Top Cafes in Sweden

Da Matteo Magasinsgatan ★ 4.7 · Gothenburg

centrum · Magasinsgatan 17A, 411 18 Göteborg

Da Matteo's Magasinsgatan branch houses the company's roastery and serves espresso and filter drinks using beans roasted on site. The cafe on the ground floor is the heart of Gothenburg's specialty coffee scene.

SOL Bageri och Kaffe ★ 4.7 · Gothenburg

vasastaden · Eklandagatan 8, 412 61 Goteborg

SOL Bageri och Kaffe on Eklandagatan is among Scandinavia's most respected small bakeries, known for sourdough loaves, laminated pastries and specialty coffee. The queue before 09:00 on weekends is worth the patience.

Drop Coffee ★ 4.7 · Stockholm

sodermalm · Wollmar Yxkullsgatan 10, 118 50 Stockholm

Drop Coffee on Wollmar Yxkullsgatan in Stockholm's Södermalm is the third-wave cafe and roastery from 2009; light-roast filter, pour-over and a Mariatorget neighbourhood crowd.

Tip: Open until 18:00 weekdays. The standing counter is for espresso; the back room is for filter and laptops.

Da Matteo Vallgatan ★ 4.6 · Gothenburg

centrum · Vallgatan 5, 411 16 Göteborg

Da Matteo on Vallgatan is the flagship cafe of the Gothenburg coffee company that pioneered specialty coffee in Sweden. The espresso bar doubles as a bakery, with the roastery located at the Magasinsgatan branch.

Café Pascal ★ 4.6 · Stockholm

vasastan · Norrtullsgatan 4, 113 29 Stockholm

Café Pascal on Norrtullsgatan in Stockholm's Vasastan runs the third-wave coffee bar locals send friends to; the cardamom bun pulled apart and arranged is the dining-room signature.

Tip: Open from 07:30 weekdays. Queues hit hard at 09:00; arrive at 08:00 or after 13:00.

Rosendals Trädgård ★ 4.6 · Stockholm

djurgarden · Rosendalsterrassen 12, 115 21 Stockholm

Rosendals Trädgård on Rosendalsterrassen in Stockholm's Djurgården runs the biodynamic garden cafe; wood-fired sourdough, cardamom buns and an orchard greenhouse dining room.

Tip: Closes at 17:00 in winter, 19:00 in summer. The bakery counter cuts off at 16:00; arrive earlier for the full board.

Cafe Husaren ★ 4.5 · Gothenburg

haga · Haga Nygata 28, 413 01 Goteborg

Cafe Husaren in Haga has served the neighbourhood since 1890 from a listed building on Haga Nygata. The cafe is known for its hagabullen, a plate-sized cinnamon bun claimed to be among the largest in the world.

Morgon Coffee Roasters ★ 4.5 · Gothenburg

hisingen · Anders Carlssons Gata 30, 417 55 Göteborg

Morgon Coffee Roasters operates its roastery and cafe at Lindholmen on Hisingen, accessible by the Stenpiren ferry. The cafe serves hand-brewed pour-overs from beans roasted on site; the ferry crossing makes the visit part of the experience.

Vete-Katten ★ 4.5 · Stockholm

norrmalm · Kungsgatan 55, 111 22 Stockholm

Vete-Katten on Kungsgatan in Stockholm's Norrmalm has run the classic Swedish konditori since 1928; semla, kanelbulle, princess cake and karlsbader buns from the counter.

Tip: Open from 08:00 weekdays, 09:30 weekends. The back rooms are quieter than the front window tables.

Johan and Nyström Swedenborgsgatan ★ 4.5 · Stockholm

sodermalm · Swedenborgsgatan 7, 118 48 Stockholm

Johan and Nyström on Swedenborgsgatan in Stockholm's Södermalm runs the flagship roaster cafe; fair-trade beans roasted in-house, brewed at the counter and sold whole-bean.

Tip: Open from 07:30. The street seating runs spring through autumn; in winter the back tables warm fastest.

