Hemköp Matglädjen — Supermarket in Östermalm, Stockholm

This is one branch of Hemköp, tucked into Östermalm on Jungfrugatan, and it runs on a simple idea: buy stock cheaply, pass it on, and keep the shelves interesting. What you notice first is how much is packed into a small floor, with goods stacked for different occasions and a discount fridge that changes what is on offer from week to week.

Start with the meat. It is the reason to come, sold at a good price for the quality, and salmon turns up alongside it at a price worth checking. Beyond that, the owner's deals bring in cheap items you will not see elsewhere, from sausage packages to yogurt, and the shelves shift as those deals come and go.

There are small touches that make the place feel like a local shop rather than a chain branch: free popcorn outside, hot dogs and ice cream sometimes, popcorn for kids on Fridays. The staff are personal and helpful, and the store is kept clean and organised despite its size.

The trade-off is the pricing. The discounts are real, but regular prices on everyday food run high. Space is tight, and it gets crowded when everyone else has the same idea.

Come for the marked-down goods rather than a full weekly shop, and time your visit away from the busiest hours. It is a shop for picking up a few good things at prices that appeal, not for filling a trolley at everyday rates.