A new kind of candy and coffee shop in Dutchess County hopes to brighten your day the Scandinavian way.
Inspired by Nordic traditions and culture, Fika & Hygge is a pastel paradise with confection-lined walls, strong brews, and a modern, welcoming European vibe. The shop, situated on the ground floor of a residential building in Poughkeepsie, is the creation of Deb Lifshey, a Hudson Valley native who fell in love with Scandinavian life while studying at Stockholm University in Sweden.
From the country’s unprocessed food to the rich coffee brewed to perfection, Lifshey loved it all but was most impressed by how Europeans took the time to slow down and enjoy the small moments, a concept best described by the Swedish tradition of fika (pronounced fee-kuh). “When I returned to the states, I longed for the Nordic traditions, food, candy, and coffee I left behind. And, of course, the fika,” she says. More than just a word, fika is about sitting down to enjoy a java break with a sweet treat while connecting with friends and family.
In conceiving her shop, Lifshey was also driven by the concept of lördagsgodis, which translates to “Saturday’s candies.” Another Swedish tradition, it involves taking children to pick-and-mix candy aisles for their favorite sweets once a week. Fika & Hygge stocks approximately 155 different varieties of Nordic candies—gummies, marshmallows, chocolate, licorice, fudge—from companies based in Sweden, Finland, Iceland, Denmark, and Norway.
More than just a word, fika is about sitting down to enjoy a java break with a treat while connecting with others.
The shop’s enchanting design accounts for the hygge (pronounced hoo-gah) half of the operation. A Danish word that describes a warm, cozy feeling of contentedness and comfort, hygge encourages visitors to unplug and embrace each other and the inviting ambience. “A retired Swedish couple living in Millbrook came in, looked around, took in the smells, and came over to me with a hug and told me they felt like they were back home,” says Lifshey.
General Manager Daryon Welch, a Louisiana native and experienced barista, is the mastermind behind Fika & Hygge’s house-brewed coffee drinks. Specialty sips include everything from espresso-based beverages to classic drip coffee, with unique flavors like white chocolate and lavender, maple syrup and toasted marshmallow, and vanilla and almond.
Candy, coffee, or both, Lifshey’s overarching goal with the shop is to share a piece of her beloved Scandinavia with others and hopes Fika & Hygge brings the Hudson Valley an experience it didn’t know it couldn’t live without.
21 Raymond Ave, Poughkeepsie
Related: These Candy Shops in the Hudson Valley Have Sweet Treats
