It’s the Bergdorf’s of Stockholm, the Harrods of Sweden: it’s Nordiska Kompaniet (The Nordic Company), better known to locals and global fashionistas simply as NK.
If you’ve ever marveled at the sleek and stylish silhouette of the Swedish populace, then a visit to NK goes a long way toward explaining how the Swedish do it.
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Opened in 1902, NK was founded by Josef Sachs as the Scandinavian equivalent to “les grands magasins” of France and the massive emporiums of London. Sachs’ ambition was to create a theater, both cultural and commercial, that would be a reflection of Swedish aesthetics.
With more than 100 separate boutiques, the six-level Art Nouveau store is as much a public theatre as it is “The Great Department Store” – and an afternoon spent wandering its labyrinthine recesses affords an introduction to the myriad pleasures of Swedish fashion, design, and food.
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No less than fourteen restaurants and cafes are nestled within the great granite building, including a Champagne bar, a cocktail bar, a bistro, a confectionery, a bakery, a health food bar, and an elegant white-clothed dining room that first opened in 1915 to serve NK‘s discerning clientele.
For those in the know, the NK Mint, a creamy white mint enrobed in dark chocolate, has been one of Sweden’s favored host/ess gifts since the mint’s origins at NK Konfektyr more than 50 years ago.
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Apart from its numerous retail temptations, including Swedish brands such as J. Lindeberg, Filippa K, Acne, Anna Holtblad, Orrefors, and Kosta Boda, NK also offers banking services, a hair and beauty salon, concierge service, an apothecary, a newsstand, and service center.
For those clients desirous of a more intimate retail experience, there is Rosenrummet, a private lounge that offers assistance with personal style and shopping, accompanied by Champagne, strawberries, chocolates, fresh fruit – and the fabled NK Mint.
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Ever since 1939, NK‘s 22-foot circular neon sign has been revolving atop Stockholm’s old telephone tower, its red and green neon symbol serving as a beacon for the city’s fashionable denizens. As beloved as Bergdorf’s, NK offers a window into the best of Swedish life.
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