Scandinavia A food and wine lover's guide

Stockholm, Oslo and Copenhagen are all major players in the gastronomy world, home to restaurants and bars offering inventive cuisine and eclectic wine menus. Our expert local guide takes you to some of their most exciting culinary treasures

- ÅSA JOHANSSON

Forget meatballs and pickled herring. The restaurant scene in Scandinavia has never been as animated as it is today; you’ll find an enticing combination of old and new, of innovation and tradition, and of laid-back bars and elegant Michelin-star restaurants. Scandinavia’s many eco-friendly initiatives extend to the wine and food world, too, with a focus on sustainable, locally sourced ingredients and natural and biodynamic wines.

Stockholm In Sweden, 70% of all wines are sold through Systembolaget, the Swedish off-trade monopoly. While the monopoly stores mainly provide big brands and bag-in-box wines, restaurants and bars, particularly in the Swedish capital, offer great alternatives, with creative lists full of small-scale wines from all over the world.

In recent years, there has been an explosion of new wine bars in Stockholm, creating an energetic wine scene. One venue is Ambar (ambarvinbar.se), a cosy wine bar near St Eriksplan square in the city centre. Run by Englishman Damon Young, the warmly lit bar has a laid-back vibe and has become a second home to many locals. The wine list is eclectic, specialising in natural wines, with a particular focus on orange wines. Young and his staffalso prepare a small selection of delicious Asian dishes in the tiny kitchen, and both the food and wine list are good value.

‘Stockholm’s wine scene has exploded over the past few years, with new wine bars popping up all over, many with a unique approach,’ says Young. ‘We have become an active community, supporting each other rather than competing against one another.’