A Weekend In…
Villa Dagmar, Stockholm
Head to the heart of Sweden’s capital for a sophisticated city break
Villa Dagmar’s story begins with Dagmar Bergsten, a Swedish globetrotter who spent the early 1900s immersed in Europe’s cultural scene, building a formidable art collection with her husband at the original Villa Dagmar in Båstad, southwest Sweden. Her descendants eventually opened Stockholm’s acclaimed Hotel Diplomat, with this sister property—named after the original family home—opening in 2021. Bergsten’s spirit looms large over this “beautiful and creative home for the curious traveler,” where Scandinavian design meets Mediterranean details in the heart of Sweden’s capital.
My rooms
Villa Dagmar is arranged around a central courtyard. The 70 rooms are cozy enough for the coldest Swedish winters, with marble bathrooms, organic toiletries, Lavazza coffee machines, Villeroy & Boch china, and Marshall speakers, plus wardrobes preloaded with everything you might need on a weekend away, from dental kits to plug adaptors. Monogrammed robes come as standard, while the luxurious beds from Swedish brand Elgen, and Amet linen, ensure a perfect night’s sleep. The three suites go up to 750 square feet with separate living areas, while Dagmar’s creative director Pauline recommends rooms 212 and 213 as her personal favorites. From Wednesday through Saturday, DJs or live music play in the courtyard, so specify in advance if you prefer a quieter room.
My neighborhood
Villa Dagmar sits in the heart of Östermalm, a glamorous, upscale district in the eastern part of inner-city Stockholm. Close by you’ll find national institutions from The Royal Dramatic Theatre to The Royal Library and the Army Museum, and the lush Humlegården park. On the hotel’s doorstep you’ll find chic mid-century modern stores like Nordiska Galleriet; close by, the glitzy strip of Birger Jarlsgatan offers luxury boutiques from Louis Vuitton to Bottega Veneta. Receptionist Alicia recommends her favorite local spots: Sempre, Schmaltz and Stora Bageriet for coffee, Astoria and Lucy’s Flower Shop for cocktails.
What makes me special
My expertly curated bar
Tucked away off Villa Dagmar’s main entrance is Dagges, the hotel’s wine bar. Take a seat at the counter, and explore a wine list which—in the spirit of the hotel’s original founder—is steeped in the classics, but curious for the new. Sommelier Rasmus Klintberg brings together familiar regions, but also alternative selections from the likes of Galicia, Jura and the Douro. And if you’re in the mood for cocktails, guest relations manager Philip recommends the paloma: 1800 Reposado tequila with watermelon and rhubarb, pink grapefruit soda and lime. Other guests raved about the classic martini—“super clean and with the perfect olive.”
My secret courtyard
While the exterior of the hotel presents textbook Swedish design, the courtyard provides something less expected. Protected from the elements by a vast, undulating glass roof, the space is lined with warm peach-colored walls, pots of cacti and brightly embroidered cushions in tropical prints. Perfectly balanced music plays from Finnish audiophile-favorite Genelec speakers, while the central bar is lined with dated bottles of spirits going back to the early 1970s. There’s also a pop-up concept store, Gazebo, stocked with design objects, books and accessories.
My authentic pizzas
After a hard day exploring Stockholm, Villa Dagmar’s 24-hour room-service menu comes into its own. Fired in the ovens at Dagges wine bar, and delivered to your room in takeout-style cardboard boxes, are perfect Neapolitan pizzas (created by the in-house Neapolitan chefs): with a slightly stretchy, lightly salted, freshly made dough, pulled thin and bubbled in the heat. A Mediterranean touch that Dagmar Bergsten would have approved of.
Scandinavian design meets Mediterranean details in the heart of Sweden’s capital
My spa
There’s no pool at Villa Dagmar, but guests have access to Dagmar Spirit & Retreat, the gym and spa area beneath the hotel. If you’re going to enjoy a sauna—you are in Sweden, after all—there’s two rooms (dry and steam) to alternate between, along with a bracingly cold shower and a marble-tiled recovery area. The sauna can be booked privately free of charge for a 45-minute session—ask reception for a timeslot. Other spa treatments are available, with guest relations manager Philip recommending the 90-minute multisensory Full Body Treatment: “It’s an experience.”
My food & drink
The restaurant at Villa Dagmar is the brainchild of Daniel Höglander and Niclas Jönsson, two of Sweden’s most acclaimed chefs. You’ll find modern Nordic-meets-Mediterranean touches throughout: Brunch calls for the “Hashbrown” (poached egg with crispy potato cake, tomato compote and Pata Negra ham), while at lunch the poached salmon with puy lentils, beetroot salad and dill emulsion is a favorite. There’s an on-site bakery and patisserie, while general manager Sune recommends the Lemon Villa Dagmar—lemon mousse, pickled lemon and timut pepper—for dessert. If you’re still hungry, immediately adjoining the hotel (and accessible from its courtyard) is the vast Östermalmshallen food hall.
My must-do activities
The foyer at Villa Dagmar is an unusually relaxing space, with trickling water features, oversized scent diffusers and meticulously curated monographs by artists from Philip Guston to Futura, along with the day’s newspapers to peruse. The walls also double as a regularly updated gallery space, showcasing contemporary art alongside archival photography of the original Villa Bergman. And for something even more rejuvenating, each Saturday morning at 9am four guests can enjoy a gong-healing and sound-bath class. Sessions are free, but contact reception to book.
Justin Quirk
Writer
Justin Quirk is Associate Creative Director of Editorial at Expedia Group, as well as a writer and editor who has worked for titles including The Sunday Times, The Guardian and Esquire covering music, design, and current affairs. He is also the author of Nothin’ But a Good Time, an acclaimed cultural history of 1980s heavy metal.
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