A.B. Café

Telefonplan is the kind of neighborhood that unless you have a reason to be here, it feels like you are in the middle of nowhere. It has traditionally been a calm area, with many modernist buildings, a quiet utopia. A place where workers and their families could call home. Of course this is Sweden, and the workers (as in working class) have either disappeared, or have become office workers, or they moved to Finland, I don't know. What is clear though, is that there are many younger families moving in. Creatives, architects, designers. Maybe it's because Konstfack school of art is here, or the famous digital technology and communication school Hyper Island, or the modernist houses, or the prices.

Just a few days ago, A.B. Café opened its door in the middle of Telefonplan. I've been waiting the whole week to go check it out.

And so I managed to stop by this morning, for early brunch, or late breakfast. What a pleasure. The granola with fresh strawberries (unseen in Stockholm, really), the croissant, the sandwich, the coffee. Just perfect. On top of that, friendly staff, good looking modernist interiors and you have a winning combo. I truly wish them the best. They deserve it. The neighborhood deserves it.

The calm modernist utopia just got a little better.

Café Hitom

There's a lot of talk about regeneration and gentrification in most cities these days. The positives and negatives of it. From better businesses and housing to affordability issues. Regardless where one stands gentrification is a fact. Progress. More. New. Old.

I believe better neighbourhoods benefit society in general, but affordability is a really important issue that should be addressed. Stockholm, notoriously expensive is no exception. The area between Telefonplan and Midsommarkransen is being developed. A lot. And fast. New buildings popping up like it's normal. Overall the area is looking better, like a proper neighbourhood rather than a semi industrial wasteland it once was. Amidst all these new buildings I came across a Café Hitom, a little gem of a place. Located in a beautifully sturdy brick building, this cafe is ran by Stockholm City as a project for education and development of mentally disabled people, where they learn a trade, interact with customers and bake and cook all the amazing food there. I love this cafe. It represents a more humane way of development.

Regeneration is a fact. Great projects like these are a choice.