A cardamom-spiced wheat bun filled with almond paste and whipped cream, dusted with icing sugar. Eaten on Fettisdagen (Shrove Tuesday) and through Lent across Sweden.
The semla descends from the medieval Lutheran Lent fast: the bun was the only sweet allowed on Fettisdagen (Shrove Tuesday) before the fast began. King Adolf Fredrik of Sweden died in 1771 from eating 14 semlor at his post-fast feast, the country's most-cited royal indigestion case. Vete-Katten (1928) and Tössebageriet (1920) bake the canonical Stockholm versions; pre-orders for Fettisdagen run two weeks ahead.
4 editor picks for Semla (Lent cream bun) in Stockholm, ranked by editorial score. All Stockholm signature dishes · Semla (Lent cream bun) across every city.
Vete-Katten ★ 4.5
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.
Tössebageriet ★ 4.5
ostermalm · Karlavägen 77, 114 59 Stockholm
Tössebageriet on Karlavägen in Stockholm's Östermalm has been a working bakery since 1920; the Tössetårta layered cake and the saffron semla in February are the references.
Lillebrors Bageri ★ 4.5
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.
Fabrique Stenugnsbageri ★ 4.5
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.