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Paradisio Stockholml: First and foremost! It’s challenging to have a drink in Stockholm. The Nordic capital is known for two things: the cold and the cold. When winter descends on the Nordic capital, bringing its night at 3 PM and polar cold in November, the locals and visitors spend most of their time at home. As cold as the climate, Swedes are social only when they are under the influence. And knowing that the state monopoly restricts the sale of alcohol to Systembolaget alone, things get complicated.
Amidst this party disaster, a few places continue to resist: Paradisio is one of them. Paradisio is located around Mariatorget. For comparison, Mariatorget is a kind of Bohemian district, much like Le Marais but less upscale. Next to Paradisio, there is a German restaurant where I’ve never set foot. But an important detail is that Paradisio orders its meals from there. This is where you can have a kebab if you’re a carnivore or some fries if you’re a vegetarian.
Paradisio resembles the set of a David Lynch film. Maybe it’s the colors or perhaps the atmosphere? But the place, divided into two parts, a bar and a basement, is always packed. The bar offers a diverse menu with excellent cocktails. Paradisio’s rum selection in the basement is extraordinary. In a country where alcohol is partially restricted, finding a bar with such a great rum selection is simply ‘astonishing.’
The staff changes every 6 months. After a period of calm, the management in place until two weeks ago tried to transform Paradisio into a ‘Tinder Date’ spot. And it’s true that even for aficionados, hanging out with three shy guys trying to negotiate a cuddle (in Stockholm, the women are beautiful, don’t ask me why) can be a bit awkward. But the staff is cool, friendly, open, and not intrusive. So it’s all good today!
The bar is more into Hip Hop, and DJs play there on the weekends. I’m not talking about inaudible reggaeton or Swedish rap (incomprehensible to us), but B.I.G, Kendrick Lamar, Wu Tang, basically everything representing the golden age of rap in general.
The only downside is the prices! Yes, it’s a somewhat fancy bar, so naturally, prices can be steep. However, compared to bars of the same caliber in Stockholm, it’s not more expensive, just comparable.
Above all, although it’s tough to judge, the bar’s atmosphere is top-notch. A bar is often defined by its clientele, and the people here are generally open, cool, and on the same wavelength. Even without a bouncer, Paradisio gets crowded.It is, therefore, perfect for pre-drinks on weekdays or on the weekend.
