When Helga Södermark opened her bakery on Östermalm in 1920, she insisted on never cutting corners, baking with real ingredients instead of the ersatz products that came with wartime production. That ethos is still in place at this popular pastry shop, widely considered to be Stockholm's finest, and somewhat of a nursery for up-and-coming Swedish pastry chefs. The design is a little dated, although it's reassuring that chefs and management have their focus on the work instead of keeping up with the latest trends. You wouldn't have dinner here, even though a slice of sandwich cake will certainly fill you up. If you're around for Mardi Gras, this is where you should get your semla, the classic Northern European sweet roll. Original ceramics are by Swedish artist Lisbet Jobs (no relation to Steve).