Exploring Gothenburg, Sweden. Cafes Cakes & Culture

all duck for the ‘cheese slicer’

As with most cities, Goteborg has neighbourhoods or districts, butting up against each other with atmospheres all of their own.  My most favoured was Haga. It was once a working class suburb and bohemian hive of artists, but, as will ALL neglected areas that attract interesting types, it was eventually gentrified in the 1980’s.  I loved the wooden buildings, the like of which I’d not seen anywhere else.  Minus 15 degree winters have rendered cafes cozy places for friends to meet in the warm. It was hard to choose which one to visit first!  But, as it was lunchtime when we finished the boat tour, my first Swedish meal was to be at Raw Food Baren. I mistakenly thought the name meant an establishment with ideas of nobility. Baren, actually just means bar.  It is the only raw food restaurant in Goteborg.

The place is quite small, with a cozy side ‘nook’.  We took a seat and waited for our meal. The food was nicely presented. As I watched plates heaped high with fresh ingredients delivered all around me, I felt a little disappointed at the rather miserly portion of carrot burger!  The raw pizza was really very good.  The base had a great ‘bread’ texture and it was so flavoursome.  I’d highly recommend this place. 

One of the many cozy cafes in Haga district.

I loved this place.  A vinyl record store with a cafe.  So hip! Cafe Santa Domingo  I discovered after on Happy Cow they serve some vegan snacks, too.

Two Little Birds, is warm and open.  Originally started by two girls with a love of Bob Marley…3 little birds..or so the legend goes.

With not much time to scout for vegan happenings, I did my best for you.  Food in Gothemburg/Goteborg is so expensive.  I think being vegan and healthy here would challenge most.  ‘Life’ have a chain of stores, this one is called Grona Boden is a food market with many raw food, vegan, health products.  It is where you’ll find the best vegan cheese and a range of vegan sausages I didn’t get to try.  I found Fram to be more affordable, with bulk bin’s, or bags in their case.  The staff were helpful, English speaking as with ALL the interactions I had.

In the evening we met up with another friend and went to a vegetarian restaurant Hagabion, set in a gorgeous old brick building.  It’s where the cultured meet to chat, go to events and watch cinema.  It felt so welcoming. A gold circular bar was centre stage. The sort of place you could rock up by yourself and it wouldn’t be amiss. Great atmosphere with vintage furniture and retro movie posters.
We had the only vegan dish that we could see was gluten free. Though the menu was extensive.
We were not disappointed. It was delicious.  Faultless.  I wished I could have bagged up a few portions to take back to the UK!

Finally, I thought I’d share with you my friends jetty on the lake.  The mist is rising as the sun was hitting the still, frosty air.  Here we began our days with a (very) refreshing skinny dip!

I hope to go back and explore more of Sweden next year.  A friendly chat in a shop informed me that Northern Sweden has vegan cafes in even the small towns.  If the quality of the food in Goteborg is anything to go by, this alone would be worth the trip! 

A handy tip* If you go to the tourist information office in the city they have a Vegoguide till Goteborg.  A leaflet containing most of the vegan/vegetarian restaurants, cafes and bars. It is provided by Animal Rights Sweden. Their website has an easy translation button.

Have you been to Sweden? Did you find any great vegan eats you want to tell us about?  We’d love to know!