There are several interesting landmarks for the foodie to explore in Gothenburg. The two things that Sweden does exceptionally well are wild game and seafood, and for seafood, locals head straight to Gothenburg, Sweden’s second-largest city.
The cold clean waters of the North Atlantic Ocean blesses this city with the freshest fish and shellfish in the country, which has solidified Gothenburg its gastronomic reputation.
Here are some of the most famous market halls and culinary attractions in Gothenburg, Sweden you should not miss.
Gothenburg has an iconic food market — dedicated to all things fish. A scenic walk along Rosenlund’s Canal, which surrounds the city’s core like a moat, takes you to the instantly recognisable Feskekörka, or ‘fish church’ in Swedish, as it quickly became known, is an indoor fish and seafood market where you can buy all kinds of seafood delicacies caught on the day.
Feskekorka was built in 1874 and was an architectural experiment by Victor von Gegerfelt, a military man and architect and one of the two most influential architects from the mid-19th century. He was inspired by the wooden Norwegian stave churches and stone Gothic churches. The idea was to have a room without pillars.
This reverence for fish and shellfish continues within the cathedral-style building of the iconic Sjömagasinet. Sjömagasinet is a flagship for Swedish gastronomy and offers excellent service in a rustic setting. The restaurant has a picturesque location by the waterfront in Klippan.
Sjömagasinet has one star in Guide Michelin and is run by owner Ulf Wagner and head chef Gustav Trägårdh (Chef of the year 2010). The restaurant building dates back to 1775 and was previously used as a warehouse for the East India Company. World-famous stars like Bruce Springsteen and U2 have dined at Sjömagasinet.
Kometen (The Comet) is a popular eatery with both locals and celebrities. Kometen has always been an entertaining place to visit. Countless are the authors, artists and musicians who made their mark on the atmosphere. Here customers have enjoyed well-known Swedish dishes of high quality ingredients since ages. Their renowned wiener schnitzel is really out of the ordinary. Today, the restaurant is under the direction of the famous star chef Leif Mannerström.
A culinary experience beyond the ordinary is promised at Thörnströms Kök, You will find eight to 10 different types of sourdough bread alongside your meal, featuring flavours of fennel and sea salt, lemon and dill, walnut, onion, rosemary and cumin among others, which chef Håkan Thörnström has baked every day for the last 15 years. Modern Swedish cuisine using carefully selected regional products, served in an elegant restaurant setting. Thörnströms kök has one star in the prestigious Guide Michelin.
If you would rather eat meat over seafood, locals nod in consensus whenever restaurant Familjen (The Family) is mentioned. Familjen is a contemporary West Swedish brasserie with a warm and friendly atmosphere. The chefs have high ambitions and use locally produced ingredients after season.
From the menu you can either choose from a wide range of small dishes with classic Swedish flavours or a set three-course menu. In the summer you can enjoy the sunset at Familjen’s outdoor terrace.
Navigating Gothenburg’s culinary scene would be incomplete without a nod to native son-turned-celebrity chef, Marcus Samuelsson of Red Rooster fame in New York City’s Harlem neighbourhood, who is now one of the creative forces behind Norda Bar and Grill.
“If it’s difficult to get a seat at the bar, getting a table at the Norda Restaurant isn’t exactly easy either. Reservations are a must. The popularity of the restaurant is turbo charged by local celebrity chef hero Marcus Samuelsson adding his name and face to the concept, but the kitchen is headed up by the talented Jimmy Lappalainen on a daily basis. I’m always a skeptic when celebrity chefs attach their names to hotel restaurants on the other side of the globe from where they actually live, so my expectations were honestly not that high,” wrote Huffington Post.
Compiled by Daily Scandinavian