If you want to find a really cosy café in Stockholm with old traditions, then you should go to Vete-Katten on Kungsgatan. We took the opportunity to experience both sightseeing and museums in Stockholm this weekend, and of course you need to take a break with a coffee!
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A day in Stockholm
On Saturday, we hung out in Stockholm all day and did some "tourism". Very fun actually! It is so easy to miss seeing and doing things in your own city, which of course is a shame really. On Saturday, we had time for both a really fun sightseeing by amphibious bus and an interesting visit to Museum of the Middle Ages. There was also a cosy coffee break, and not just anywhere.
The wheat cat in Stockholm
Vete-Katten, on Kungsgatan 55 in Stockholm, is a classic. I remember going here when I (Helena) was a student, and it seems like forever ago. In fact, I have only visited this café for a very short time in its history. The Vete-Katten café has been around for 90 years!
A café with a long history
Vete-Katten was founded back in 1928 by a dedicated and stubborn woman named Ester Nordhammar. Ester's vision was to start a pastry shop 'decorated like a priest's house', and she didn't let petty things like being a woman or lacking experience in the pastry business stop her. She succeeded in realising her plan and ran the café with a firm hand until her death in 1961.
Ester bequeathed the café to some of the employees, and since then the café has changed hands a number of times. Today, the café is owned by, among others, master confectioner Johan Sandelin, who has worked in the company since 1997. But even though the café has changed owners a few times, it still feels like stepping into a vicarage, or "someone's grandmother's home", as I usually say.
Coffee in a cosy café in Stockholm
We rarely have coffee, so when we do, we might as well do it 'properly', right? We queued for a while, looking at all the buns and pastries and trying to decide. We ended up with a piece of princess cake for Peter and a pastry called "Strawberry" for me. Tasty? Yes, of course!
What's in the Wheat Cat?
I have often gone to Vete-Katten for coffee. There are lots of good buns and pastries here. But you can also go here to buy bread, breakfast and lunch and there is also afternoon tea (on Tuesdays). Read more at café website.
A cosy café in Stockholm
Vete-Katten is a really cosy café in Stockholm, and is conveniently located right in the centre. Just don't miss stepping into the back rooms! At the far end is a large café area that is certainly nice, but the special thing is to step into the "coffee rooms" further back in the premises. Here the quirky tables - with lace tablecloths, of course - are close together and there are plenty of paintings and trinkets from grandma's time.
Have you also been to Vete-Katten in Stockholm? What do you think?
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Ruth in Virginia says:
I seem to remember being there a few times,
when I was working in Stockholm, 1947-51. Just checked the map and sees
that it is quite close to Hötorget. I went there almost every
Saturday after work, which ended at 1pm. (Yes, we worked half day on Saturdays!) Visiting the confectionery was special, when you happened to have
some extra money.
There is absolutely NOTHING like Swedish patisseries here.
Viennese bread, cookies and all the wonderful pastries. Remembering
that I liked Napoleon. There were also small coffee cups with saucers and...
no big mugs. Just a little reminder. Very nice post!
10 October 2018 - 6:18
Helena says:
How nice to hear about your memories Ruth! And how sad to not be able to find patisseries. Admittedly I rarely have hair, but still cosy to be able to do it!
10 October 2018 - 16:12
Liniz Travel says:
Yes, but it was a very long time ago.... feels like my coffee is often taken at the press office or Seven eleven on the go with the following playground hangout 😉 life as a toddler's mother!
Wishing you a nice day, hugs
10 October 2018 - 7:59
Helena says:
Haha, I understand! It is indeed a long time since I was on the Wheat Cat as well, before this time 😉.
10 October 2018 - 16:13
Ann-Louise says:
Oh, I love Vete-Katten! Strangely enough, I haven't been here very often since I moved to Stockholm almost twenty years ago, but before that I never visited Stockholm without having coffee at Vete-Katten at least once per visit. Your pastry looks very good. 🙂
10 October 2018 - 8:52
Helena says:
It's funny that you visit places less often when you live in a city, but I can recognise it!
10 October 2018 - 16:14
Titti/Umeå/Huay Yang. says:
Likes best the innermost room closest to the courtyard.
I have sat there quite a few times.
There are also some small tables upstairs.
They have very good buns, even in smaller sizes.
However, it has been a while since Vete-Katten was visited.
10 October 2018 - 9:42
Helena says:
Upstairs!? Ah, I've missed that! 😉
11 October 2018 - 6:00
Daniela / Discovering The Planet says:
Am I wrong or are there two? I think I've visited two and once upon a time started a post :). Anyway, very cosy.
10 October 2018 - 16:36
Helena says:
Vete-Katten has several shops, but to my knowledge there is only one café.
11 October 2018 - 6:02
BP says:
Travelling on your home turf is the most fun there is! It's been a very long time since I visited the historic Vete-Katten. This post was a perfect reminder. The place is incredibly cosy and nice and has not fallen for "new fashions".
10 October 2018 - 18:53
Helena says:
Isn't it fun to be a tourist in your own city? Easy to forget sometimes 😉
11 October 2018 - 6:15
Mr Matts Tortebring says:
Someone said, "When Torebrings have nothing to do, they have coffee". These are certainly moments of celebration, especially if you find a café like this one. We have been living on the coffee break for 43 years now.
10 October 2018 - 19:17
Helena says:
Fika is nice! 🙂 And if you like nice cafés, then you like Vete-Katten 😉.
11 October 2018 - 6:16
Britt-Marie Lundgren says:
We don't have coffee very often, but when we do, it should be at a place like Vete-Katten. Of course, we've been there when we were in Stockholm. Here in Falköping we also have a similar place, Mormors skafferi...
10 October 2018 - 20:24
Helena says:
Grandma's pantry sounds like a cosy name for a café! 🙂
11 October 2018 - 6:17
Helena - Oh darling, let's be adventurers says:
So cosy with coffee at Vete-Katten. I have been there once and remember that I thought the coffee was very good there. And so much fun to tour Stockholm! Even though I don't live there, I also feel that I would like to do more of it.
10 October 2018 - 22:21
Helena says:
Sometimes it's easy to forget to tour the places that are closest at hand 🙂 .
11 October 2018 - 6:17
Ditte says:
Vetekatten is always nice and has been around for a long time - I visit here from time to time and it's cosy during the warm season to sit in the nice patio. And of course it is fun to be a tourist in your own city. Stockholm has so much to offer in many different areas.
10 October 2018 - 22:34
Helena says:
Yes, Stockholm has a lot to offer! We will try to find more opportunities to tour a bit 🙂 .
11 October 2018 - 6:18
Anette says:
Oh, I had almost forgotten about this café. Probably have to go there next time I'm in Stockholm.
11 October 2018 - 13:27
Bobby says:
Every time I am in Stockholm I visit Vete-Katten at least once, otherwise the visit to Stockholm is a complete failure, when I lived in Stockholm it was a matter of course with coffee and a princess cake at Vete-Katten.
29 March 2019 - 11:39