It’s Fika Time – A Taste of Sweden

What traveler doesn’t dream of a summer in Sweden? Visits to the lakeside, late afternoons with your travel friends at a stylish ute servering (outdoor patio) in Stockholm, boat rides to remote islands along the southern tip while stopping for open-faced sandwiches at the local pub, and just indulging in the best flavors that this country offers.

A full-time travel and nomadic lifestyle as a writer has taken me all over the place, and last summer that place was Gothenburg, Sweden’s second city to the south.

During that visit, I discovered Sweden’s pastry culture. That alone was worth the trip. The heart of it all centers around the Swedish practice of ‘fika’, which makes for some of the best cafes and pastries that I’ve tasted anywhere in the world. Never heard of fika and Swedish pastry culture? Let’s dig in.

 What is Fika? A Look at Sweden’s Coffee Break Culture

Land in Sweden and you’ll see quotes about fika all over the place, from cafe walls to street corners and welcome mats. It’s their Live, Laugh, Love, but the Swedes take it to the next level.

Pronounced fee-ka, the word literally means “coffee and cake break.” It serves as a time to pause and chat with your friends. And this pause could last for hours. True Swedish fika is all about letting the day unwind as it should, without any thinking or planning.

Fika is also part of the workplace, where it is a customary practice a couple of times a day. Employees don’t use their fika breaks to talk about work. Rather, it provides a genuine break from work. As outlined in this Guardian article, “the focus (of fika) tends to be on taking a collective break.” It is such a part of Swedish culture that clauses authorizing fika breaks have even been written into some work contracts.

With this right to fika, it’s no surprise that there are plenty of opportunities in Sweden to pause and enjoy something sweet. And if you happen to find yourself in the city of Gothenburg, you’re in for a real treat. Sweden’s second-largest city boasts some of the best pastries found only in this part of the country. What better reason to visit?

 5 Best Pastries to Try in Gothenburg

Tempt your taste buds with this list of the best pastries to try in Gothenburg, Sweden.

Hagabullen (Giant Cinnamon Bun)

The award of the world’s largest cinnamon bun goes to Gothenburg, home to the famous Hagabullen. This pastry, at 10 inches in diameter, can easily be split with your table of four and everyone will leave satisfied. Rather than topping it with a creamy icing, the bun is sprinkled with chunks of pearl sugar. Don’t expect anything super sweet. Instead, you’ll taste something soft and somewhat savory in this pastry which pairs perfectly with a latte.

Hagabullen is served only at Cafe Husaren in the heart of Gothenburg’s historic Haga district. Sitting down to enjoy this pastry is a wonderful way to kick off a wander through the many boutique shops and restaurants of the area.

Prinsesstarta – (Princess Cake)

The prinsesstarta is a Swedish national dessert worth mentioning on any list of the best pastries to try. Found at some of the chicest cafes in Gothenburg, a prinsesstarta is best when you’re in the mood to truly indulge. Layered with raspberry jam, a moist vanilla cake, creamy custard, and whipped cream all topped with a thick layer of marzipan, prinsesstarta is a true princess. The marzipan is usually lime green, so you can’t miss it. If you have a sweet tooth, this one is truly divine. Try a slice at the Ahlstroms Konditori café. Steeped in over 100 years of history, this place makes for a cozy, scenic pause at a cafe any time of year.

Kardemummabullar (Cardamom Buns)

Arguably the most iconic of Swedish pastries, the cardamom bun is a staple. You can find them everywhere from the train station coffee stop to the 7/11 to the fanciest cafes across the country, and each time they will be delicious. Soft and doughy inside, the bun is topped with sprinkled cardamom sugar and, in some cases, pearl sugar. So fragrant and flavorful!

I tried so many different cardamom buns throughout my visit to Gothenburg, but one standout place was Cafe da Matteo. I wandered into the one on Magasinsgatan street and loved the modern industrial-chic vibes of the space. They have great coffee, too.

Kladkakka (Sticky Chocolate Cake)

A true chocolate lover’s dream. I almost didn’t believe it when I saw it, but kladkakka is one of the best chocolate cakes out there. The middle of the cake is soft and fudgy, as any great chocolate cake should be in my opinion, and the outside is light and crispy. What a combination. The aforementioned Cafe Husaren serves a good one, if you aren’t too full from indulging in the Hagabullen. Eva’s Paley and Brogyllen café also offer delicious versions.

 Lemon Meringue

This one won’t make it to your typical list of the top pastries in Gothenburg, but it’s definitely worth a try. So many of the cafes in Gothenburg give a bit of a Parisian vibe, so I really wasn’t surprised to find a quaint-looking French-style cafe in the Haga District.

Le Petit Café, with its moody, artful vibe, offers no shortage of pastries to try, so come hungry. In particular, their lemon meringue was just what I needed to fuel up in the middle of a day exploring the best of Gothenburg. They had so much meringue that they were selling huge pieces of it outside for those looking for something sweet on the go. Definitely a worthy indulgence.

Embrace the Swedish Fika Tradition

No trip to Gothenburg is complete without a cafe hop to try some of the best pastries in and around town. So, indulge yourself in a little fika on your next adventure and satisfy that sweet tooth.

 

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