Month: August 2026

Komet Café: A Chic Café and Bakery in Stockholm

Komet Café has two locations in Stockholm, with one in Kungsholmsgatan and another in Södermalm. I visited the Kungsholmsgatan location, which is just a short walk from T-Centralen subway station.

The café has a minimalist black-and-white interior that feels chic, with a relaxed city vibe. The space is bright, clean, and surprisingly spacious, making it a comfortable place to enjoy breakfast or a slow coffee break.

Komet Café brings together the best of French and Swedish café culture, offering French favorites like croissants and pain au chocolat alongside Swedish classics such as cinnamon buns and seasonal semlor, as well as specialty coffee made with beans from local Swedish roasters.

The moment I walked in, I was drawn to the beautiful display of freshly baked pastries, sandwiches, and breads. Everything looked thoughtfully prepared and incredibly tempting.

I ordered a flat white with oat milk, which was excellent—smooth, well-rounded, and with a bold coffee flavor. For food, I tried their rustic bread with Comté cheese, pear, and honey, a simple but delicious combination of savory, creamy, and sweet flavors. The cardamom bun was another highlight—soft, chewy, sticky, and perfectly sweet with a wonderful aroma of cardamom.

I also tried their homemade focaccia with cacio e pepe and artichoke, which was flavorful and satisfying, showcasing the café’s attention to quality ingredients.

Komet Café quickly became one of my favorite café and bakery finds in Stockholm. With its stylish atmosphere, excellent coffee, and beautifully crafted pastries and dishes, it is definitely worth a visit.

Komet Café Stockholm

Kungsholmsgatan 10, 112 27 Stockholm, Sweden

A Waterfront Gelato Gem in Kungsholmen, Stockholm

Gelato & Chill Kungsholmen is a wonderful little gelato shop tucked away in a quiet neighborhood of Kungsholmen, overlooking the waterfront. With only a few outdoor seats, it has a cozy and relaxed atmosphere that makes it a lovely spot to enjoy a sweet treat while taking in the views.

The young staff were friendly and welcoming, and the shop offers a good selection of both classic and more fun flavors, including Lemon Basil and Chilli Mango. We tried the Blueberry Yogurt, Pistachio, and Coconut Vanilla, and every flavor was fantastic. The gelato was rich, creamy, smooth, and full of flavor—easily one of the best gelatos I’ve had outside of Italy.

The shop also sells freshly baked cookies, which are definitely worth trying. I first bought the Walnut Pecan cookie and loved it so much that I went back to try the other flavors—the Chocolate Chip and Triple Chocolate. All three were soft, chewy, and perfectly balanced in sweetness.

I highly recommend stopping by this gem in Kungsholmen. It is worth making the trip for, especially if you’re looking for excellent gelato in a peaceful waterfront setting.

Gelato & Chill Kungsholmen

Kungsholms strand 167, 112 48 Stockholm, Sweden

 

Breakfast in the Harry Potter-Inspired Great Hall at Christ Church, Oxford

Anyone who has watched the Harry Potter films will immediately recognize the Great Hall at Christ Church, Oxford, which famously served as the inspiration for Hogwarts’ iconic dining hall.

Only guests staying at Christ Church’s B&B accommodation have the opportunity to enjoy breakfast in the Great Hall, making it one of the most unique ways to experience this historic space.

Originally built in the 1520s as part of the college founded by Henry VIII, the hall is steeped in history. Before entering, you’ll climb the elegant stone staircase with its beautiful fan-vaulted ceiling. Walking through the doorway into the Great Hall is breathtaking. The magnificent hammerbeam roof, towering stained-glass windows, and walls lined with portraits of notable members of the university make it feel as though you’ve stepped back several centuries.

Breakfast itself was a classic English buffet with cereals, fresh fruit, toast and croissants, coffee and tea, along with hot items including baked beans, sausages, ham, eggs, hash browns, mushrooms, and porridge. The food itself was decent, but that hardly mattered.

The real highlight was the setting. Sitting in one of Oxford’s most historic dining halls, surrounded by centuries of history and the atmosphere that inspired Hogwarts, transformed an ordinary breakfast into something truly memorable. It wasn’t so much about the food—it was about the experience. For any Harry Potter fan or history lover, it felt nothing short of magical.

