Try These 5 Swedish Food Classics In Stockholm, Sweden

Swedish food is deeply tied to the country’s landscapes and traditions, offering a window into its heritage beyond just forests and fjords.

While Scandinavia is known for its connection to nature, its culinary traditions—shaped by history, climate, and resourcefulness—are just as essential to understanding the region.

While modern Stockholm offers a wide variety of international cuisine and processed foods, traditional Swedish cuisine tells a story of survival, community, and comfort—and it’s available throughout the capital city.

Whether you’re indulging in a traditional smörgåsbord or grabbing a pastry for fika, Swedish food offers something for every traveler. However, not every dish is for the faint of heart.

Here are five must-try Swedish dishes—and one that you might want to think twice about.

1. Swedish Meatballs

Swedish meatballs (köttbullar) are a global icon, thanks in part to IKEA’s influence, but they taste even better in their homeland.

These bite-sized delights are typically made with a mix of pork and beef, seasoned with allspice, and served with boiled potatoes or creamy mashed potatoes, rich gravy, lingonberry jam, and pickled cucumbers. It’s the perfect balance of savory and sweet, making it a staple comfort food.

For a lively experience, visit Södermalm’s Meatballs for the People, a restaurant specializing in high-quality Swedish meatballs made from various meats, including elk and reindeer.

2. Gravlax

A dish that showcases Sweden’s seafood expertise, gravlax is fresh salmon cured with salt, sugar, and dill. Traditionally, it is thinly sliced and served with mustard sauce on crispbread or rye toast.

The curing process enhances the salmon’s natural richness, creating a delicacy that is both simple and luxurious.

To taste some of the best gravlax in Sweden, head to Lisa Elmqvist in Stockholm’s Östermalmshallen, a renowned seafood market and food hall with a long history of serving premium cured fish. Bear in mind the hall is closed on Sundays.

3. Pickled Herring

Herring has long been a cornerstone of Swedish cuisine. Pickled in a variety of flavors—including mustard, onion, and dill—pickled herring (sill) is often served as part of a smörgåsbord alongside potatoes, sour cream, and hard-boiled eggs.

While its tangy, briny flavor may be an acquired taste, it’s a dish deeply rooted in Swedish culinary traditions.

For an authentic experience, try it at Pelikan, a historic Stockholm restaurant serving traditional Swedish cuisine, including a classic herring platter starter.

4. Crispbread

A staple in Swedish households, Swedish crispbread (knäckebröd) is a versatile and healthy crispbread made from rye flour. It’s often enjoyed with butter, cheese, or toppings like gravlax and pickled herring.

Its long shelf life and crunchy texture make it a must-try, whether eaten plain or as part of an elaborate open-faced sandwich.

You can find knäckebröd in any grocery store and enjoy it at your leisure. Try it with some Västerbotten cheese (Västerbottensost), a classic Swedish cheese popular at Christmas and at Midsummer crayfish parties.

5. Cinnamon Buns

No visit to Sweden is complete without experiencing fika, the cherished tradition of coffee and cake. Cinnamon buns (kanelbullar) are the ultimate fika treat.

Unlike their American counterparts, Swedish cinnamon buns are less sweet. Some varieties have a distinct hint of cardamom, while a topping of pearl sugar instead of icing is commonplace. Pair one with a strong Swedish filter coffee for the full experience.

Any Stockholm café will claim to serve the best kanelbullar in Sweden. Part of the fun of a visit is testing their claims! A good place to start is Vete-Katten, a historic Stockholm café known for its traditional pastries and charming atmosphere.

And One To Avoid: Surströmming

Sweden’s infamous fermented herring, surströmming, is among the world’s most pungent foods. Sold in cans, this fish is left to ferment for months, resulting in an overwhelming smell that many find unbearable.

Traditionally eaten with thin bread, potatoes, and onions, surströmming is a dish that even some Swedes approach with caution. If you’re feeling adventurous, try it outdoors—but be prepared.

Sweden’s culinary scene is rich with flavors both inviting and adventurous. Whether you stick to classics like meatballs and cinnamon buns or dive into the world of preservation with picked herring or gravlax, your taste buds are in for a journey. Just don’t say I didn’t warn you about the surströmming.

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