Eating Out - Sturekatten

Sture is a Swedish male name and "katten" means "the cat", however the Sturekatten this post will be about is not a cat but a café, namely a classic among Stockholm's cafés. One of my favourites ever since high school, back then our visits were rather more frequent than nowadays. Since back then, a long long time ago, the café competition wasn't as fierce as it is today. And I suppose, fierce of not, this place is truly one of a kind and very personal.

The premises are a three storey building from the 18th century and in order to reach the café you have to climb steep stairs - hence not a place for the infamous pram mafia -, first floor is the bakery, second floor is the main café and top floor seems nowadays to be open only when the place is very busy. But up there you'll find the best and cosiest seats. In the summers there's also a small outdoor seating area at the inner courtyard.

What makes Sturekatten extra special is that it's interior and furniture makes it appears like you've stepped into someones private bourgeois home, turn of the 19th century. In here the time has seize to exist. It's a cosy misch-masch of different styles and more or less worn out chairs and sofas, trinkets, lamps and a plethora of crocheted tablecloths.

Admittedly everything edible that's served isn't amazing and lack that little extra something - although the apple pie with custard has been a favourite of mine ever since those high school days -, some of the elder staff really lacks in polite manner and behaviour towards guests - also something that has been surprisingly consistent since the 80ies - but the unique ambiance, well that is truly difficult to compete with. And the main reason for returning for tea and cakes since nearly forever. Every foreign visitor I've brought there have been delighted and talk about it still.

Part of the kitchen

The other classic Stockholm "cat" café - not nearly as cosy but with better breads and cakes - Vetekatten was founded in 1928 and one of its employees later opened her own café and named it Sturekatten, since it's situated at the street Sturegatan (gatan = the street).

One of the best things about Sturekatten, apart from the ambiance, the unpretentiousness and the apple pie, is their style of teacups. During a period some time back these cute, personalized cups were replaced by some horrid, plain white IKEA mugs, I was so glad when I found every cup was back in working order again...

The guests at Sturekatten are really a most pleasant mix of old ladies in hats, teenagers, middle aged couples, business folks of different kinds, people having a cup of coffee and a good read on their own, and of course, now and then, one snazzy undersigned with equally zingy friends in the prime of life.

Café Sturekatten, Riddargatan 4, close to subway station Östermalmstorg ~ is the place to go meows one Sture the cat ~