When describing Swedish style, opulence might not be the first word to come to mind. After all, this is the country best known for its clean, contemporary design.
But travelers who’ve ventured down Stockholm’s famed Biblioteksgatan know better. In fact, Christian Dyhlén, head concierge with luxury Nobis Hotel, describes the beautiful pedestrian street as “High end through and through. The golden triangle of shopping in Stockholm.”
William Ehrner, concierge with Grand Hôtel Stockholm, agrees. Ehrner directs guests at the waterfront luxury hotel to Biblioteksgatan for exclusive shopping. “Library Street” stretches from the Norrmalmstorg square three blocks to Stureplan.
Where should shoppers head first in this high-end smorgasbord? “My favorite is the Byredo shop,” says Dyhlén, who describes the Swedish perfumery at 6 Mäster Samuelsgatan as having “understated beauty with amazing scents.” All Byredo products, ranging from eau de parfum to home fragrances, are crafted in Sweden.
Also be sure to check out Ralph Lauren, at 10 Biblioteksgatan, Dyhlén says. The store might surprise American visitors with the goods it has to match its fashionable Biblioteksgatan address. The Stockholm flagship store opened last year and specializes in sharp, tailored “Black Label” and ultimate luxury “Purple Label” collections.
For casual elegance and sportswear, stop by Peak Performance, 18 Biblioteksgatan. Swedish skiers who wanted top-performing sportswear with clean, understated designs envisioned and designed the collection. An ultra-light, waterproof and sports-ready Stark jacket would be great to tuck into carry-ons.
Ehrner recommends venturing a block farther from Norrmalmstorg to Nordiska Kompaniet (NK), 18-20 Hamngatan. “The Great Department Store” is stock-full of exclusive shopping. Brands such as Hermès brush shoulders with high-end Swedish labels including Filippa K and Anna Holtblad.
While NK has a fabulous food market, Ehrner suggests checking out local cuisine throughout the city. “You can have the meatballs at the casual Riche or go to the old town and have a traditional Swedish dinner at Fem Små Hus.” The latter, translated as “Five Small Houses,” has kept much of the charm of its 17th-century building and offers seasonal Swedish cuisine. It’s a favorite among business travelers. For an afternoon refresher, Ehrner recommends heading back to Grand Hôtel’s tea, served 2–5 p.m. daily.
Wherever travelers decide to shop, they should be sure to carve out some time to see Stockholm’s archipelago — 30,000 islands and islets ranging from isolated to teaming with restaurants and hotels. “Just hop on a commercial boat or charter your own yacht and experience some of the most beautiful sceneries in the world,” Dyhlén says.
After taking in all that Stockholm offers in fashion and natural beauty, travelers might just be ready to purchase what Dyhlén calls the best Swedish souvenir: “A plane ticket back.”
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2013 Airline Of The Year And Hotel Of The Year
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