Anna et Katarina - Kafé Stockholm

The two Swedes Anna and Katarina moved around a lot before settling in France and trying their hand at various trades. Catering was one of them. After becoming friends, they opened Kafé Stockholm together in 2022.

Forget everything you thought you knew about Scandinavian interiors. A far cry from clean, minimalist aesthetics, their café draws inspiration from a different Swedish movement represented by artist Carl Larsson and his wife, Karin. Folk or plant wallpapers are combined with sections of warm-coloured wall and painted wooden furniture. 
The pair of friends spent a whole year searching for their ideal location: “We were looking for a huge space, with a large open kitchen to prepare everything on-site, in a city-centre neighbourhood.” They finally plumped for the slopes of Croix-Rousse hill (or ‘Les Pentes’), opposite the library, “with the dream of luring in gourmets, adventurous and curious spirits, of all ages and backgrounds.” 

The buns that came in from the cold

On the 13th of December, come and join us to celebrate Saint Lucy’s Day! It’s a very popular traditional festival in Sweden when we wake up our loved ones with buns and songs”

That dream became reality. In their cosy café, with all-day service from 8 am to 6 pm, you will find delicious, generously topped open sandwiches. They offer an authentic slice of Sweden: “on home-made rye bread, we vary the ingredients with the seasons; although some items stay on the menu all year round, like the smoked salmon, herring and shrimp open sandwiches.” These are accompanied by other iconic Nordic fare, including oatmeal porridge, granola yoghurt and those highly addictive little Swedish buns, flavoured with cardamom or cinnamon. “Kind of like our version of your French croissants and pains au chocolat.” 

Just two months after their opening, the pair were honoured to welcome the Prince of Sweden, who was on a trip to Lyon for the Bocuse d’Or competition. Two years later, this story still elicits a chuckle from the two friends, who are convinced that the royal visit brought them luck.

Bio Express

2003: Anna arrives in Lyon.
2009: Katarina arrives in Lyon.
2022: Kafé Stockholm opens