Lady’s Guide to the Best Restaurants in Gothenburg

Today I want to share my guide to the best restaurants in Gothenburg. This city in Sweden is packed with great places to eat, from restaurants to cafes, coffee shops, and food markets. I can’t wait to show them to you.

Best Restaurants in Gothenburg

Scandinavian cuisine. So hot right now. From Denmark to Sweden and everywhere in between, some of the world’s best restaurants are in the Nordic countries.

And while I’ve eaten my way through Copenhagen and Reykjavik, Oslo and Helsinki, the best food I’ve found in Scandinavia is in Gothenburg.

Gothenburg, Sweden

Sweden’s second largest city, Gothenburg is often overlooked in favor of Stockholm.

But the coastal city in West Sweden has a lot going for it, from a beautiful historic city center to fresh seafood and local organic produce. It’s one of the best summer travel destinations I’ve been to.

I’m in town for a few sunny days as a guest of Visit Sweden and Goteborg & Co. The plan is to explore the best restaurants in Gothenburg and eat my way through the city’s food markets. I can’t wait.

Feskekorka Food Market in Gothenburg

I start my visit at the city’s most famous market, the Fish Church, or Feskekorka. Built to look like a place of worship, the interior is lined with stalls selling all kinds of fresh fish and shellfish.

Upstairs on a balcony overlooking the market is Restaurant Gabriel, one of the best seafood restaurants in Gothenburg.

I’m served lunch by the chef proprietor, Johan Malm, who in addition to being an excellent chef was the world oyster opening champion in 2010.

Johan brings out local oysters, pretty jars of flavorful fish soup, and plates of poached haddock with lovely brown butter sauce.

The meal is my first introduction to the best restaurants in Gothenburg, and I’m completely won over.

Saluhallen Food Market in Gothenburg

Not far from the Fish Church is another of the city’s indoor markets, the Saluhallen. Right in the heart of Gothenburg, it’s packed with stalls and restaurants selling everything from classic herring to fresh bread.

It reminds me of the amazing Les Halles de Lyon – Paul Bocuse in Lyon, one of my favorite food markets in Europe.

Highlights of the Saluhallen include Steinbrenner & Nyberg, a bakery that makes handmade bread, and Kages Horna, another of the best restaurants in Gothenburg.

Gothenburg Food Trucks

Near the markets are Gothenburg’s food trucks. The global trend has made its way to Sweden, and some of the city’s most famous outposts are in a sunny courtyard on Magasinsgaten.

Strommingsluckan is the place to get authentic Scandinavian herring, which is a must on any foodie trip to Gothenburg.

The food trucks are in good company with famous coffee shop da Matteo in between them.

The cafe roasts its own beans on site, and is one of the best places in the city to indulge in the Swedish tradition of fika, or afternoon coffee and sweets.

Cafes and Restaurants in Haga, Gothenburg

Just over the canal from the coffee and food trucks is my favorite neighborhood in Gothenburg, Haga. Along the famous pedestrianized Haga Nygata is an abundance of vintage shops, cool cafes, restaurants, and bakeries.

Gothenburg’s iconic giant cinnamon rolls come fresh from Cafe Husaren, and the sweet Le Petit Cafe has great sandwiches and pastries. It’s one of the best restaurants in Gothenburg for light meals.

Restaurant Familjen, Gothenburg

Elsewhere in the city center is Restaurant Familjen, a modern brasserie with an outdoor terrace.

I settle in for a great three-course dinner of seasonal dishes like white and green asparagus with chopped egg, hazelnuts, and goats’ cheese sauce.

Best Restaurants Near Gothenburg

But Gothenburg’s restaurant scene isn’t limited to the city itself. One day I venture out into the countryside for a visit to Gunnebo House, an 18th century home in Molndal that’s now a museum with extensive grounds and gardens.

Some of those gardens have been given over to the restaurant at Gunnebo House.

As I talk with the head chef, he tells me that they grow a lot of the produce for the restaurant on site, and almost everything they cook is entirely organic.

A buffet lunch at the restaurant—which is fully booked even on a weekday—shows me why this place is worth a day trip from Gothenburg.

The food is excellent, from the fresh fish to the creative salads, and the relaxed ambiance feels perfectly Scandinavian.

Beyond the Best Restaurants in Gothenburg

Back in Gothenburg, I spend the rest of my trip sightseeing and walking off the many calories I’ve consumed eating at the best restaurants in Gothenburg.

I take a Paddan canal boat tour through the city’s pretty waterways, explore the lovely gardens and greenhouses in the Garden Society of Gothenburg park, and climb the highest hill in the city center to see the views over the colorful rooftops.

Eventually I check out of my hotel, the lovely Hotel Royal, and make my way to the airport to travel back to London.

I do so with a heavy heart and a full stomach, not to mention a great sense of appreciation for how impressive the best restaurants in Gothenburg are.

Find this post helpful? Buy me a coffee!

New here? Join thousands of others and subscribe to the A Lady in London blog via email.

One of the links in this blog post is an affiliate link. At no cost to you, I earn a small commission when you click on it and make a purchase. It doesn’t affect the way you shop, and it’s a great way to support the A Lady in London blog.

Pin it!