MACKERIA • LANTHANDEL
OPENING HOURS:
Wednesday-Sunday 11 AM - 4:00 PM
YOU CAN FIND US AT
WOLLMAR YXKULLSGATAN 10.
STAZIONE DELLA METRO: MARIATORGET
About Il Merlo
We, Andreas Bjunér and Elin Ungman, run Il Merlo. Together with our constant companion, our dog Sascha, we’ve created a place with the guiding principles of family, inclusivity, warmth, and a homely atmosphere. Our goal is for everyone who visits Il Merlo to feel like a guest in our home, rather than just a customer.
At Il Merlo, the focus is on grilled sandwiches with Italian flavors (we change the menu every week and focus on a few options each time). But equally important is the atmosphere, where we’ve drawn inspiration from Italian culture (with film at the center) during the era of the 1950s to the 1990s. Inside the sandwich shop, you’ll also find a small Italian grocery section with pantry items. Everything from coffee to olive oils and pasta, carefully selected by us at 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, often enjoying the popular Panino della Merla, which we’ve created our own interpretation of.
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 options?
Yes, all our sandwiches can be made plant-based.
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 Neapolitan family roastery Passalaqua. Currently, we are using their Cremador blend. The beans consist of 70% Arabica and 30% Robusta.
Are there gluten- and lactose-free options?
We have lactose-free milk. We are looking for a good gluten-free bread but have not found the right one yet.
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.
Are dogs welcome?
Yes, dogs are warmly welcomed!
Is it possible to reserve a table?
Yes, but you need to come in to make a reservation. For now, we are not taking online or phone reservations.
Do you have a license to serve alcohol?
No, not yet, but we hope to obtain it in the near future. Until then, we serve light beer (from Peroni) and non-alcoholic beer (from Birra Moretti).
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.