Alice & Kattens Tesalong

It was a tranquil afternoon, still early September, and summer had yet to bid its farewell. The sun, bright and piercing, illuminated the town around three or four in the afternoon. With limited knowledge of this quaint town, I took advantage of the lingering daylight, wandering outside with my camera in hand. No internet connection, no offline maps – just aimlessly exploring.

That’s how I stumbled upon an inconspicuous building – three stories high with reddish-brown bricks. The windows on the wall were small, and as I leaned in to block the sun’s glare, I saw the silhouettes of a few small cats. They were beautiful, delicate, resembling real kittens. Regretting not having downloaded offline maps, I traced the red wall and finally found the entrance to this mysterious little shop. The arched door was slightly ajar, and the interior was as dark as a haunted house. Yet, I was inexplicably certain that this was the place I was looking for.

Pushing open the door, I saw it – a delicate sign that read “Alice & Kattens Tesalong.” Despite being a newcomer and not yet mastering even a simple “thank you” in Swedish, I boldly entered the small shop with a menu entirely in Swedish. Once inside, I understood why it was named after Alice and cats. Calling this place “Alice’s Wonderland” with a surplus of cats wouldn’t be an exaggeration.

The corridor inside was not wide, and the somewhat crowded space made me acutely aware that I was surrounded by various peculiar decorations. Teapots of various shapes, ceramic cat sculptures, Alice’s rabbit companions – they adorned every visible corner of the shop. I patiently waited for the staff to seat me, my eyes still searching for new small decorations.

I was led to a two-person seat by the window. On the windowsill, there were teapots shaped like little mushrooms and houses, and the side lamp was colorful and vibrant – I could only imagine how beautiful it would be when lit up! The floral-patterned teacups on the table also captured my attention. I simply couldn’t resist cute things, and I left snapshots of each one of them.

Luckily, they had an English menu, making the ordering process smoother. I chose the cake of the day and a pot of milk oolong tea. Soon, a teapot matching the teacups was placed in front of me, accompanied by the honey I specifically requested. I savored the cake in small bites, observing people around me gathering at tables for afternoon tea. Despite being alone, I gradually felt integrated into their world. We may not share a common language, but we were all temporary visitors in this “enchanted cottage,” quietly enjoying afternoon tea with the company of cats and adorable teacups.