Must-see restaurants in Scandinavia

  • Schønnemann

    Copenhagen

    A veritable institution, Schønnemann has been lining bellies with smørrebrød and snaps since 1877. Originally a hit with farmers in town selling their…

  • Geranium

    Nørrebro & Østerbro

    On the 8th floor of Parken Stadium, Geranium is the only restaurant in town sporting three Michelin stars. At the helm is Bocuse d'Or prize-winning chef…

  • noma

    Copenhagen

    Ground-breaking New Nordic restaurant noma re-opened in its new location in February 2018 after a one-year hiatus. A re-imagined menu presents dishes…

  • 500px Photo ID: 135266917 - Kadeau

    Kadeau

    Copenhagen

    The big-city spin-off of the Bornholm original, this Michelin-two-starred standout has firmly established itself as one of Scandinavia's gastronomic…

  • AOC

    Copenhagen

    In the vaulted cellar of a 17th-century mansion, this intimate, two-starred Michelin standout thrills with evocative, often surprising Nordic flavour…

  • Ekstedt

    Stockholm

    Dining here is as much an experience as a meal. Chef Niklas Ekstedt's education in French and Italian cooking informs his approach to traditional…

  • 500px Photo ID: 131760517 - The OlO restaurant in Helsinki City Center beside main open market place

    Restaurant Olo

    Helsinki

    At the forefront of New Suomi cuisine, Michelin-starred Olo occupies a handsome, 19th-century harbourside mansion. Its memorable seasonal degustation…

  • Henne Kirkeby Kro

    Central Jutland

    Tucked away in a scenic, off-the-radar part of west Jutland, about halfway between Esbjerg (40km south) and Hvide Sande (36km north) is Henne Kirkeby, a…

  • Kadeau

    Bornholm

    Book ahead to experience one of Denmark’s most exciting and innovative destination restaurants. The menu is a confident, creative celebration of Nordic…

  • Grön

    Helsinki

    Seasonal, often foraged ingredients are used in this exceptional bistro's plant, fish or meat starters and mains, and wild, plant or dairy desserts. From…

  • Thörnströms Kök

    Gothenburg

    Classic technique, flawless presentation and a creative approach to local, seasonal ingredients helped chef Håkan earn his Michelin star. Hidden away in a…

  • Rutabaga

    Stockholm

    At Rutabaga, celebrity chef Mathias Dahlgren pushes vegetarian cuisine into the realm of art: the menu features vividly colourful salads and other unusual…

  • Slippurinn

    Heimaey

    Lively Slippurinn fills the upper storey of a beautifully remodelled old machine workshop that once serviced the ships in the harbour and now has great…

  • Cafe Postres

    Turku & Finland's South Coast

    Tantalise your sweet tooth or linger over Finland's best brunch at this delightful 'artisan' cafe, brainchild of Michelin-starred chef Samuli Wirgentius…

  • Restaurant Mes

    Copenhagen

    This rising star burst onto the Copenhagen dining scene in 2017. Owned by chef Mads Rye Magnusson (former chef at Michelin-three-starred Geranium), it's…

  • La Banchina, harbourside exterior wide shot

    La Banchina

    Copenhagen

    This tiny spot serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, cooked beautifully and served with little fanfare. The real magic is the setting, a small harbour cove…

  • Pluto

    Copenhagen

    Loud, convivial Pluto is not short of friends, and for good reason: superfun soundtrack, attentive staff and beautiful, simple dishes by respected local…

  • Slurp Ramen Joint

    Copenhagen

    That white-tile, pink-neon Slurp serves Copenhagen's best ramen makes sense: head chef Philipp Inreiter once worked at cult-status Tokyo ramen joint…

  • Studio

    Copenhagen

    Brainchild of Noma co-founder Claus Meyer and former Noma sous-chef Torsten Vildgaard, Studio bagged its first Michelin star within months of opening…

  • Café Halvvejen

    Copenhagen

    Cosy, creaky, wood-panelled Café Halvvejen channels a fast-fading Copenhagen. The menu is unapologetically hearty, generous and cheap for this part of…

