Where to sit, sip and slow down in Gothenburg.
Coffee shops, bakeries with seats and the places Gothenburg lingers in over a cortado.
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.
Signature drink: Filter coffee with a hagabullen
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.
Signature drink: Espresso and pour-over filter
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.
Signature drink: Espresso with house-roasted beans
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.
Signature drink: Specialty filter coffee
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.
Signature drink: Hand-brewed pour-over
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.
Signature drink: V60 brewed specialty coffee
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.
Signature drink: Filter coffee with sourdough pastry
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.
Signature drink: Hand-poured filter coffee
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.
Signature drink: Coffee with kanelbulle
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.
Signature drink: Coffee with Swedish layer cake
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.
Signature drink: Espresso and filter from Nordic-roasted beans
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.
Signature drink: Coffee with avocado toast and brunch plates
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.
Signature drink: Coffee with giant cinnamon bun
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.
Signature drink: Espresso with pistachio croissant
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.
Signature drink: Organic gelato by the scoop
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.
Signature drink: Coffee with eggs Benedict