Fabrique Stenugnsbageri ★ 4.5 · Stockholm

sankt-eriksplan · Rörstrandsgatan 12, 113 40 Stockholm

Fabrique on Rörstrandsgatan in Stockholm's Vasastan is the stone-oven bakery cafe; the cardamom bun shipped Fabrique to London; coffee bar runs straight off the bakery.

Tip: Open from 07:00. The cardamom bun is hot to 11:00; after that the standard buns are the bet.

Lillebrors Bageri ★ 4.5 · Stockholm

vasastan · Rörstrandsgatan 12, 113 40 Stockholm

Lillebrors Bageri on Rörstrandsgatan in Stockholm's Vasastan bakes the Vasastan cardamom bun the local press argues about; sourdough, pastries and coffee from the counter.

Tip: Open from 07:30. The semla in February sells out by 11:00; pre-order online for guaranteed pick-up.

Kaffelabbet ★ 4.4 · Gothenburg

majorna · Landsvagsgatan 15, 414 61 Goteborg

Kaffelabbet on Landsvagsgatan in Majorna is part coffee gear shop and part brew bar. Hand-selected beans from local and Nordic roasters are prepared to order using V60, Chemex and Aeropress; the approach is deliberate and instructive.

Brogyllen Vastra Hamngatan ★ 4.4 · Gothenburg

centrum · Vastra Hamngatan 2, 411 17 Göteborg

Brogyllen has been a Gothenburg bakery institution since 1962. The Vastra Hamngatan location is the flagship; fresh kanelbulle, cardamom buns and a rotating pastry counter served with good coffee make it essential fika territory.

Rada Gelato ★ 4.4 · Gothenburg

majorna · Landsvagsgatan 38, 414 61 Goteborg

Rada Gelato on Landsvagsgatan in Majorna makes organic gelato in creative flavours including tonka vanilla, brown butter and seasonal fruit. The ingredient sourcing and technique are closer to a serious gelateria than a casual scoop shop.

Cafe Saturnus ★ 4.4 · Stockholm

ostermalm · Eriksbergsgatan 6, 114 30 Stockholm

Cafe Saturnus on Eriksbergsgatan in Stockholm's Östermalm bakes the city's largest cinnamon bun, marble cakes and a runs Sunday brunch on the corner of Humlegården.

Tip: Open from 07:30. The Saturnus bun is the size of a fist; one feeds two.

Nordic Brew Lab ★ 4.4 · Stockholm

norrmalm · Vasagatan 38, 111 20 Stockholm

Nordic Brew Lab on Vasagatan in Stockholm's Norrmalm runs a specialty coffee bar with multiple roasters on rotation; pour-over service highlights origin and process.

Tip: Open until 18:00 weekdays. Better for the brew bar than for laptops; arrive before 14:00 to get a counter seat.

Viktors Kaffe ★ 4.3 · Gothenburg

vasastaden · Geijersgatan 7, 412 57 Goteborg

Viktors Kaffe opened in 2012 just off Avenyn and combines specialty coffee with rotating art exhibitions on its walls. Beans from local roasters including Johan and Nystrom; the room is warm and good for working through the afternoon.

Steinbrenner och Nyberg ★ 4.3 · Gothenburg

Vasastaden · Sodra Vagen 26, 412 54 Goteborg

Steinbrenner och Nyberg on Sodra Vagen is a cafe and patisserie with a classic-meets-contemporary approach. Traditional Swedish cakes alongside modern pastry sit in a well-lit room that works as a neighbourhood meeting place through the day.

Gringo Nordic Coffee Roasters ★ 4.3 · Gothenburg

majorna · Varholmsgatan 12, 414 74 Goteborg

Gringo Nordic founded their roastery in Majorna in 2018 and runs a cafe serving espresso and filter drinks from beans sourced across Ethiopia, Colombia and other origin countries. Free Saturday tastings for anyone wanting to explore the roastery.

