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Hallongrottan
Adding weight to Hornstull's counter-culture rep, this queer-centric bookshop boasts an eclectic mix of gay and feminist titles, queer-friendly kids books, trashy zombie flicks and free hallongrottan (raspberry tartlets). In-store cultural gigs range from screenings of Pink Flamingos to readings by scribes like Sarah Waters and Dennis Cooper - check the website for details.
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Handtryckta Tapeter
With a fan base including royalty, museums and retro-loving stylistas, this artisan wallpaper studio reproduces rare and vintage Swedish and foreign wallpapers using authentic handmade methods. The owner and her colleague run tours of the space, and it's always best to call ahead.
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J Lindeberg
Like neighbouring Filippa K, J Lindeberg is a Swedish fashion staple and a long-time hit with PR and media types. Expect classic chic with irreverent twists. The store also stocks the street-wise JL Future Sports and JL Golf lines.
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Judits Second Hand
Style meister and boutique owner Christian Quaglia scours the markets of Italy to bring back the goods - 1960s and 1970s haute hip. Up the street, his latest venture Judits Herr (Hornsgatan 65) keeps the guys looking dapper in classic Italian loafers, vintage brimmed hats and sexy Acne denim.
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Junibacken
The bookshop at Astrid Lindgren's theme park is a treasure trove of must-have children's books, from Pippi Longstocking in Arabic to The Brothers Lionheart in English. Pick up cheeky Karlsson dolls, DVDs and cute little art cards with storybook themes.
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Jus
This grit-chic basement boutique stocks exquisite threads and a select choice of shoes and accessories for fashion-literate women and men. Expect Swedish labels like Rodeber and Pour, as well as There Goes The Neighborhood by Åsa Westlund, famous for her hand-painted clogs.
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Kalikå
This wholesome toy shop sells adorable handmade soft toys, dolls and felt puppets made by the mothers of Russian children with disabilities. The programme, entitled 'Fair Play', was set up to financially support women and prevent their children from ending up in Russian orphanages. You can also buy toy-making kits, cute kids' clothes and giant wooden pencils to infantilise your office.
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Katitzi
Swoop up 'far out' polka-dot sweaters, silvery kimono tops or Marimekko moon boots at this kooky vintage shop for girls and guys. Run by two young sisters who hand-paint the shopping bags, the shop's focus is on vintage glam and hard-to-find newbies from cult labels like So Last Season, Jönt and Nina Jarebrink.
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Konst-Ig
Designed by Mats Theselius and artist Anreas Roth, this is Stockholm's coolest shop for books on design, fashion, art, architecture and photography. Pick up art and design magazines or a Moleskine notebook if you're feeling inspired.
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Konsthantverkana
Rumour has it that the Swedish royals shop here and, quite frankly, we don't blame them. Run by a union of 166 Swedish designers and artists, this revamped gallery-cum-shop is the stuff Wallpaper -magazine dreams are made of - think sublime silver rings, loft-worthy ceramics, too-cool crockery, and seductive textiles.
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La Ninja
Off-the-wall indie design from Sweden and beyond, including comic-print wallets, pop-art clogs, super-kitsch Anne Taintor tote bags and fairy-tale tank tops from Singapore's Lynda Lye. The retro-print bedsheets from Farg Form are a huge hit with nostalgic generation-X Swedes. The owner's mum can snip your hair nextdoor.
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Lisa Larssons
This microscopic shop is jam-packed with a super-fine collection of vintage clothes and accessories. It's a '50s to '70s thing, with everything from rock-around-the-clock frocks and skirts to disco chic and sexy leather jackets.
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Marimekko
Marimekko is to Finland what 10 Swedish Designers is to Sverige - its fresh retro patterns are the stuff of legend. And like its Swedish equivalent, the Finnish textile legend has plastered almost everything with its iconic prints, from towels, cups and coasters to notebooks, bags, napkins and clothes.
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Moderna Museet
Culturally inclined shoppers won't know where to begin (or end) at this fabulous gallery shop. There's enough art and design books to make a coffee table swoon, and the collection of posters, postcards, art kits and cool designer knick-knacks will have you spring cleaning your wallet in style.
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Modernity
A bit like a museum where you can take home the booty, world-famous Modernity stocks cult furniture from 20th-century Scandinavian greats like Alvar Aalto, Josef Frank, Arne Jacobsen and Bruno Mathsson, as well as iconic glassware, lighting and jewellery. Best of all, Scottish owner Andrew Duncanson doesn't mind a natter about his stock - sale or not.
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MTWTFSS Weekday
Urban hipsters pack out this easily missed joint on their quest for street-smart, rock-star threads from the likes of MTWTFSS Weekday, Burfitt, Lois, April 77 and Swedish legend Cheap Monday, whose well-priced denim first hit the market at this very spot. Look out for flyers announcing upcoming raves and indie gigs.
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Neu
Even Östermalm snobs stride here for hard-to-find threads from Swedish talent like House of Dagmar and Patrik Söderstam, the latter counting Madonna among his fans. International labels include Preen, Viktor & Rolf and Veronique Branquinho.
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New York Stories
Craving a bite of the Big Apple? This tiny bookshop boasts a number of New York titles (there's even miniature yellow cabs for sale) as well as a capably chosen general collection, including new fiction by Vasastaden authors like Mikael Fuchs. Owner Margaret Patane is a real New Yorker and hosts regular literary soirees in her apartment nextdoor.
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Nitty Gritty
Head here for international catwalk threads, shoes and accessories from icons like Miu Miu, Prada, Fred Perry and Dupe, as well as Håkansson cosmetics, French champagne, cult DVDs and offbeat toys like President Nixon action dolls. It has an in-store hair salon and a café (the Bloody Mary soup is bloody brilliant), and there's a cheaper outlet next door.
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NK
A Scandinavian Selfridges of sorts, this sleek retail palace boasts over 110 departments, amazing pastries in the basement food hall and a decent selection of English-language books. It's also infamous as the place where foreign minister Anna Lindh was murdered in 2003.
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Nordiska Galleriet
This sprawling showroom is a design freak's El Dorado - think Hannes Wettstein chairs, Hella Jongerius sofas, Alvar Aalto's vases and mini-sized Verner Panton chairs for style-sensitive kids. Luggage-friendly options include designer coat-hangers, erudite architecture books and bright Marimekko paper napkins for über-stylish wiping.
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Nostalgipalatset
Need Diamanda Galas for a kinky cocktail session or a pinball machine for your Shoreditch loft? Chances are you'll find it at this must-see treasure trove, stacked high and wide with everything from rare vintage vinyl to 1950s Mexican film posters and retro toys in their original packaging.
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Peak Performance
Snow bunnies of both sexes head here for svelte and stylish tough-weather threads and accessories. Established in the ski town of Åre, this is the place to pick up that high-tech snow jacket or sexy sweater for evening snaps at the chalet.
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Pet Sounds Records
No cute puppies here, just kick-ass music. Please your ears with everything from indie and alt-rock to pop, techno, rock and kitsch Latin pop. Pick up cult art books, concert tickets and flyers, or simply pick the staff's brains over espresso at the tiny in-house bar. For late-night tunes, hit sister venue Pet Sounds Bar across the street.
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Platina
Part gallery, part shop, forward-thinking Platina keeps things fresh with cutting-edge jewellery design from Sweden and beyond. Expect anything from Alice in Wonderland necklaces to poptastic hankies that 'drip' from your suit pocket lip.
