How Stockholm10 chooses the city's best businesses
From Gamla stan to Vällingby: the five steps Stockholm10 editors follow to choose, check and update the businesses in every Stockholm ranking we publish.
Stockholmers tend to be understated about their favourite places, which makes a good recommendation all the more valuable. Stockholm10 rankings set out to provide exactly that, for everything from konditorier and lunch restaurants to physiotherapists and plumbers. Every list goes through the five stages below, and through them again each time it is updated.
Surveying every island and suburb
We start with all the businesses offering a service across the city, from Gamla stan and Norrmalm to Söderort and Västerort. A bakery in Midsommarkransen or a dentist in Vällingby is considered as seriously as a famous address on Strandvägen, because many of Stockholm's best places sit well beyond the inner city.
Consistency over novelty
Stockholm loves something new, and openings come thick and fast. We give more weight to businesses that have held on to their customers for years than to those enjoying a moment in the spotlight. A café still full of regulars after many winters has proved something that no launch party can.
Details that hold up
Nothing goes live until we have established that the business is active, that the street address and telephone number are correct, and that it really serves Stockholmers rather than simply carrying the city's name. Closed and duplicate entries are removed instead of being left to confuse anyone who is relying on the guide.
The final selection
Every ranking sets businesses against others in the same field, so a sushi bar is never weighed against a husmanskost lunch restaurant. Only the businesses that rise above their peers are kept, which means some lists are brief by design. We think a short list you can trust is better than a long one you cannot.
Updates through the light and dark months
Each list returns to our desks on a regular cycle through the year. Businesses that close, move or decline are taken off, new names that have earned a following are considered, and opening hours, which often change with the seasons here, are refreshed for summer and for winter.
Spotted an error?
Tell us at info@stockholm10.com. We check every correction and suggestion before changing the guide, and a tip about a place we have overlooked is always welcome. Business owners can update their own listing through the section for businesses.