  • Bæst

    Nørrebro & Østerbro

    Owned by powerhouse Italo-Scandi chef Christian Puglisi, Bæst remains hot years after its 2014 launch. Charcuterie, cheese and competent woodfired pizzas…

  • Høst

    Copenhagen

    Høst's phenomenal popularity is easy to understand: award-winning interiors and New Nordic food that's equally fabulous and filling. The set menu is…

  • District Tonkin

    Copenhagen

    With a playful interior channelling the streets of Vietnam, casual, convivial District Tonkin peddles fresh, gut-filling bánh mì (Vietnamese baguettes),…

  • Rebel

    Copenhagen

    Smart, split-level Rebel dishes out arresting, modern Danish grub without the fanfare. The dining space is relatively small, simple and unadorned, giving…

  • Manfreds og Vin

    Nørrebro & Østerbro

    Convivial Manfreds is the ideal local bistro, with passionate staffers, boutique natural wines and a regularly changing menu that favours organic produce …

  • Gasoline Grill

    Copenhagen

    Some of the city's most famous chefs join the queue at Gasoline, a petrol station-turned-burger takeaway. The menu is refreshingly straightforward: four…

  • Torvehallerne

    Torvehallerne KBH

    Copenhagen

    Food market Torvehallerne KBH is an essential stop on the Copenhagen foodie trail. A delicious ode to the fresh, the tasty and the artisanal, the market's…

  • Café Flóra

    Café Flóra

    Reykjavík

    Sun-dappled tables fill a greenhouse in the Botanic Gardens and spill onto a flower-lined terrace at this lovely cafe specialising in wholesome local…

  • Geist

    Copenhagen

    Chic, monochromatic Geist is owned by celebrity chef Bo Bech, a man driven by experimentation. His long list of small plates pairs Nordic and non-Nordic…

  • Oysters & Grill

    Nørrebro & Østerbro

    Finger-licking surf and turf is what you get at this rocking, unpretentious neighbourhood favourite, complete with kitsch vinyl tablecloths and a fun,…

  • Relæ

    Nørrebro & Østerbro

    Established by prolific chef Christian Puglisi, Relæ was one of the first restaurants in town to offer superlative New Nordic cooking without all the…

  • Tjöruhúsið

    Ísafjörður

    Set in a building from 1781, warm, rustic Tjöruhúsið offers some of the best seafood around. The set-course, serve-yourself dinner includes soup, catches…

  • Kryp In

    Gamla Stan

    Small but perfectly formed, this spot wows diners with creative takes on traditional Swedish dishes. Expect the likes of salmon carpaccio, Kalix roe,…

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    Fiskmarkaðurinn

    Reykjavík

    Dramatic presentations of elaborate dishes fill the tables of this intimate, artistically lit restaurant, where chefs excel at infusing Icelandic seafood…

  • Messinn

    Reykjavík

    Make a beeline to Messinn for the best seafood that Reykjavík has to offer. The speciality here is the amazing pan-fried dishes: your pick of fish is…

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    Sægreifinn

    Reykjavík

    Sidle into this green harbourside shack for the most famous lobster soup in the capital, or choose from a fridge full of fresh fish skewers to be grilled…

  • Hallegaard

    Bornholm

    Artisanal charcuterie Hallegaard is a darling of Danish locavores, and many of Copenhagen’s top chefs procure their meats from this bucolic farmhouse,…

  • Søllerød Kro

    Copenhagen

    Not all of Copenhagen's Michelin stars are inner-city dwellers. One of them calls Holte home, an unassuming outer suburb 19km north of the city centre…

  • Tårnet

    Copenhagen

    Book ahead for lunch at Tårnet, owned by prolific restaurateur Rasmus Bo Bojesen and memorably set inside Christiansborg Slot's commanding tower. Lunch…

  • Lysverket

    Bergen

    Chef Christopher Haatuft is pioneering his own brand of Nordic cuisine at Lysverket, which he dubs 'neo-fjordic' – in other words, combining modern…