The best cafés in Old Town

If you’re looking for a place with an Italian vibe for fika or a meal, Café Piazza is the spot for you. As the name suggests, it’s located right on one of Old Town’s charming piazzas, Järntorget. The menu has plenty to offer, whether you’re craving coffee and pastries or something more substantial like pasta, Neapolitan pizza, salads, and other tasty dishes. In other words, it’s a great alternative to Old Town’s restaurants.

Step inside the cozy café and enjoy a little taste of la dolce vita in a relaxed café and bistro setting. Café Piazza is perfect for any occasion – whether it’s a quick morning coffee before work, a lunch pizza with friends or family during a day of sightseeing, or unwinding with cocktails at the bar on a Friday evening. And in the summer, don’t miss the wonderful outdoor seating on the square – the perfect spot for some people-watching.

Café Kladdkakan is a classic spot in Gamla Stan, offering a warm and personal café experience. Located on Stora Nygatan, it’s a great place to sit down and enjoy breakfast, lunch, or fika. You’ll find a mix of local regulars and tourists taking a break from exploring Stockholm’s historic streets.

The menu has a generous variety of sandwiches, salads, meals (the healthy plate is a favorite among the guests), cakes, and pastries. You can expect Swedish fika classics like cinnamon buns and chocolate balls, alongside more modern options like cheesecake. And of course, they serve an amazing chocolate cake, “kladdkaka” (which should come as no surprise given the name), and a wide range of semla, both traditional and with creative twists.

Tucked away under a big chestnut tree on the charming square Brända Tomten, you’ll find the cozy café Under Kastanjen. This picturesque spot has been a local favorite among cafés in Stockholm for years, offering a relaxed, old-world atmosphere where you can enjoy breakfast, lunch, fika, or dinner whenever the mood strikes – thanks to its long opening hours.

If you’re in the mood for fika, they have great coffee and freshly baked pastries and bread (with plenty of gluten-free options). And if you’re feeling hungry, the menu has everything from sandwiches and salads to meatballs and fish stew. Want to make your visit a little more special? Why not treat yourself to a glass of champagne or a coffee cocktail?

In the summer, you can enjoy the outdoor seating under the shade of the chestnut tree, while during the holiday season, Under Kastanjen serves a delightful Christmas buffet in its cozy cellar. It’s the perfect place to enjoy traditional Christmas dishes in a warm, festive setting that’s sure to get you in the holiday spirit.

As Stockholm’s oldest district, Gamla Stan has a rich history, and Sundbergs Konditori proudly holds the title of the city’s oldest still-operating café – an impressive feat. It’s been around since 1785 and has been located at Järntorget since 1793, so generations of Stockholmers and visitors have gathered here for coffee over the years. Once a popular spot for the city’s elite, Sundbergs now attracts a diverse mix of fika lovers from near and far.

When you step inside, you can feel the history in the air. It’s like time has stood still, and the beautiful old-fashioned décor takes you back a hundred years. The charm is further enhanced by lovely antique coffee cups and other historic details (although you’ll also spot modern latte glasses and people with laptops these days). The menu has everything you’d expect from a great café – from cinnamon buns and cookies to cakes and pies.

Stortorget is probably the most famous square in Old Town – it’s an iconic postcard spot, just steps from the Royal Palace and Storkyrkan. It’s always full of people, especially tourists, who come to admire the stunning architecture and soak up the atmosphere of Stockholm’s historic heart. And in one of those colorful 17th-century buildings that surround the square, you’ll find Kaffekoppen.

This cozy café is the perfect place to relax in a charming medieval cellar and enjoy a coffee and your favorite cake with friends. Kaffekoppen has an extensive menu offering everything from buns, cakes, and pies to hot and cold drinks, sandwiches, main courses, sweets, and ice cream. Plus, they serve alcoholic beverages.

In the summer, the outdoor seating at Kaffekoppen is one of the best spots in the area for people-watching. And right next door is its sister café, Chokladkoppen, which is famous for serving some of the best hot chocolate in Northern Europe.

Imagine it’s the 1880s, and you’re meeting a friend for coffee and a chat about life. That’s the kind of feeling you get at Augustas Folksalong – a café and wine bar where time has truly stood still. It’s not just about enjoying good fika, food, and drinks; it’s about experiencing a different era. The pastries and traditional Swedish dishes here are organic and made from authentic, time-honored recipes.

Authenticity is the heart of Augustas Folksalong. Everything – from the food to the staff’s period clothing and the late 19th-century décor – has been carefully crafted to recreate that era. The walls and ceiling are hand-painted, the café counter is custom-made, the furniture has been sourced from flea markets and auctions, and the lighting comes from beeswax candles and kerosene lamps. You’ll also find charming details like black-and-white portraits, an old cash register, and a gramophone. It doesn’t get much more genuine than this.

Fika & Wine is a cozy café and wine bar, just a short walk from the Royal Palace. The building has a long culinary history – back in 1788, they used to sell barley and rice sausages for takeaway at this very location. These days, the menu has evolved, offering coffee, classic Swedish pastries, and traditional Swedish food, with both lunch and dinner options available.

If you’re in the mood for something to drink, the wine bar has a great selection, including wine, champagne, sparkling wine, beer, cider, spirits, and non-alcoholic options. You can relax and enjoy the warm, living-room atmosphere. Fika & Wine also has a private room (chambre séparée) that can host up to 18 people, making it the perfect spot for private parties, events, or meetings in a charming Gamla Stan setting.