Weekender: Stockholm
Restaurants
Usine
Usine houses three separate gastronomic initiatives—a café, a bistro, and a bar—within a former sausage factory. Each venue delivers a distinctly modern take on French classics such as escargot and duck confit, but the interiors are undeniably Scandinavian-industrial: smooth concrete, galvanized steel, and iron beams. Renowned designer Richard Lindvall connected the three functions with soaring passageways that double as art galleries; the addition of cognac leather banquettes, custom maple millwork, and fig and olive trees creates an unexpectedly lush setting.
Södermalmsallén 36-38, usine.se.
Esperanto
Given the Swedish proclivity for smoked fish, Stockholm is not a Michelin star–studded city. That said, Esperanto earned its place in the culinary sky by adding a Japanese touch to seasonal regional dishes in a romantic candlelit setting located in a converted theater. It’s the perfect place to experience fresh Swedish offerings, such as turbot and squid, with modern Asian twists like kombu garnishes and oyster dashi.
Kungstensgatan 2, esperantorestaurant.se.
Proviant
For traditional Swedish cuisine, turn to Proviant, a restaurant, brewery, and provisions shop that proffers fare—think baked cod and wild boar sausage—made with fresh, local ingredients.
Sturegaten 19, proviant.se.
Hotels
Miss Clara
Named after a former headmistress, the Miss Clara hotel was originally built in 1910 as a Swedish girls’ school. Designed by architects Hagström & Ekman, it features a grand exterior, a wrought-iron staircase, and huge arched windows throughout. Architect Gert Wingårdh preserved these Scandinavian details when he reconfigured the building in 2014 and added luxurious touches, including limestone and parquet floors, natural-leather furniture, and minimalist lighting and art. Stay here and get a design education without the homework.
Sveavägen 48, missclarahotel.com.
Ett Hem
On the face of it, Ett Hem (which translates to “a home”) may seem like a quaint option in a bustling city. In fact, this 12-room hotel was designed by British interior designer Ilse Crawford, who created a chic environment by juxtaposing Scandinavian classics such as pelican chairs, antique chandeliers, and leather couches.
Sköldungagatan 2, etthem.se.
Exhibitions
“Aether & Einstein”
Swedish multimedia artist and composer Christine Odlund has a fascination with plants and our relationship to them. She’s exceptionally well informed in this regard: Her research at the Royal Institute of Technology’s Department of Organic Chemistry examined the social life of stinging nettles. In her largest solo exhibit to date, “Aether & Einstein,” she will examine these themes through multimedia and large-scale laboratory-esque installations.
Runs 2/6–6/5, Magasin III, Frihamnsgatan 28, magasin3.com.
“Mata Hare”
Mixed-medium artist Max Book presents a solo exhibit of his visceral work, which features “overpainted” photographic landscapes (many in Sweden). He pushes his paintings into the surreal with a series of chemical and biological processes, for example, leaving them outdoors to let the weather alter the images—be it snow or wind-swept twigs and leaves that then become embedded into his finished piece.
3/12-5/29, Prins Eugens väg 6, djurgården, waldemarsudde.se.
PHOTOGRAPHS BY MIKAEL AXELSSON/COURTESY OF RICHARD LINDVALL (USINE); CHRISTIAN SALTAS (URTICA DIOICA, 2013, BY CHRISTINE ÖDLUND, COLLECTION MAGASIN 3). COURTESY OF THE NOBIS GROUP (MISS CLARA)
