Next Week: Culture Festival, Outdoor Cinema & Midnight Run!

I am on vacation next week... off to Spain for a friend's birthday. I wanted to leave you with some tips of fun things happening in the city during my absence!

GAT Stage, kulturfestivalen.stockholm.se

First up is the fun Kulturfestivalen (Culture Festival). I am sad to miss this! This festival runs from 13th through the 18th of August and encompasses all things cultural. Best of all... it is all free! No admission fees. It is a little hard to write about since there are so many things going on, but basically the festival takes place in the downtown area around the squares Gustav Adolfs Torg, Brunkebergstorg and Sergels Torg. The program (click here) runs from midday until late in the evenings and you can find something for every taste... cabaret, opera, salsa, literature, street performances, dance, Bollywood, vintage punk reinvented, nightclubbing and much, much more. The best thing is to check the program linked above and pick your favorites. If I was in Stockholm this week, I wouldn't miss disco legends The Pointer Sisters! Side by side with this festival is another one called We Are Sthlm. This one is aimed at the youngsters (13-19 yrs of age) with lots of live music and takes place in Kungsträdgården from the 13th to the 17th of August.

Source: The Pointer Sisters

If cinema is more your cultural cup of tea, then you are in for a treat. The Stockholm Film Festival has their annual Outdoor Summer Movies next week. They will be showing a great movie every evening (August 14th to 18th) under the stars. And it is free! The evening starts with fun activities at 6pm and the movie starts showing at 8:30pm. Popcorn, soda pop and other snacks are sold there... but you can pack your own picnic basket. Be aware that some of the movies have an age limit. Movies include The Fly, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and The Kids Are All Right. All movies are in English with Swedish subtitles except for A Royal Affair on the 14th (Danish with Swedish subtitles). This all takes place in Rålambhovs Park on Kungsholmen.

Photo by Yanan Li, Stockholm's Visitors Board

Finally... Saturday, August 17th is the date for the annual Midnight Race (Midnattsloppet). This is a late evening 10K race around the island of Södermalm (where the Rival Hotel is located). More than just a run, it always has a festival like atmosphere... with DJ's and Samba & Dixie bands playing along the route. There is a costume competition as well! So, even if you aren't running (36,000 others are!), come down and cheer them on while enjoying some great music and festivities! The main race starts at 9:30pm and ends when it ends... though the finishing line is on the street Hornsgatan. Just a few blocks from the hotel! One word of caution: don't plan on travelling around Södermalm by car or bus this evening as many roads will be cordoned off. Stick to walking or the subway.

Read More »

Add Comment

AN culture, festival, GAT, kungsholmen, movies, Södermalm, sport

Restaurant Piren

Piren- "the pier"

While this restaurant is on the other side of Stockholm from the Rival Hotel (it is located on the newly opened waterfront promenade on the island of Kungsholmen), if you are visiting the area then it is a great place for a meal!

Summer ambiance.

Piren means "the pier" in Swedish and that describes the restaurant pretty well. It is situated on a pier sticking out from the aforementioned promenade over Lake Mälaren. Makes for a great summer atmosphere! I took my visiting parents there last Sunday to give the place a try. It was hot weather and the area was filled with sunbathing Swedes... which means the bar was happening with the "after beach" crowd.

Bookmaker Toast and...

The menu had many summer favorites, both Swedish and international... fish & seafood stew with saffron aioli, entrecôte with bearnaise and french fries, moules marinières, Caesar sallad with spicy prawns and Bookmaker Toast (flanksteak on toast, with egg yolk and shredded horseradish). It was all very delicious.

...yummy fish & seafood stew!

Besides the good food, the whole ambiance is Swedish summer. As I mentioned, it might be a little out of the way for Rival guests. But it is a nice area of the city and off the beaten path! To get there it is either subway (green line to Kristineberg) and a little walk, or else by taxi. If you are staying at the hotel, and are interested, come talk to me and I can give more specific directions.

Cloudy evening, but still good views from the bar.

Read More »

Add Comment

AN kungsholmen, restaurants

Stockholm by "Gummibåt"

Photo by: Privat, sbgb.

