Intro
Fika (pronounced fee-ka) is a Swedish custom, a kind of social coffee break where people gather to have a cup of coffee or tea and a few nibbles. Have you really been to Sweden if you have not had a fika? Maybe not. Because fika plays a big part in Swedish culture. In this guide, you will get familiar with the concept. Why you should fika in Sweden and also why business owners should incorporate it into their firms.
We will also take a look at some of the best cafes in Stockholm. The capital of Sweden.
Sweden
Sweden is the largest country in Scandinavia. With a population of 10 million people. Described as a travelers’ paradise by another travel guide. Famous for its rich nature. Such as lakes and forests. Also for being the worlds capital of pop music. And one of the oldest monarchies in the world.
Here you can do a lot. Like enjoying the green landscapes. Visit national parks and castles. Go to the beaches. Check out Swedish architecture. That is often a mix of new and old styles.
Top tourist attractions in Sweden
The Vasa musem (Stockholm), Skansen (animal park in Stockholm), Gamla stan (stockholms old town), Drottningholm palace (a UNESCO world heritage site), the Ice hotel in Jukkasjärvi, Sigtuna (the first town in Sweden).
The locals are friendly and helpful. And it’s easy to get around by public transport.
Cool to know
- Sweden has over 100 000 lakes.
- Sweden has 29 national parks.
Stockholm
Stockholm is the capital of Sweden. Found on Swedens southeast coast. Famous for being one of the most welcoming and inclusive cities in the world. Also called “Venice of the North”
There are lots of things to do here. Guided tours and shopping. Discover art and museums. Places to see art are: Moderna museet, Artipelag and Fotografiska. Museums to visit are: Tekniska museet, Nordiska museet, Naturhistoriska riksmuseet. But of course, there are more than these selections.
Visit the old town, “gamla stan” in Swedish. It is one of Europe’s best preserved medieval town. Full of colorful buildings with cafes and shops. Fans of ABBA should visit the ABBA museum.
Enjoy the season you choose to come. Each one has its own charm. Stockholm summers are sunny. Winters usually have snowfall or rain. The color explosion in Autumn is considered to be stunning. Especially in the city parks.
Cool to know
- Stockholm is a city upon 14 islands.
What is a Swedish fika?
Fika is having coffee with treats. Tea or lemonade are common choices instead of coffee. A moment to enjoy with friends, family or co-workers. Since fika is a part of the work culture.
The translation of the word is coffee break. But fika is more than that. It’s an attitude and a custom. And therefore, it is a significant part of Swedish culture. Swedes of all ages take part in the tradition. And the social part is as important as sweets.
Fika can be held anywhere, anytime. But usually in the forenoon or afternoon. Regular places are at home, outside, at work or cafes.
Why fika in Sweden?
Because Sweden has a flourishing culture when it comes to patisserie. You could bake Swedish pastries at home. But the possibility that they would exceed the high quality at Swedish cafes is low. Since the confectioners in Sweden are skillful and passionate about fika. And the variety of buns and cakes at Swedish cafes are considered to be unsurpassed.
But hey. Maybe your dream is to work as a confectioner in a Swedish cafe. Bake your way there.
Why should you Fika?
10 reasons to fika
- A chill way to get to know someone better.
- It naturally leads to conversations.
- Promotes wellbeing
- Promotes productivity
- Can be therapeutic
- Relaxing for the body
- Relaxing for the brain
- Gives you time alone
- Strengthens relationships
- Its tasty
Business owner?
Incorporate fika into your firm
- Strengthens the team spirit
- More productive teams
- Promotes a healthy work culture
- Mood-boosting
- Promotes positivity
This company fika everyday
Co-workers opinion
Mia Biselius is a unit manager at the company “Din el” in Sweden. She explains that the fikabreak is important to everyone. And that the co-workers fika every morning. Managers attend when they have the opportunity.
“We don’t talk so much about work stuff when we fika, the conversations become more private”, she says. And two of her co-workers, Anita Lundgren and Annika Hellström, agree.
“Fikabreaks strengthens the team spirit”, Annika Hellström says. Who has worked at the company for 5 years.
The source, an article “Fikarasten är ett positivt inslag på jobbet” from 2012.
Some of the best cafes in Stockholm to fika
Åsö konditori & Bageri
Selections from the menu
Classics, pastries, bread and take away coffee. You can also order cakes here.
Why worth a visit?
High quality bread and pastries. Beautiful cakes. Wide range of confection classics to choose from.
Location
Åsögatan 102, Södermalm.
Fika in a retro environment
Älskade traditioner
Selections from the menu
Waffles, salads, wraps, home-baked confectionery and healthy smoothies.
Click here for the whole menu
Why worth a visit?
Famous for having the best waffles in town.
Location
Södermannagatan 42, Södermalm.
Feel free to work
The Park
Selections from the menu
Breakfast: Sandwiches, smoothies, overnight oats.
Lunch: Meat/fish, salad of the day and wraps.
Fika: buns, chocolate ball and carrot cake.
Click here for the whole menu
Why worth a visit?
A nice work-cafe with a lot of space. Calm and creative environment.
Location
Magnus Ladulåsgatan 1, Södermalm.
Modern Nordic style
Cafe foam
Selections from the menu
Salads, pasta dishes, smoothies and lots of coffee to choose from.
Why worth a visit?
Trendy interior (modern nordic style). Designed by award-winning Jon Eliasson. High quality, good service and a personal cafe. Many guests say that they “feel like home” here.
Location
Karlavägen 75, Östermalm.
Take care of your body and soul
Bodybuddy
Selections from the menu
Breakfast, lunch and fika. Bowls, salads and smoothies.
