, you’ll probably feel like hanging out at the bar for the rest of the evening.
Gretas Kök / Upstairs Bar
Clarion Hotell, Ringvägen 98, Telephone: 08 - 462 10 00
With Upstairs, Skanstull has a new, high-class hotel bar that offers its guests comfortable armchairs, a great view, and sometimes a live band. If hunger pangs get the better of you, enjoy a meal at Gretas Kök, located in the same hotel.


Something different


Boulehallen Boule 1
Närkesgatan 6, Telephone: 08- 641 26 26
Give indoor boules a try. Drink a Czech beer, eat some tapas, and roll boule balls with a couple of friends. Guest DJs often spin. This place has 13 lanes, but we recommend that you reserve a lane ahead of time. Instructors will be happy to help the novice boule player.


Clothing stores

Le Shop
Nytorgsgatan 23B, Telephone: 08-644 9155
Street- and ready-to-wear fashions for guys and gals. Tons of accessories.
Sneakersnstuff
Åsögatan 124, Telephone: 08 - 743 03 22
Today, Sneakersnstuff, with its unique assortment of exclusive, limited-edition sneakers, has become somewhat of a legend. There’s a shoe for everyone here. The store also sells clothing.
Neu
Nytorgsgatan 36, Telephone: 08-6422004
Incredibly beautiful designer fashions at reasonable prices, all chosen with care and a real eye for quality. Extremely friendly personnel.
Grandpa
Södermannagatan. 21, Telephone: 08-643 60 80
A nice assortment of 60s and 70s furniture mixed in with more contemporary items. Also new and old clothes for guys and gals.
Tjallamalla
Bondegatan 46, Telephone: 08-640 78 47
The young and hip come to Tjallamalla, looking for something cool from new Swedish clothing designers. Much of what the store sells is only available here. In addition to clothing, the boutique also sells handbags, jewelry, and other accessories.
Lisa Larsson Secondhand
Bondegatan 48, Telephone: 08 - 643 61 53
Most eras and styles are represented in this, one of Stockholm’s most well-known second-hand stores. A lot of leather clothes, but also party dresses and suits, shoes and hats.


Home furnishings stores

Coctail de luxe
Bondegatan. 34, Telephone: 08-642 07 41
Coctail, Skånegatan 71, Telephone: 08 - 642 07 40
These two sister stores, a study in kitsch, primarily sell plastic items in every imaginable color and size. You can also find patterned plastic tablecloths, crazy key rings, multi-colored glass, jewelry, clothes, beaded curtains, and inflatable objects.
Apparat
Nytorgsgatan 36, Telephone: 08-653 66 33
Sells everything from industrial lighting fixtures that once illuminated a Parisian factory, to attractive shoe-polishing kits. Its motto: The design is more important than the designer.
Maroc
Skånegatan 78, Telephone:08-714 77 98
A bazaar filled with glorious Moroccan objects that you didn’t know you needed, including serving dishes, lamps, bowls, jewelry, and footwear.
Elviras Värld
Renstiernas gata 24, Telephone: 08-640 09 00
Beautiful, traditional, timeless wooden furniture shares floor space with popular, modern items for the home. Renovated classics mingle with the store’s own designs from Skåne and Gotland.
125 kvadrat
Kocksgatan 17, Telephone: 08-640 97 77
Let yourself be inspired by the works of some twenty artisans who create in a variety of media – ceramics, textiles, glass, wood, and metal. The premises also house an art gallery.
Model 70Åsögatan 132, Telephone: 08-462 02 86
Plastic lovers, check this out! A smile will cross your face as soon as you cross the threshold of this fantastic little store. If you were born in the mid-60s, this nostalgic journey back in time will knock your socks off!

For more information on beautiful Stockholm go to Stockholm CityGuide