Surf's up! Where to make your own office in Stockholm
In the first of a new series to help The Local's readers discover more of what Stockholm has to offer, contributor Gwen Ramsey offers some tips on where people who lack a traditional office can open up their laptops and get something done.
If you are like me and don’t have a traditional workplace then you have most likely been on the hunt for a decent cafe, restaurant or quiet place to set up shop for the afternoon.
I am currently “in between jobs” (otherwise known as an entrepreneur, self-employed, soul searching, call it what you will) and quickly realised that I’m not going to find my soul (or job for that matter) by sitting behind the computer in my tiny apartment every day.
I need to get out.
I need inspiration.
A place to sit that is quiet enough to get work done yet trendy enough for some good people watching and hopefully some good food as well.
After returning to Stockholm from living abroad for five years this was my first trial in getting to know my new (old) home again which means therefore it made the perfect subject for my first column for The Local.
I am pleasantly surprised to say that Stockholm has grown a bit and for those of us looking for an alternative workplace, the options are plentiful.
Read below to find some of my favourites and feel free to send in your tips.
You have to pay the 110 kronor ($16) entry fee even if you just want to sit at the cafe, but the amazing floor to ceiling view of the Stockholm skyline makes it worth it. They have a nice dagens lunch menu, good coffee and wine/beer plus snacks later on in the day.
Moderna Museet is slightly more challenging to reach than Fotografiska but is also blessed with an amazing view over town. You don’t have to pay an admission fee to sit at the cafe. There is lots of room here to set up shop and even an outdoor seating during the summer.
Located between Stureplan and Humlegården, this Scandic Hotel is very popular for those needing to find an easy spot to pop in and get some work done. There are usually quite a few people who come and go throughout the day which can be a little disturbing. However, the proximity to your next meeting or to great lunch/coffee spots makes it a great option.
Stadsbibliotek – Stockholm City Library
It may sound terribly boring to work from the library for the day but this is a great option when you need some serious peace and quiet. Also worth noting is that this library happens to be beautiful with lots of windows which means that you don’t feel like you are sitting in a bunker. There is plenty of room to sit with your computer, papers, etc. Internet is free and there are power outlets to keep your computer going all day long. You can bring in food and drink as long as it is consumed quietly.
This cafe was one of my favorites during the summer. They have plenty of outdoor seating with umbrella covered tables so that you can sit outside with your computer and still see the screen. Their inside dining works great as well on cold and rainy days. The coffee here is good, the smoothies are even better, and the dagens menu is a great deal.
A fantastic place to people watch. It can get quite loud and busy here but this is definitely one of the hottest places in town. Mellqvists opens at 6.30am for those of you like to get an early start to your day. Many say that they have the best coffee. I agree and also have to add that their sandwiches are quite good as well.
Rostat is my latest favorite find. It isn’t too busy which means that you can often grab an entire table to yourself for the afternoon. It is family run and much care goes into the simply yet bright interior and French inspired lunch menu. Worth noting is that they also have a great selection of magasines which come in handy when you want to take a short break from work.
Coffee + Office = Coffice! The name of this cafe on Söder says it all. You can simply pop in for breakfast/lunch or you can actually book one of their comfy chairs in the “working lounge”. By becoming a member of Coffice you have access to their meeting rooms, printing services and catering for larger groups. In a nutshell it is a SoFo version of a more traditional office hotel.
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If you are like me and don’t have a traditional workplace then you have most likely been on the hunt for a decent cafe, restaurant or quiet place to set up shop for the afternoon.
I am currently “in between jobs” (otherwise known as an entrepreneur, self-employed, soul searching, call it what you will) and quickly realised that I’m not going to find my soul (or job for that matter) by sitting behind the computer in my tiny apartment every day.
I need to get out.
I need inspiration.
A place to sit that is quiet enough to get work done yet trendy enough for some good people watching and hopefully some good food as well.
After returning to Stockholm from living abroad for five years this was my first trial in getting to know my new (old) home again which means therefore it made the perfect subject for my first column for The Local.
I am pleasantly surprised to say that Stockholm has grown a bit and for those of us looking for an alternative workplace, the options are plentiful.
Read below to find some of my favourites and feel free to send in your tips.
You have to pay the 110 kronor ($16) entry fee even if you just want to sit at the cafe, but the amazing floor to ceiling view of the Stockholm skyline makes it worth it. They have a nice dagens lunch menu, good coffee and wine/beer plus snacks later on in the day.
Moderna Museet is slightly more challenging to reach than Fotografiska but is also blessed with an amazing view over town. You don’t have to pay an admission fee to sit at the cafe. There is lots of room here to set up shop and even an outdoor seating during the summer.
Located between Stureplan and Humlegården, this Scandic Hotel is very popular for those needing to find an easy spot to pop in and get some work done. There are usually quite a few people who come and go throughout the day which can be a little disturbing. However, the proximity to your next meeting or to great lunch/coffee spots makes it a great option.
Stadsbibliotek – Stockholm City Library
It may sound terribly boring to work from the library for the day but this is a great option when you need some serious peace and quiet. Also worth noting is that this library happens to be beautiful with lots of windows which means that you don’t feel like you are sitting in a bunker. There is plenty of room to sit with your computer, papers, etc. Internet is free and there are power outlets to keep your computer going all day long. You can bring in food and drink as long as it is consumed quietly.
This cafe was one of my favorites during the summer. They have plenty of outdoor seating with umbrella covered tables so that you can sit outside with your computer and still see the screen. Their inside dining works great as well on cold and rainy days. The coffee here is good, the smoothies are even better, and the dagens menu is a great deal.
A fantastic place to people watch. It can get quite loud and busy here but this is definitely one of the hottest places in town. Mellqvists opens at 6.30am for those of you like to get an early start to your day. Many say that they have the best coffee. I agree and also have to add that their sandwiches are quite good as well.
Rostat is my latest favorite find. It isn’t too busy which means that you can often grab an entire table to yourself for the afternoon. It is family run and much care goes into the simply yet bright interior and French inspired lunch menu. Worth noting is that they also have a great selection of magasines which come in handy when you want to take a short break from work.
Coffee + Office = Coffice! The name of this cafe on Söder says it all. You can simply pop in for breakfast/lunch or you can actually book one of their comfy chairs in the “working lounge”. By becoming a member of Coffice you have access to their meeting rooms, printing services and catering for larger groups. In a nutshell it is a SoFo version of a more traditional office hotel.
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