You lucky visitors coming to Stockholm on the first weekend of August... you have so many fun things happening on Saturday, August 3rd! Not only is the huge Gay Pride Parade going through the city and concerts and art exhibits at the Music & Arts Festival, you also have something a bit more whimsical happening in the city: Stockholm by Gummibåt!

Photo: Privat, sbgb

Gummibåt means "rubber boat" in Swedish... and the event is basically a fun trip down the canal Karlbergskanalen, on the north coast of Kungsholmen, in rubber boats. It is not a race, though there is a start and finish, and it is open to anyone with a rubber boat (no fee). The course runs west to east, ending just before Kungsbron (King's Bridge). They are expecting over 700 boats and 1,000 participants this year! They do encourage people to come in costume. Looking at the pictures from last year, people dressed up as Smurfs, Vikings, Baywatch lifeguards, Kiss Army and more. Fun! The event starts at 10am so, if you plan smartly, you can watch the boats before heading to the Pride parade, which starts at 1pm, before going on to see a concert at the Music & Arts Festival in the evening.

The canal on a quieter day...

I recently wrote about the waterfront promenade in this area and how this is a nice place to spend a relaxing summer day in Stockholm... now you have another reason (Swedes acting silly). The easiest way to get to the "race course" from the Rival Hotel is by taking the subway, green line, from Slussen to Fridhemsplan.

Read More »

Add Comment

AN boat, event, kungsholmen, sport

New Waterfront Promenade on Kungsholmen

Now for something a little different...

New waterfront promenade!

Kungsholmen is one of the main islands that make up Stockholm (and the island I call home!). In the past few years they have been doing quite a bit of construction in the northwest corner of the island... building apartment complexes, creating parks as well as a waterfront promenade.  The completion of this construction project means that one can now walk around the entire island on marked paths (along the water). This walk, or jog, is approximately 10 kilometers long with great views along the way.

The narrow Karlbergs Canal.

I did this walk last Sunday to check out the new area. It was one of those gorgeous, sunny summer days and Stockholmers were out in the thousands to enjoy the nice weather... sunbathing, swimming, doing water sports or just sitting at an outdoor restaurant enjoying a glass of wine.

Views of Stora Essingen from the cliffs of Fredhäll.

As a visitor this is a great place to get off the beaten path and see Stockholmers in their natural habitat doing what they love the most: soaking up the vitamin D. It is also a nice place to enjoy a sunny day and have a nice walk/swim. There are several options for bars and restaurants along the promenade including newly opened Piren as well as the classic Solstugan. To get there from the Rival Hotel, you can take the subway (green line from Slussen) to Kristineberg. Here are some pictures from my walk to get you inspired!

Bring a towel and take a swim!

Karlbergs Palace.

Classic Solstugan Bar & Restaurant.

Newly opened Piren restaurant.

View from St Erik's bridge towards the canal.

Read More »

Add Comment

AN kungsholmen, walk

Stockholm Beaches and Pools

Temperatures in Stockholm can rise into the lower 30's Celsius (90's Fahrenheit) during the summer and the best way to cool off is to head to the beach. It might not be the Mediterranean, but Stockholm actually has several beaches (some of them in the center of town) that are very popular. They are as crowded as any beach in southern France on a hot day! The beaches are quite diverse with something for everyone, and the water is very clean... something we are really proud of.

Smeduddsbadet is the largest and most popular. Located next to Rålambhovs park on the island of Kungsholmen... the combination of a sandy beach and park make it a perfect place for families with children. The closest subway station is Fridhemsplan(green & blue lines).

Långholmen is a small forrested island located adjacent to Södermalm, right across the lake from Smeduddsbadet. There is both a sandy beach, wooden platforms as well as small cliffs to dive from. Younger people tend to sun themselves on these secluded cliffs, avoiding the small children at the sandy beaches. The closest subway station is Hornstull (red line).

A little outside of the city, but well worth the trip, is Saltsjöbaden. It is a little beach resort community loccated on the way out to the archipelago that is popular with sailing enthusiasts. Nice beach and places to have lunch. To get there: take the Saltsjöbanan (commuter train) from Slussen. The trip takes about 30 minutes. If you are staying at the Rival Hotel and need more information, just talk directly with me at the hotel.