The Great Dining Hall

Oxford OX1 1DP, United Kingdom

A Quintessential English Afternoon Tea at The Old Parsonage Hotel

I visited The Old Parsonage Hotel for afternoon tea, a renowned Oxford institution whose history dates back to 1660. Located just a 10–15 minute walk from Oxford city centre, the hotel is tucked away on Banbury Road, offering a quieter setting away from the bustling streets.

The building itself is beautiful, with a well-preserved façade and its original 17th-century heavy oak front door still welcoming guests today. Stepping inside feels like entering a classic English country house. The interior is tastefully decorated with artwork, plush velvet armchairs, dark accent walls, and elegant wooden furnishings, creating a cosy, intimate atmosphere that feels quintessentially English.

I had originally hoped to sit on the terrace, but it was an exceptionally warm summer day, so we chose a table indoors instead.

Afternoon tea is served daily from 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm. A gluten-free option is available with advance notice. We ordered the Very High Tea, priced at £38 per person, including one gluten-free set. It came with a selection of finger sandwiches, homemade miniature cakes, plain and fruit scones served with clotted cream and preserves, and a choice of tea or coffee.

The bottom tier featured an assortment of finger sandwiches: cucumber with cream cheese, chicken and tarragon, smoked salmon, honey-baked ham with mustard, and egg mayonnaise with cress.

The middle tier consisted of freshly baked plain and fruit scones served with strawberry jam and rich clotted cream.

The gluten-free top tier included carrot cake, fruit cake, brownie, and orange posset, while the regular version featured a coffee choux bun, lemon drizzle cake, salted caramel brownie, vanilla cheesecake, and orange posset.

The finger sandwiches were enjoyable, although none particularly stood out. The scones were light, flaky, and buttery. The miniature cakes were the highlight. Each was thoughtfully prepared, with a good variety of flavours and textures. The orange posset was wonderfully smooth and refreshing, while the brownie was rich without being overly sweet. My favourite was the fruit cake—it was wonderfully moist and delightfully chewy, packed with dried fruits that gave it plenty of flavour and texture without being overly sweet.

Overall, I enjoyed the experience. While the food was very good, what made the afternoon truly memorable was the setting.

Old Parsonage Hotel


1-3 Banbury Rd, Oxford OX2 6NN, United Kingdom

Taking a Tea Break at Bath’s Historic Bath Bun Tea Shop

Nestled in the picturesque Abbey Green, The Bath Bun Tea Shop is a charming spot to pause while exploring the historic city of Bath. The menu includes a good selection of teas, coffees, cakes, and desserts, alongside a full breakfast and lunch menu. When we visited, a street performer was entertaining the crowd in the square, creating a peaceful atmosphere with a free live performance. Although there was a queue when we arrived, it moved quickly and we were soon seated in the outdoor area. The staff were also warm and attentive, greeting everyone with a smile and providing excellent service.

We were meeting a few local friends, and they recommended this café as a must-visit. It was a hot summer’s day, so sitting beneath the shade of the trees was a welcome respite from the heat.

The café is best known as the home of the original Bath Bun, a local specialty whose origins date back to 1761. The Bath Bun is a lightly sweetened bun topped with sugar cubes and currants, and it has remained a Bath tradition ever since.

Our friends joked that trying a Bath Bun was a bit of a touristy thing to do, but since it was our first visit to Bath, we felt it was only right to try the city’s most famous pastry. We ordered one served with chocolate ice cream and another with clotted cream and jam. The bun itself tasted like a soft, lightly sweetened bread—pleasant, but not dramatically different from other sweet buns I’ve had. However, it paired beautifully with the café’s selection of teas, and the clotted cream and jam made for a delicious accompaniment.

With its lovely location on Abbey Green, shaded outdoor seating, and relaxed atmosphere, it’s an ideal place to escape the crowds, enjoy a leisurely cup of tea, and take a break before continuing to explore Bath.

The Bath Bun

2A Abbey Grn, Bath BA1 1NW, United Kingdom