A Quick Guide to What’s New in Foodie Sweden
Sweden boasts a cutting-edge food scene, renowned for its pride in tradition and sustainability combined with innovation within New Nordic Cuisine. Naturally, it has some new developments for 2026!
Swedish chefs are leaders in the New Nordic movement, emphasizing hyper-local, often wild-sourced ingredients (think berries, mushrooms, herbs, sea life) along with a strong focus on sustainability. The scene expertly marries historical Swedish recipes, a respect for simple ingredients and their source and traditional preservation with modern culinary innovation and international influences.
This means Sweden has numerous Michelin-starred establishments and offers unique eating experiences like fire-cooking and foraging, all while blending timeless tradition with new techniques. A visit to Sweden should always have a strong foodie component to the itinerary!
Hot NEW Frantzén grill house to open in Stockholm
Coming to Stockholm’s trendy Stureplan area in 2026, Emberlin marks a new chapter for Frantzén Group. This contemporary grill house will centre on open-fire cooking, offering an à la carte menu that spans meats, fish, seafood, vegetables and poultry. A raw bar featuring crudos, sashimi and sushi set the tone, while playful desserts add a lighter finish.
The venue will feature a lively dining room and a spacious bar with curated cocktails. Staying open late, Emberlin promises a high-energy atmosphere at the heart of Stockholm’s nightlife district, blending bold flavors with a vibrant social scene. Make your advance booking by signing up here.
Celebrated chef unleashes NEW restaurant in Uppsala
Award-winning Swedish chef and entrepreneur Pontus Frithiof is opening a new restaurant, La Girafe, in Uppsala’s main square, Stora Torget, in February 2026. Like La Girafe Arlanda at the airport, the new restaurant will offer a generous selection of gourmet food and drink pairings throughout the day at a central location in Uppsala, Sweden’s fourth-largest city. Frithiof describes the food as “French bistro food with a twist”.
Browse the menu with this slideshow:
Weinberg’s NEW bistro concept hits Helsingborg
Renowned Swedish chef Simon Weinberg will open Bankpalatset (The Bank Palace) in Helsingborg’s city centre in spring 2026. The new concept combines Nordic and Mediterranean influences in a modern bistro setting, serving à la carte lunch and dinner alongside a vibrant cocktail bar.
Weinberg brings experience from world-class kitchens such as NOMA, Bagatelle and Operakällaren, as well as acclaimed ventures Bokbacka in Oslo and Weinbergs Hotell in Trelleborg.
Knystaforsen among the 10 “Coolest” restaurants in the world in 2026
The Michelin-starred restaurant Knystaforsen, housed in a former sawmill in Rydöbruk, Halland (south-western Sweden), by a singing river and surrounded by unspoiled forests, has been included in Forbes’ annual list of the 10 “coolest” restaurants of 2026.
Selected by international experts, this distinction highlights the most innovative and inspiring establishments, those set to shape the future of global gastronomy. At Knystaforsen, there is no rush and no unnecessary embellishment. Over four hours, guests enjoy a menu inspired by nature’s pantry.
“Mysterious, beautiful and utterly real. Every dish tells a story of river, forest and fire, raw nature shaped into refined simplicity. Dining becomes a journey rather than simply a meal. From campfire dishes beneath the stars to the quiet elegance of a candlelit dining room, it’s dining as discovery, a place where wilderness glows with quiet grace.”, according to Forbes.
65 years of the world’s best vanilla ice cream in Halland, Sweden
The world’s best vanilla ice cream officially comes from Sweden. The prize at 2025’s International Ice Cream Conference was awarded to SIA Glass (Glass is ice cream in Swedish) for the second year in a row.
SIA’s home base lies in the southern region of Halland, on the west coast, a region famed for its long sandy coastline. It is perhaps these long, white-sandy beaches that were the inspiration behind this award-winning ice cream. Visit SIA´s flagship ice cream bars in the seaside town of Falkenberg and the historic village of Slöinge, where SIA has been producing ice cream in since 1961, and it is here that you will find the entire range of flavors!
Try fika in a Swedish village!
While in Sölinge, make sure to enjoy a Swedish fika at the award-winning Solhaga Stenugnsbageri (Stone Oven Bakery) in a picturesque cottage village. The female baker-owner is the recipient of prestigious acknowledgement for her excellence in traditional Swedish baking, business and contributing to the community. This is one of the region’s best-kept secrets, frequented by locals year-round!
Photos: Instagram
More info: visithalland.com/en
Umeå’s ambitious cocktail project turns five
Renowned bartender Emil Åreng’s Facit Bar, a bold, all-Swedish cocktail concept that opened in early December 2021, is aiming to become one of Europe’s top three bars.
Emil Åreng, one of Sweden’s most celebrated bartenders, opened Facit Bar in Umeå in early December 2021, with a 1,000 m² cocktail destination overlooking Rådhustorget in the city centre. Known for his creativity at Cadierbar at Stockholm’s Grand Hôtel, Åreng now sets out to create one of Europe’s best bars.
Facit’s menu uses only Swedish ingredients and domestic spirits, redefining classic cocktails with a Nordic twist. Together with a handpicked team and top Swedish designers, Åreng promises an innovative experience unlike anything else.
