Haga – cosy cafés and unique shops

A visit to Haga in Gothenburg feels a little like stepping back in time. With its cobbled streets, independent boutiques and cosy cafés, the neighbourhood was once the city’s first suburb outside the walls. Today, it is one of Gothenburg’s most popular places for a fika break and a leisurely stroll.

Haga lies just south-west of the Moat (Vallgraven), which once formed part of the defences around Gothenburg’s original city centre. The neighbourhood is an easy walk from the centre, with the most scenic route leading through the parks and green spaces along the moat. By tram, the closest stops are Hagakyrkan and Järntorget.

Shopping in Haga

Most visitors begin on Haga Nygata, the neighbourhood’s main shopping street. Here, small fashion boutiques sit alongside shops selling antiques, design and handicrafts, with plenty of inspiration for gifts and souvenirs from Gothenburg. There truly is something for every taste and most shops are unique and can’t be find elsewhere.

Fika, lunch and dinner: Cafés and restaurants in Haga

It is easy to lose track of time among the shops and cafés, but Haga is also the perfect place to stop when hunger strikes. Le Petit Café, Caféva, Café Kringlan, Jacob’s and Hebbe Lelle are among the cafés serving Swedish fika classics and other sweet and savoury treats.

Café Husaren has become particularly famous for its oversized cinnamon buns. Its giant kanelbulle is large enough to hide a child’s face behind and is often claimed to be one of the biggest cinnamon buns in the world.

Haga is also perfect for a relaxed lunch or dinner in picturesque surroundings, at places such as Sjöbaren with its lovely courtyard.

Haga Nygata may be the main attraction, but the surrounding side streets are also worth exploring. You will find more small shops, quiet corners and glimpses into some of the neighbourhood’s charming courtyards.

Gothenburg’s first suburb

Nowadays, Haga is located in the middle of the city. But this was not the case when Gothenburg’s first suburb was planned in the middle of the 17th century, after orders from queen Kristina. The name Haga actually refers to the Swedish word hage, which means an enclosed field, giving a hint of the current nature and scenery at the time.

The neighbourhood has several well-preserved wooden houses built in the typical style called landshövdingehus (translated into county governor’s house). The houses are characterised by having a ground floor in stone and two wooden floors on top. The typical wooden houses were built between 1870 and 1940, as housing for the working class in for example Haga, Majorna, Kungsladugård, Bagaregården and Lindholmen. Fire regulations at at the time forbid houses higher than two storeys, but a ground-floor in stone made three-story houses possible despite this.

Skansen Kronan viewpoint – views over Gothenburg and Haga

After a fika, Haga is a good starting point for the climb to Skansen Kronan, one of Gothenburg’s best viewpoints. In the evening, you can continue towards Järntorget and the streets known as Långgatorna, an area filled with restaurants, bars and late-night energy.

Haga is today a very popular residential area, but there are no hotels. Hotels located at Grönsakstorget, Esperantoplatsen and Vasastaden are good options if you want to check in nearby.

Christmas spirit in Haga

During the Christmas season, Haga hosts one of Gothenburg’s most popular Christmas markets. Tables outside the cafés fill with saffron buns, cinnamon buns and other seasonal treats, while stalls along the street sell gifts, crafts and Christmas decorations, often accompanied by live music.

Read more about Haga and which stores are there at hagagoteborg.se.