Why worth a visit?
They focus on nutritious and healthy food. Smoothies and raw pastries are homemade.
Location
Jungfrugatan 8, Östermalm.
Hello beautiful view
Strandvägen 56 KMK
Selections from the menu
Breakfast, lunch and classic Swedish fika.
Why worth a visit?
Beautiful view over the water and passing boats.
Location
Strandvägen 56, Östermalm/Djurgården (only a cafe during the day).
Relaxing atmosphere
Systrarna Andersson
Selections from the menu
Traditional pastries like “Dammsugare”. Modern dishes for lunch.
Why worth a visit?
1930s vibe, an old cafe. They make you feel welcome. Good service. Relaxing atmosphere.
Location
Karlbergsvägen 45, Vasastan.
Feel free to stay long
Pom & Flora
Selections from the menu
Matchalatte, smoothiebowls, avocado sandwiches.
Why worth a visit?
Breakfast all day. Colorful and picture-friendly dishes.
Location
Odengatan 39, Vasastan.
A touch of France
Fosch Artisan patisserie
Selections from the menu
Tartelettes, buns, macarons, bread. Lunch: healthy salads and grilled sandwiches.
Why worth a visit?
well known for their ambitious pastries with influences from France. They put taste first.
Location
Birger Jarlsgatan 63, Vasastan.
Have a dreamy fika
Dirty Coco
Selections from the menu
Pancakes, waffles, milkshake. Lunch: healthy bowls and grilled sandwiches.
Why worth a visit?
An unique interior with flowers covering roof and walls.
Location
Drottninggatan 65, Norrmalm/city.
Learn how to spot Swedish fika
Click on the pastries to see pictures.
- Cinnamon rolls (top left picture)
- Chocolate ball
- Strawberry cake
- Princess cake
- Kladdkaka (bottom right picture)
- Kärleksmums
- Semlor
- Dammsugare/punschrulle (top right picture)
- Napoleonbakelse
- Brysselkex (bottom left picture)
How the Swedish fika was born
History
The tradition of fika goes way back in time. It started in the mid 18th hundreds, when women wanted to hang out with each other under light-hearted circumstances. So they invited each other to coffee parties.
During the 19th hundred, rustic society started to have coffee parties too. So the tradition spread across the country. With time, it became a regular way to serve up on birthdays, baptism and name-days. And that is still how fika is practiced to this day.
Fun facts
- People started to use the word fika in 1910.
- It used to be a tradition to serve 7 cookies. If one served more, they were snobbish. If served less, ungenerous.
A wise woman’s experience
Photographer: Victoria Landing
This wise woman, Bibbi Landing (my grandmother), was born in 1936, in Sweden. She got familiar with the tradition around 9 years old. Bibbi recalls her and her sister making coffee using a gas stove. That was how you boiled coffee during the 50s, she explains.
World War 2 meant less coffee
The World War came in the 40s. That meant rationing the coffee. So people started making “kaffesurrogat”. Bibbi says it was made of chicory roots, roasted in the oven. It was crushed and blended with the coffee. So it would get the taste and last longer.
Housewifes threw coffee parties
Many women were housewifes during the 40s. In the daytime they had coffee parties, “kafferep” in Swedish. Oftentimes one of them had baked cockies.
“The main reason was to come together and socialize. And then they would laugh,” Bibbi says.
I asked her if this was something she witnessed. But she was told, one time she heard her mom say:
“Those women only run to coffee parties and gossip”
Further, she explains that most women started working in the 50s. Bibbi believes it meant they didn’t have time for fika anymore.
Fika everyday for 22 years
Bibbi was working as a medical secretary at a hospital in Uppsala. From 1977-89. During those years, she had fika everyday. 10 minutes in the forenoon and afternoon. They were accounted as breaks and privileges for the employees.
“We talked about everything, what we did and how it was at home. What happened during the weekend? How the kids were. Those who had been on vacation would tell us about it. How someone did their cleaning and so on.”
In 1989, Bibbi started working at a care centre in Stockholm. Fika was a part of the work culture there, every day as well. There she stayed for 10 years.
“The fikamoment was holy. It was nice to get away, relax and chitchat”.
Bibbi is 85 years old and retired today. But fika is still a part of her lifestyle. Every morning and afternoon she has a cup of coffee.
My experiences
School
I remember having fikas at school. But only on special occasions. We would bake at home and bring it to share. The main thing was to have a cozy moment or socialize with classmates.
Work
I experience that some places fika more than others.
It creates a nice conversation shift. From work-related things to personal stories. Like what someone did during their weekend. It’s like a mini vacation. I associate fika with fun. It’s relaxing and gives a childlike feeling.
Friends & dates
I often ask friends if they want to go to a cafe. It’s a nice way to catch up with each other. I also go on dates at cafes. It’s a good way to get to know someone new.
Daily life
I don’t Fika every day. Sometimes months pass before the next one. I don’t have a need to do fika every day. When I do, the main thing is to be social. The sweets is more like a bonus.
I prefer fika at cafes. Alone or with company. Because of the environment and the cozy feeling. I associate fika at cafes as a luxury. Because it’s not something I do that often.
Significance in anthropology
The custom of Swedish fika is a way to interact with people. And the word “fika” is used to communicate this tradition. Therefore, its significance to anthropology.
Many Swedes practice the tradition every day at work. Which sort of makes it a lifestyle. And therefore, significant to Swedish culture.
Final words
I chose to write about cafes in Stockholm because it’s the main capital of Sweden. And probably the most well known city by tourists. But, of course, it is possible to fika in other cities than Stockholm. Cafes can be found almost everywhere in Sweden.
Featured Image Credit: https://livingnomads.com/