Brunchoteket ★ 4.3 · Gothenburg

linne · Linnegatan 56, 413 08 Göteborg

Brunchoteket on Linnegatan is Gothenburg's best-known brunch cafe, serving avocado toast, eggs Benedict, pancakes and chicken waffles every day. A large outdoor terrace on Linnegatan is open through the summer months.

Konditori Ritorno ★ 4.3 · Stockholm

vasastan · Odengatan 80-82, 113 22 Stockholm

Konditori Ritorno on Odengatan in Stockholm's Vasastan has run the same 1950s konditori since 1959; princess cake, semla in Lent, meatballs from the kitchen and outdoor seating overlooking Vasaparken in summer.

Tip: Open from 07:00 weekdays. The Vasaparken-facing tables fill from spring through autumn; the back room runs quiet on weekday afternoons.

Mellqvist Kaffebar ★ 4.3 · Stockholm

vasastan · Rörstrandsgatan 4, 113 40 Stockholm

Mellqvist Kaffebar on Rörstrandsgatan in Stockholm's Vasastan is the writer's cafe that Stieg Larsson used as office; espresso, sandwiches and a steady neighborhood pulse.

Tip: Open until 19:00. The street seating runs spring through autumn; the bar counter is the regulars' sit.

Gast ★ 4.3 · Stockholm

norrmalm · Rådmansgatan 57, 113 60 Stockholm

Gast on Rådmansgatan in Stockholm's Norrmalm-Vasastan border runs a specialty-coffee bar built for breakfast, brunch and fika; rotating roasters on the pour-over, sourdough sandwiches and a brisk Rådmansgatan T-bana crowd.

Tip: Walk-in only, drop-in basis. Check the Instagram for current hours; the morning counter is the work seat.

Alkemisten Kaffebar ★ 4.2 · Gothenburg

Hisingen · Gustaf Dalenssgatan 14, 417 55 Goteborg

Alkemisten is a neighbourhood coffee bar on Hisingen that brews specialty coffee using V60 and espresso, with carefully sourced beans and an unhurried pace that suits the locality rather than the city-centre crowds.

Bar Italia ★ 4.2 · Gothenburg

linne · Linnegatan 2, 413 04 Göteborg

Bar Italia on the corner of Linnegatan brings Italian cafe culture to Gothenburg's food street. The pistachio croissant is the single most talked-about item; brunch plates and yogurt bowls round out a menu that works from morning to mid-afternoon.

Il Caffè ★ 4.2 · Stockholm

sodermalm · Bergsundsstrand 33, 117 38 Stockholm

Il Caffè on Bergsunds strand in Stockholm's Hornstull runs an Italian-leaning cafe with a waterside terrace; espresso, sandwiches and the Reimersholme bridge view.

Tip: Open until 19:00 in summer. The terrace seats fill from 11:00 on weekends; the smaller original on Södermannagatan is the back-up.

Kaferang Nytorget ★ 4.2 · Stockholm

sodermalm · Skånegatan 81, 116 35 Stockholm

Kaferang on Skånegatan in Stockholm's SoFo runs the bistro-cafe next to Nytorget; breakfast and fika in the morning, sourdough sandwiches and pastries through the day and small-plate evenings on the Skånegatan corner.

Tip: Open from 08:00 weekdays, 09:00 weekends. The corner-window seats look onto Nytorget; the Norrmalm sister branch on Gamla Brogatan is the central back-up.

Blue Brunch and Bar ★ 4.1 · Gothenburg

vasastaden · Aschebergsgatan 45, 411 33 Goteborg

Blue Brunch and Bar in Vasastaden is a bright, modern cafe serving a globally-inspired brunch menu alongside quality coffee. American pancakes, avocado toast, Greek yogurt with honey and bagels give the menu breadth beyond the typical Swedish cafe.

Cafe Hebbe Lelle ★ 4.1 · Gothenburg

haga · Haga Nygata 11, 411 22 Göteborg

Hebbe Lelle is a classic Haga fika cafe serving giant plate-sized cinnamon buns alongside coffee in a small wooden building on the main cobblestone street. The competition with Cafe Husaren at the other end of Haga Nygata is good for the visitor.