Supermercado Grand Gourmet — Specialty Store in Mariatorget, Stockholm

Supermercado Grand Gourmet is an independent Spanish grocer on Wollmar Yxkullsgatan, and the first thing you notice inside is how much is packed into a small room. The shelves run Spanish goods, the fish counter sits at the back, and the whole place has the feel of a shop run by people who know their stock.

Start with the olives. They are the item to seek out here, and they are the reason to come back. Beside them the fresh fish and seafood counter is the other draw, with shellfish and fish laid out alongside the Spanish tins and jars. Cheeses, meats, vegetables, nuts and snacks fill the rest of the shelves, and the vegetables are fine enough to build a meal around.

The shop works as a browse-and-pick place rather than a full weekly shop. You move between the fish counter and the Spanish shelves, and there are to-go products if you want something to eat without cooking. Music plays, and the room stays cozy even when it fills up.

Prices are the quiet surprise. This is one of the most affordable grocery shops in its class in Stockholm, and the selection does not suffer for it. A basket of olives, cheese and a piece of fish costs less than you would expect from a shop with this range.

It suits anyone staying in or passing through Mariatorget who wants Spanish ingredients and fresh fish without a trek to a big hall. Come on a weekday rather than a Sunday, when the shop is closed.