Published 19th Mar. 2023
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Here in the UK, our overriding impression of Swedish food largely consists of IKEA’s meatballs and perhaps the occasional smorgasbord. While there’s no denying the joy that these post-furniture shopping snacks can bring, Sweden itself has long been a foodie haven and home to an innovative and creative culinary scene. Stockholm – it’s trendy capital – is the country’s main gastronomic hub, yet if you venture out to more remote Swedish regions, you’ll find a wealth of al fresco eateries, intriguing specialties and second-to-none seafood. So, when energy levels begin to dip and tummies start to rumble, here are the best restaurants in Sweden for fuelling your Scandinavian adventures.
Stockholm
Sweden is home to a galaxy of Michelin-starred restaurants. In fact, you could spend your whole trip joining the dots of each constellation by dining out on award-winning cuisine. Yet, if you’d like to savour the experience and splash out on just one for a special occasion, we recommend Ekstedt in central Stockholm. A purveyor of New Nordic Cuisine, this stylish Scandi spot cooks everything in a wood-fired oven and fire pit, forsaking gas, electricity and microwaves in favour of the open flame. This means dishes are imbued with a delicious smoky flavour and the menu is constantly changing to match the seasons. Some example offerings include birch-fired wild duck and hay-flamed mushrooms.
Stockholm
We couldn’t compile a list of the best restaurants in Sweden without including some Swedish meatballs. For Swedes, this comforting food staple – usually drenched in thick gravy – forms part of both traditional holiday meals and everyday home cooking. Stockholm-based restaurant Meatballs For The People brings a modern twist to the classic Nordic cuisine, creating meatball-focused dishes that put IKEA’s to shame. Served with buttery mash, lingonberry jam and creamy broth, comfort food doesn’t get much better than this. They even serve vegan meatball options, as well as rooster, reindeer and salmon variations for more adventurous foodies.
Various Locations
Perhaps the most original dining concept on our list of the best restaurants in Sweden, The Edible Country. It encourages customers to forage for their own ingredients, before cooking their finds and enjoying the fruits of their labour on tastefully decorated outdoor tables. Foraging has long been a part of Swedish culture, thanks to allemansrätten (the right to wander freely through nature). Four Michelin-starred chefs have cleverly harnessed this long-standing tradition, allowing visitors to experience it first-hand at The Edible Country. Menu suggestions are compiled based on seasons and regions, ranging from the Göta Canal to the mountains of Jämtland.
Skivarp, Skane
Sweden is renowned for its sweeping landscapes and nature-loving locals, so it seems fitting to include another al fresco restaurant on our list. Horte Brygga is a well-loved seaside establishment situated an hour’s drive from Malmö, where it serves seasonal veg alongside fresh fish and meat from its on-site smokehouse. The owners have partnered with nearby independent growers who supply the kitchen with on-trend ingredients. Given the open air location too, the restaurant really comes into its own during the summer months.
Gothenburg
Although technically not a restaurant, Stora Saluhallen teems with such tasty treats and mouth-watering market stalls that we’ve made an exception to our list of the best restaurants in Sweden. The collection of 40 or so food vendors form Gothenburg’s most historic (and gourmet) food hall, selling everything from organic sourdough bread and warm cardamom rolls to fresh produce and international dishes. Located in the middle of the city, within a beautiful old market building dating back to 1888, it’s the ideal spot for grabbing a lunchtime bite (or multiple, if you’re tempted by more than one cuisine) while exploring Sweden’s ‘second city’.
Written by Luisa Watts
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