Åhléns City is a large department store in the city centre of Stockholm from a large department…read morestore chain as Åhléns has locations in almost every city in Sweden to the point they have 18 stores in its' capital, Stockholm alone and Åhléns are also the fourth largest group of fashion retailers in Sweden. Unusual for a chain department store, it is notable enough to have its' own Wikipedia page on the Swedish website and it was sadly the sight of the terrorist attack on Stockholm in 2017 which means it is also blue-graded by the Stockholm City Museum, which corresponds to the requirements for building memories in the Cultural Heritage Act. The store is pretty large - it is actually the largest in the Åhléns brand to the point this store alone makes up 20% of the company's revenue according to reports and it is a pretty decent store mainly for fashion and home - there isn't a great deal of food and drink here but there is a Joe's Juice Bar inside the department store, which seems to be common at many Åhléns locations including ones located in shopping malls around Stockholm County. The selection of beauty brands is much better than other department stores, especially other Åhléns locations. A pretty good store and a large department store, it might not be as impressive as NK nearby and lack a decent food selection but it is one of the two great department stores in the city centre of Stockholm and that surely warrants a four-star rating.

Kind of a hard store to figure out. The signs by the escalator are in Swedish so we got off where…read morethere were things we wanted to see. On an upper floor there are Swedish jigsaw puzzles and more upscale souvenirs but you have to roam to find them. On a lower floor where the T is, they have cheaper cosmetics including a Swedish brand, Isadora which is supposed to be good. There is an Apotek (pharmacy) on that same floor. One floor below that is a grocery, Hemkoft, which is quite large and pretty reasonably priced and good quality. I found it enjoyable just walking around and seeing products that are different than what you would find in a Macy's in the U.S..

There's nothing quite like the NK (Nordiska Kompaniet) in the US anymore. The NK is to Sweden what…read moreStockmann is to Finland, sitting self-confidently at the top of the national retail market. The NK has top local and international brands. With a selection unrivaled in Sweden and impeccable customer service, the store attracts a decidedly upper-scale urban local segment. It claims 12M visitors p.a., including the random foreign business traveler like me. Joseph Sachs' founding vision was to make NK 'commercial and cultural theater.' The vibe at the NK is what I imagine Saks was like in '50s New York. Let's call it earnest coolness. There's more of an emphasis on quality workmanship and active curation of wearable fashion (rather than couture) brands like Peak Performance, Ralph Lauren and Gant. Less so the likes of YSL or Prada.

One of two NK locations, which stands for Nordiska Kompaniet - NK is a huge, grand, old department…read morestore in the centre of Stockholm - it opened in 1902, 38 years after the only other NK store which is also in Sweden, in Gothenburg. The store has so many areas specialising in different things from food to beauty - many of which have their own names, making a mini shopping mall with different parts of the store having their own Yelp listings - it would have been nice to see a technology section here similar to modern department stores, however. The store is step-free, apart from the grand main entrance which has steps going both up and down. This store is even worth visiting just for the grand nature and beautiful architecture which is remarkable and surely stands out in its' location, close to tram/bus services and T-Centralian. There wasn't a great deal of staff around the floor, other than those who might work for the individual stands within NK rather than the mall its-self and the store can be a little difficult to navigate at times due to its size- surprising for a high-end department store that employs 1200+. A remarkable, impressive department store just to walk around for the look and feel of the store alone - bare in mind it is pretty high-end and affluent, like a Swedish Selfridges. 4*

I am in general a fan of Clas Ohlson. If you are not familiar with the store they carry a little…read morebit of everything so you can find screws, light bulbs, umbrellas, bags, kitchen appliances, frames, bikes and a great many other things you did not even know you needed (or perhaps did not even know they existed). I. Short they have a lot of stuff and often I am searching for something for my home and I am thinking who would sell that I tend to check with Clas Ohlson. This location on the uppermost floor of Liljeholmstorget mall is however not a favorite as it is slightly disorganized and often a bit too crowded and lines to pay or often long. Still I am fan of the concept so go here frequently.

Who doesn't love Muji?! I first discovered this brand when I lived in New York city. When I first…read moremoved here to Stockholm I was excited to see that there was one here too! For those who don't know this place, It's kind of like an itsy bitsy Japanese Ikea with even more of an emphasis on minimalism and recycling. Apparently, their website says that "The name Muji is derived from the first part of Mujirushi Ryōhin, translated as No Brand Quality Goods" which is why you won't see a logo on any of the products in the store. Recently, the store has moved up several floors to a new more desirable location inside of T-centralen's Åhléns department store. Before, it was a little cramped and small down near the basement Subway entrance. I'm guessing that's why I had forgotten about this little treasure for a while! I happy to see that It's grown in size and feels more elevated in it's current spot. The whole floor this store now sits on in Åhléns has also been changed to be all kitchen and housewares as well. If your looking for some unique household and consumer goods this is your place! I really liked their wide selection. Everything was ascetically pleasing and at a low price point. I seriously recommend visiting here if you haven't already seen it!

I like H&M home. It's just that there's not enough stuff inside to think of going here…read morespecifically. I would really love it if they expanded their line and made a full sized store!!! A lot of the stuff in there is really pretty cute and moderately priced. I think for now, it's more convenient to browse and shop on the H&M website than going out to see such a small section of a store. I'm waiting for the bigger H&M Home! Get to it guys!

With the ads in the local papers I thought this place would be easy to get to - but public…read moretransports plots my route to a bus station half a kilometer away and says I have to walk from there. That's a big minus. I've went there by car too, and parking was easy in the garage. If you show your parking ticket at the counter you pay 20 SEK less to cover for the parking cost, so parking is essentially free. Other than that everything is as in your common megastore - they have everything from food to clothes to DVDs to doormats - split up on two floors. The butcher's desk is good, the fruit and vegetable section is too. It's all fine but nothing that lures me off my path between my job and my home. If I had a car, and wasn't limited to public transportation, this could have been different.

This store isn't as good as expected. Produce isn't very fresh, always low stock and the wait for…read morethe fresh fish counter is long as they aren't properly staffed. One person in prime hours on a Friday.

If you happen to be in Stockholm, and your daughter asks you to bring her back sone tights, this is…read morethe place to buy them!! Great selection of items, reasonable prices, very service-oriented staff!

This is the heart of SoFo, packed with chic items actually made in Sweden. It's exactly what people…read moremean by "Nordic Cool." Even with a REA sign on display (which literally stands for "realizing assets" in Sweden), the prices still feel a bit steep. I might just be comparing it to Budapest or Paris, where affordable boutiques are everywhere.Then again, this is the Nordic region. They are very strict about keeping out cheap mass-productions or low-quality goods from third-party countries. Unlike some "Made in Italy" labels that actually rely on exploited cheap labor, Sweden focuses on the real deal. I absolutely love the minimalism of Swedish chic. If you are in Stockholm, SoFo is definitely a standout spot! I would give it a 4 out of 5 stars, even though I didn't end up buying anything. Södermalm is truly the place to be if you want to avoid the usual tourist crowds. They are Swedes, so if you say "Hej Hej," the service is going to be awesome. Having been around Scandinavians ( Americans) all my life, the culture is completely familiar to me. Yes, you get a straight face instead of bubbly, cheap small talk, but there is a genuine, warm welcome underneath. Fake small talk just doesn't exist in their service industry.