The best food & drink experiences in Gothenburg

The tradition of fika – a quick break for coffee, sweets and companionship – is the perfect time to stop and enjoy your time in Gothenburg. Along the popular pedestrian corridor of Haga, you’ll find numerous cafes for a quick fika, none more popular than Café Husaren – home to the highly photographed giant kanelbullar (cinnamon buns). Da Matteo offers a hip fika at its Magasinsgatan café and two other locations, while purists will want to visit Ahlströms Konditori, whose outdoor courtyard has been a favourite for more than a century. 

With its seaside locale, bustling fish markets and wealth of inventive chefs, Gothenburg is one of the best places in Europe to enjoy seafood. You’ll find modern and international dishes citywide focused on shrimp, fish, lobster, crayfish, scallops and much more. For a uniquely Swedish seafood experience, try Sjöbaren in Haga or the waterfront Sjömagasinet and get a taste of the catch of the day the Scandinavian way. 

From international cuisine to micro gastronomic innovation, Gothenburg’s chefs are creating destination dining with every dish. The city is home to multiple Michelin Guide honourees, including modern Scandinavian kitchen SK Mat & Människor, locally focused gastronomy destination Project and the seasonally focused Bhoga, all of which are great destination-dining choices. For a celebrity-chef experience, local hero Marcus Samuelsson’s Norda plates unique takes on Scandinavian favourites including venison and even an upscale halv special. 

Gothenburg is famously family friendly, and that reputation extends to dining options. Most restaurants offer a kid’s menu, but some go to great effort to create a great experience for little ones. Moon Thai transports diners to the colourful streets of Thailand with its palm trees, neon lights and maze-like interior. The Majorna neighbourhood’s Moreno Pizza offers tons of space to dine on delicious pizza in a converted theatre. And Gothenburg-founded appetiser chain Pinchos serves kid-friendly finger foods in circus-themed restaurants throughout the city.

Want to sample Gothenburg’s best flavours without running all over the city? Visit a food hall! The iconic Stora Saluhallen is both historic and delicious: You’ll find butchers, fishmongers and more along with stalls serving foods from Scandinavia, Italy, Vietnam and more. The centralised Saluhall Briggen serves a wide variety of quick-serve bites (the falafel and wood-fired pizza are highly recommended). And the ultra-hip Lindholmen Street Food Market is home to a rotating selection of food trucks offering truly inventive fare along with local beer and live music. 

Combining Old World tradition with a modern playfulness, Gothenburg’s brewing scene has been innovating for centuries... and its reputation continues to grow. Visit local taprooms like Poppels, Dugges Pils and Majornas Bryggeri for a taste of Gothenburg beer, or find a seat at Brewer’s Beer Bar, where a great selection of international and Swedish beers pairs with sourdough pizza. 

What’s more comforting than a glass of wine in a great environment? Gothenburg his home to many great wine experiences for every taste. Looking for a quiet place to enjoy a glass? Try Bar La Lune or Bar Cento. Prefer a livelier scene? The hip Vinbaren and bubbly Champagnebaren are bustling. Or head to the acclaimed SOMM, a wine-focused restaurant tucked into a Lorensberg basement whose carefully curated wines pair beautifully with locally focused Scandinavian fine-dining at an affordable price. 

Gothenburg’s culinary innovations aren’t limited to plates: This is also a dream for cocktail lovers in search of inventive mixology. Try wildly innovative cocktails at the retrofuturistic Steampunk Bar and classics at the speakeasy-inspired Stranger. Take a cocktail with a view at Skanshof or Henriksberg. No matter your taste, you’ll find a tipple you love in a bar you’ll adore. 

Gothenburg’s reputation as a green city extends to its restaurants.. At most restaurants, vegetarian and vegan options are readily available, and are never simply an afterthought. Meanwhile, dedicated vegan/vegetarian restaurants are everywhere. The popular (and dog-friendly) Blackbird in Stigberget is a must for creative vegan dishes (and top-notch cocktails). Majorna’s Julie’s Café, meanwhile, ensures vegans don’t miss out on fika thanks to its animal-free French pastries (don’t skip the homemade vegan cheese). In Gothenburg, finding a great vegetarian or vegan meal isn’t a problem. Choosing from the many great options, however, might be challenging.