Thanks to the valiant efforts of Jonny Johanssen, Johan Lindeberg and many many more, Stockholm has become the destination of choice for cool hunters in recent years. Although run close by its Danish neighbour, Copenhagen, the city’s icy sense of style combined with gorgeous baroque architecture and the chance to tuck into some of the finest food in Scandinavia have all helped make it a favourite with stylish weekenders. But the best part is without doubt the shopping, particularly as Scandinavian designer brands cost around 30 per cent less at home. That, as any stylista worth her salt will tell you, makes the cost of the flight worth it on its own: Swedish fashion pulls of that rare trick of being both on trend and timeless, which means you’ll be wearing your Scandi investment buys for years to come. Yes, the drinks might be eye-wateringly pricey but the fashion is both chic and affordable.

Fashion Stockholm style starts with Kungsträdgården in the heart of the city. Wherever you look, you’ll see girls sporting Stockholm’s signature architectural noir, while checking out the Royal Palace and pretty historic district, Gamla Stan – a short walk even in skyscraper heels. Also worth the totter is nearby Östermalm, where you’ll find all the local heavy hitters plus Mulberry, Prada and more. Around the corner on Biblioteksgatan, the Stockholm equivalent of Oxford Street, you can splash the cash on all the major high street names plus local mid-market brands. It’s a must for Filippa K, Tiger of Sweden, Urban Outfitters, Hope, Marc by Marc Jacobs, and ACNE to name just a few.

If that’s all too high street, head south to trendy Södermalm (better known as Söder or SoFo), an edgier district where former industrial buildings now house up-and-coming design studios, chi-chi cafes and some of Stockholm’s liveliest bars. The metro system is easy to use and will get you from the centre to Söder in about ten minutes. Here you can find shops like Tjallamalla, A Place and The Old Firm, which stock a range of eyewateringly cool labels. You’ll also find less well- known brands by up and coming designers such as Monica Förster, and you can pick up some bargains at the Filippa K secondhand store. Söder is also home to some of Stockholm’s quirkier boutiques such as Grandpa and PetSound Reords. Between shops, take in the view from one of the many cafés that spill out from the Medborgarplatsen Square.

Swedes drink more coffee than any other nation (who knew?!), so there are plenty of coffee houses where you can sit and watch the world go by. Try the charmingly old fashioned Sturekatten in Östermalm for a tranquil retreat from the crowds or the retro Café String in Söder. Trendy SoFo types head to Urban Deli for fresh treats, including the not especially fashionista-friendly national delicacy: carb-heavy cinnamon buns.

For fine dining served up with plenty of style, you can find classic Swedish cuisine at the hugely popular Pelikan in Söder or the famous Den Gyldene Freden in Gamla Stan. The beautiful covered food market, Östermalms Saluhall, is home to an excellent champagne bar and small bistro - perfect for recharging close to the shops. Fashion fans will enjoy the nearby Grill’s slightly mad décor as much as the food, while foodies in search of cutting edge cuisine need look no further than Mathias Dahlgren’s double Michelin-starred restaurant. For a more quirky dining experience, head to the popular Thai restaurant Koh Phanagan for its madcap approach to design - think tuk-tuks, beach huts and mad fluorescent lighting – and authentic Pad Thai. Further afield, Restaurang Landet gets regular rave reviews for its great value food and decent vegetarian options in a quirky former-Post Office setting.

Stay in upmarket Östermalm for post-prandial pleasure, where you’ll find the seriously chi-chi Hotellet, Solidarity and Spy Bar. In all three bars, the dress code is strict and the entrance fee steep – dress to impress and bring plenty of kroner. The highly popular Berns bar, restaurant and club has just opened a new restaurant called Nosh & Chow to much critical acclaim. The Stureplan area has lots of popular bars and clubs including Riche, Sturehof and the newly opened Taverna Brillo.

For a more relaxed - but still cool - place to drink, head south to Söder’s Medborgarplatsen where you’ll quickly find yourself surrounded by hipsters sipping on cocktails or prosecco in Söder’s many bars and clubs. Akkurat has arguably the best selection of drinks in Stockholm, particularly whiskies and rare beers. Snaps is probably one of Söder’s most popular bars, along with Kvarnen Beer Hall, with drinking and dancing going on late into the night. A word of warning: before you set out check the websites for all bars and clubs in Stockholm: many have minimum entrance ages of between 23 and 25. And finally, it’s worth remembering that in March, Stockholm’s average temperature is well below freezing, so don’t forget your coat. Or better still, forget it and get a new one. In Stockholm, you won’t be short of choice.

Flights to Stockholm start at £110 return with British Airways from Heathrow. For more information and to book, see ba.com. Running in Heels stayed at Nobis, where doubles start at £185 per night: see nobishotel.se to book. For more about Stockholm, go to visitstockholm.com