Either you’re on a shop ’til you drop mission and in need of an energy boost, or you just want to enjoy a weekend lunch, we’ve put together a guide to a few restaurants in the central parts of Gothenburg, open for lunch also on weekends. Of course there are many more options to explore. Please see each restaurant’s webpage for current opening hours and menues. 

Credit: Superstudio / Göteborg & Co

Nordstan and thereabouts

The shopping mall Nordstan boasts several restaurants and cafés. Here you’ll find, for example, street food from the north of Sweden in the form of Bastard Burgers. On the second floor Gourmet Korv is located (Gourmet Sausage, also found at Grönsakstorget), an upscale hot dog eatery taking fast food seriously.

Just outside of Nordstan, on Östra Hamngatan 30, you’ll find the vegetarian restaurant Andrum, and a couple of blocks from there, heading towards Kronhusbodarna, Sweden’s first Nepalese restaurant Himalaya is located on Smedjegatan 1c.

Credit: Frida Winter

Kungstorget, Domkyrkan and their neighbours

When at Kungstorget you’re really smack in the middle and can choose from an abundance of flavours and settings. Avalon, with its international character, offering great people-watching and a wide range of high-class food, South American bistro Tranquilo, with their barbecue-focus, and cosy Bee Kök & Bar featuring a relaxed atmosphere and a varied menu, are three options located at Kungstorget. Café du Nord (also known as the “Meatball-basement”), rich in tradition and well-known for their homemade meatballs, and Restaurang Kungstorget, where you for example can enjoy “smørrebrød”, seafood and Swedish delicacies, are two more.

Saluhallen, the Market Hall, is a beautiful building offering delicacies from all over the world and well worth a visit. And if you’re up for a tasty lunchbreak you can have crispy and fresh Asian food at 4 m2 Mat or enjoy classic Swedish dishes at Kåges Hörna, among other treats.

If you head towards the cathedral Domkyrkan, French bistro Ma Cuisine on Kyrkogatan 32 is well-located for a weekend lunch. And if you find your way to Västra Hamngatan 24, you will find another charming little piece of France at Wolfgang Vincafé. Kopps on Kungsgatan 40 serves food like pizza, burgers and pasta. And not only that, your dog is also welcome.

The main boulevard Avenyn and the neighbouring streets

When walking along Gothenburg’s main boulevard and in the neighbouring areas, there are of course plenty of lunch options, even on weekends. For example you can find a classic, relaxed pub like Bryggeriet, located on Kungsportsavenyen 3, while at number 29 Vigårda offers fast, uncomplicated dishes such as sallads, burgers and side orders. And in the city library at Götaplatsen 3, Roots Café serves fresh and filling sallads, soups and sandwiches.

If you go to Wrapped on Södra Vägen 55 just a short walk from Avenyn, you can pick and choose among the fillings to compose your own favourite wrap, or chose one from the menu, with or without bread. And if you walk just a bit further, to number 77, the burger place Holy Cow may tempt you with menu items such as Cheesy Cow, Confused Cow (chicken burger) and No Cow (vegetarian burger).

On the other side of the main boulevard Avenyn, at Engelbrektsgatan 39B, you’ll find Caleo, where the menu is inspired by the Mediterranean cuisine.

Outdoor seating area of Burgersson

Järntorget, Haga and Linné

If your weekend stroll takes you to Andra Långgatan when your stomach starts rumbling, Göteburgare Bar & Grill at Andra Långgatan 30 and Andra Långgatan 11 (vegan) is one of your options. Here you can choose from burgers, sallads and other dishes, all of which with a name linked to Gothenburg. And at Tredje Långgatan 3 Kafe Magasinet offers pizzas, bowls and bagels.

If instead you are in picturesque Haga when lunchtime comes, Sjöbaren is yet another suggestion for those inclined towards fresh seafood. And if you’re up for a burger with side orders like cheese fries or tomato and melon sallad, Burgersson at Skanstorget 5 is another great tip. If you’re looking for a place closer to the city center, on Esperantoplatsen 5 you’ll find Zamenhof and their all day dining-concept, perfect for hungry weekend-shoppers.

At Övre Husargatan 5, you’ll find family-owned Bistro Italiano to sate your weekend hunger, and if you’re in the vicinity of Linnéplatsen, a pitstop featuring traditionally prepared noodle soups at Ramen-Ya might be just what you need. You can make a small detour to Bar Robusta, a little piece of Italy in the middle of Gothenburg. 

Backaplan and Kvillebäcken on Hisingen

The neighbourhoods around Backaplan and Kvillebäcken are continuously developing, sprouting new shops and interesting restaurants, which makes the lunch options numerous, not least in the market hall Kville Saluhall.

Kvilletorget also offers well-tasting possibilities for a weekend lunch, for example Duy-Tan where you can choose from a large selection of traditional Vietnamese dishes. And on Herkulesgatan 3A where one of  Ölstugan Tullens restaurants is located, a focus on Swedish classics, prepared with in-season ingredients, attracts hungry guests. A few blocks down the same street, popular Tildas Krog offers a varied menu with items such as duck breast, fish au gratin and the somewhat iconic Tilda’s Schnitzel.

Other popular places are Turkish restaurant Sultan Grill on Hisingsgatan 28 and Jenin Grill, with no less than three restaurants a stone’s throw from Backaplan, offering delicacies from the eastern Mediterranean.

Up for discovering more of what Gothenburg has to offer food-wise? Have a look at The culinary city, where you’ll find lots to explore!