To take a break, or to fika, is an integral part of Swedish culture, and many locals escape to cafés at least once a day. The word fika was once slang for kaffi (coffee). But fika is more than a cup of joe. The ritual often involves pastries, or fikabröd, such as kanelbullar (cinnamon rolls) and mazarin (marzipan tarts). Café String serves thin pancakes topped with lingon- berries and ice cream—a classic Swedish meal, not dessert.

Café String, Nytorgsgatan 38, 46/(0) 8-714-85-14, cafestring.com

Photo by Pia K. This story appeared in the September/October 2011 issue.