The Swedish julbord is an extensive spread that has evolved from a variety of traditions and today consists of an elaborate buffet of typical Christmas food. It is popular not only to sit down for a julbord on Christmas Eve with family, but also to go out for a special julbord meal at a restaurant in the run-up to Christmas – with family, friends or work colleagues.
See here for the low-down on the Swedish julbord.
Reflecting the city’s fishing industry heritage, many of the julbord spreads on offer in Gothenburg are a bit heavier on the seafood than what you might find in and around other Swedish cities, such as Malmö (see our Malmö Julbord guide here) and Stockholm (see our Stockholm Julbord guide here).
Here are the top ten julbord spreads we can find in Gothenburg:
All prices listed are per person, unless otherwise stated.
Source: The fishing hook
Fishing hook
This charming and very classy restaurant, based in an old 1920s Grand Café, gets a mention in the Michelin Guide and is an outstanding place for a high-end julbord.
The restaurant promises to serve up “all the tasty classics which we’ve always made”, with “a wonderful combination of tastes both old and new with inspiration from the delicacies of the sea”. You can book it here.
When: November 24th-December 25th
Price: 845 kronor for lunch, 1,095 kronor on evenings and weekends
Hotel Eggers
This 19th century hotel by Gothenburg’s central station promises a julbord that is “one of the most atmospheric and cosy” in Gothenburg, and it leans heavily on classic and traditional dishes such as Jansson’s Temptation, meatballs, herring, cabbage, and ribs. You can book it here.
When: November 24th-December 22nd
Price: 675 kronor for lunch, and 850 kronor for adults (300 kronor at all times for children up to 12)
On board a boat in the archipelago
Stream line
You can have a julbord buffet at sea on one of two vessels operated by Strömma, Gothenburg’s main operator of ferries to the islands in the archipelago. The company has buffets on two of its boats, the early 20th century M/S Göteborg and the more modern M/S Carl Michael Bellman.
On the former, the chef Lotta Bäckström promises to “mix up classic Christmas favourites with new dishes and exciting flavours”, with dishes on offer including saffron pears, bilberry herring, and green pepper salmon with orange, as well as the classics like Jansson’s temptation. Book here.
On the latter, you can eat to the sounds of a singer who will regale you with Christmas favourites.
When: November 11th to December 21st
Price: 770 kronor with children from 6-15 years old half price.
The archipelago line
The rival Skärgårdslinjen ferry service is offering a julbord with a Christmas show on board two of its cruisers.
“Forget sausage and meatballs, here we serve up the delicacies of the sea,” the company declares, promising langoustine, prawns, mussels, fish and lobster soup. Book here.
When: November 11th to December 21st
Price: 995 kronor for adults on M/S Trubaduren, and 945 for M/S Medvind. Children 295 kronor
At the Liseberg theme park
The Liseberg theme park might not seem like the most atmospheric place to have a Christmas buffet, but it is home to two restaurants which do offer that experience: Hamnkrogen and 1923.
Bear in mind with these two julbord offerings that you will also have to pay entrance to the theme park, with prices ranging from 125-355 kronor depending on age, date, and whether you want to go on Liseberg’s rides or not. Children under 110cm in height go free.
Hamnkrogen supplies a julbord along the same seafood-centred lines as at Fiskekrogen, with shellfish and fish dishes, although they also promise traditional julbord favourites and “a large selection of vegan dishes”. Book here.
When: November 19th to December 22nd
Price: 715 kronor evenings and 525 kronor for lunch and weekends
The julbord at 1923 is absolutely traditional, with no additional emphasis on seafood and comes slightly cheaper. Book here.
When: November 19th to December 22nd
Price: 695 kronor evenings and 510 kronor for lunch and Saturdays (Sundays 590 kronor!)
Gothia Towers
The Imagine restaurant on the 29th floor of Gothia Towers offers a julbord with a view across Gothenburg and beyond. It’s a reliable rather than flashy spread of all the classic dishes.
Gothia Towers is currently in the process of being surpassed as Gothenburg’s tallest building by the new Karlatornet, but that doesn’t do anything to detract from the view.
When: November 18th-19th, November 25th-26th, and then Wednesdays to Sundays from December 1st to December 24th.
Price: Wednesdays and Sundays 745 kronor, Thursdays 795 kronor, and Saturdays 845 kronor
Long haul Inn
If you head out of the busy centre to the coast, Långedrag Värdehus offers what they call “a classic julbord inspired by the sea with all the Christmas delicacies”. And you get a sea view. Book a place here.
When: November 16th to December 22nd
Price: Weekends and evenings 995 kronor, weekday lunches 845 kronor
Gunnebo Castle
Out in the countryside to the southeast of the city, Gunnebo Slott offers perhaps the most organic Christmas spread on offer around Gothenburg, with 99.4 percent of their ingredients classed as organic. The spread is served in their atmospheric wooden café, with guests warmed by a fire.
When: November 28th to December 22nd
Price: 695 kronor on Saturday evenings, 395 kronor lunch Monday to Friday.
The Customs House
If you’re willing to go even further afield, the Tullhuset restaurant on the island of Honö out in the archipelago offers “a pure fish and shellfish” julbord, which promises culinary “creativity”, but “neither ham nor meatballs”. There are, however, vegetarian and vegan options. You can book here.
When: November 18th to December 21st
Price: Friday and Saturday evenings 725 kronor, Sunday-Thursday 675 kronor. Children under 13 years old, 350 kronor.
Blackbird offers all the Christmas favourites in “veganised” form. Photo: Blackbird
Blackbird
While vegans might feel deprived at some of the other restaurants in Gothenburg, they won’t at Blackbird, which promises to “veganise Christmas dishes such as herring, ham, sausage and Jansson’s Temptation”, while also focusing on all the vegetables which are in season. You can book here.
When: November 30th to December 22nd
Price: SEK 475 on weekends, SEK 445 on weekdays