WINE BAR • SANDWICH BAR
WEDNESDAY-THURSDAY 3-9 PM, FRIDAY-SATURDAY 11-9 PM, SUNDAY 11-7 PM
Book a table: ciao@ilmerlo.se
YOU CAN FIND US AT
WOLLMAR YXKULLSGATAN 10.
STAZIONE DELLA METRO: MARIATORGET
About Il Merlo
On a side street by Mariatorget in Stockholm, you’ll find Il Merlo – a small Sicilian wine bar and sandwich bar with a deep affection for all kinds of cultural expression.
We select our Italian wines with great care, with a special love for Sicily, and serve them alongside grilled Italian sandwiches made with the highest-quality ingredients, pizzette, or other items from our menu.
Il Merlo is more than food and drink – it’s a feeling. Our guiding words are familiar, inclusive, warm, and homely. You don’t come here primarily as a customer, but as a guest. Inside, you’ll be met by inspiration from Sicilian culture and the golden age of Italian cinema – from the classics of the 1950s to the masterpieces of the 1990s. We are deeply tired of today’s egocentric social climate and want to be a meeting place for culture, conversation, and love.
Every week something new happens at Il Merlo. Quiz nights (every Thursday), jazz evenings, after-works, pop-ups, releases, and more. Check out our calendar here! Get in touch at ciao@ilmerlo.se if you’d like to arrange something or host a birthday party or similar with us.
• Book a table by emailing ciao@ilmerlo.se!
Il Merlo opened in September 2024, founded by Andreas Bjunér and Elin Ungman. Today, the place is run by Andreas together with the staff – with the same dream as from the beginning: to create a meeting place that feels more like a living room than a bar.
The Merlo family today consists of Andreas, Kiri, Ami, Mo, Mario, Fanny, Douglas, and the dog Sasha.
Benvenuti a Il Merlo.
IL MERLO IN MEDIA
"Grilled sandwiches, excellent vegetarian options, a clear aversion to stress, and a love for togetherness and Italian cinema. What's not to like?"
HUGO REHNBERG, SVENSKA DAGBLADET, OCTOBER 2024
SVD – WEEKEND SUPPLEMENT
Weekend Guide: Art Finds and Italian Sandwiches
EXPRESSEN/ALLT OM RESOR:
Stockholm's 9 Hottest Spots You Don’t Want to Miss
DAGENS NYHETER:
3 x Restaurant News
DAGENS PS:
Stockholm's Hottest Newcomers
What does Il Merlo mean?
Il Merlo means "the blackbird" in Italian, and to explain the choice of name, we’d like to share a bit of Italian history:
In Italy, there is a tradition called I Giorni della Merla, translated as "the blackbird's days." According to legend, Giorni della Merla originated from the struggle of three blackbirds – Merla, Corina, and Cóla – against the cruelty of winter.
To seek shelter from the biting cold, they pleaded to Saint Peter for mercy, and he granted them three days of milder weather. These three days, from January 29th to 31st, became known as I Giorni della Merla, symbolizing hope in the harshness of winter. During I Giorni della Merla, people gather to eat and socialize.
Some regions organize festive events with music, storytelling, and culinary delights, creating a sense of togetherness and warmth amidst the winter chill.
Our place, Il Merlo, embraces this tradition year-round and is a space where Stockholmers can seek refuge from the often-biting cold in our city. Family-oriented, inclusive, warm, and cozy are our guiding principles.
We simply believe that we in the north have a greater need for I Giorni della Merla than the Italians themselves do.
With us, you should be able to sit down and stay as long as you wish, and all forms of stress are banned here. Basta.
Questions and Answers
Are there plant-based and gluten-free options?
Yes, all our sandwiches can be made plant-based. And yes, we also have gluten-free focaccia bread.
Where does the bread come from?
Our bread is baked by Barbara Caracciola from Spigamadre.
What coffee beans do you use?
We use beans from the Tuscan family roastery Mokaflor. At the moment, we’re serving their Golden blend – made up of 80% Arabica and 20% Robusta.
Are dogs welcome?
Yes, dogs are warmly welcome! Our own bar pup Sasha is often here with us.
How do you work with sustainability?
Sustainability is an important issue for us, which is why we have a plant-based standard. Most of what we serve and sell is vegetarian (lacto-ovo) or plant-based. In the name of sustainability, we have also invested in second-hand furnishings and have largely chosen producers for our grocery section who have a strong focus on sustainability.
Is it possible to reserve a table?
Yes, just drop by and book, or send an email to ciao@ilmerlo.se. Please include the date, time, and number of people.
Is there anything else you would like to share?
Yes, we hope that Il Merlo will become a meeting place for culture and cultural creators. We see that, in the future, we will be able to host releases, openings, and movie nights with us.