These are just a few of the many beaches in the Stockholm area... but if you are more interested in swimming in a pool, then the best place to go is Eriksdalsbadet which is located on the island of Södermalm. There are both indoor and outdoor pools as well as a water park, playground, a restaurant and the oppurtunity for other activities (volleyball, tennis, etc;).

Read More »

Add Comment

AN beaches, kungsholmen, långholmen, Saltsjöbaden, swimming

Restaurant El Diablo

Tequila!

I have a friend visiting from the States this week and last night I took her to El Diablo... one of my favorite restaurants in my neighbourhood! It is a small and cozy restaurant, located on the island of Kungsholmen. The cuisine is international (slight nod to South American flavours) and innovative, using seasonal produce, and beautifully presented.

Veal entrecote...

What really sets this restaurant apart from others is... tequila! In the bar they have one of Europe's largest assortment of aged tequilas (up to 100 different ones). Not only that, their Tequila Maestros have paired each dish on the menu with a tequila, instead of the regular ho-hum wine pairings found at other restaurants. With this said, it perhaps isn't strange to mention that they serve Stockholm's best margaritas? Don't be scared... they also have a great wine list.

...and suckling pig.

We had the chili glazed suckling pig with avocado ice cream and the veal entrecote with anchovy/chili béarnaise and asparagus. We followed that with some great desserts... a "trio of banana" and then an assortment of seasonal sorbets on a bed of "chocolate earth". Delicious!

Dessert... loved the "chocolate earth".

Be aware that this restaurant, while ambitious, is smaller and off the beaten tourist track. In other words, booking is necessary. When I say that it is "off the tourist track" that means that their website, linked above, is only in Swedish... though the staff speak English and are happy to help. It doesn't mean, however, that it is hard to get to (Stockholm isn't that big!). To get there from the Rival Hotel, it is a 10 minute taxi ride or a short subway trip. Closest subway station is Rådhuset (blue line). There are quite a few other good bars and restaurants in the neighborhood and you can easily make an evening of it there. Contact me, if you will be staying at the Rival Hotel, for more details.

Read More »

Add Comment

AN kungsholmen, restaurants

Restaurant/Bar - Mälarpaviljongen

It's gorgeous weather this week... hot temperatures and lots of sunshine! A great place to enjoy it is at Mälarpaviljongen. The food is basic, but good... however it is not the menu that lures Stockholmers here. It's the location! Located on the waterfront promenad of Kungsholmen island called Norr Mälarstrand, this restaurant/bar is built out over the waters of Lake Mälaren with great views of the city. A friend and I visited Mälarpaviljongen yesterday afternoon... it was great just enjoying a beer and watching the boats go by. It's gay owned and operated, but the crowd is very mixed... everyone is welcome to come and enjoy the sunshine! The waterfront promenad is one of the most popular places for Stockholmers on a sunny day with lots of parks, beaches and restaurants. The bar really comes alive on weekend evenings with DJs playing and people enjoying the late evening sun...

The restaurant is café-style, no table service. Order at the counter and the waiters run out the food to you when it's ready. Tables are on a first-come basis... no reservations are accepted. But there are lots of tables, so finding a place to sit is usually not a problem.

Read More »

Add Comment

AN gay, kungsholmen, restaurants

Restaurant Kungsholmen

(Name and concept changed... now called Trattorian and is an Italian restaurant!) Last night I went with friends, visiting from England and Australia, to Kungsholmen... one of my all-time favorite summer restaurants. Owned by celebrity chef Melker Andersson, it is located right on the waterfront on the island of Kungsholmen. It has a fun concept, sort-of a high end version of the food court at a shopping center. That might sound strange, but it really works. The dining room is surrounded by several kitchens(sushi, grill, Swedish, luxury, etc;) represented in the menu... lots to choose from! What really makes this restaurant stand out, especially in the summer, is the ambiance and the location. Very popular, a cool clientele and views over the water on long summer evenings... the area has become a Stockholm Riviera of sorts with several restaurants popping up on the waterfront, such as M/S Gerda and Mälarpaviljongen, with most of them having areas built out over the water. Great area to bar-hop, having cocktails, listening to lounge DJs under the late night sun...

Read More »

Add Comment

AN kungsholmen, restaurants