The best cafes in Gothenburg
Choosing the best cafes in Gothenburg is not easy! There is a vibrant coffee scene here, where hearty independent coffee shops have seen off the big international chains. For me, the cafe culture in Gothenburg holds its own against any of the world's coffee Meccas. Whether it is filtered, short, soy, cap, latte or drip these cafes are sure to satisfy your coffee needs.
Bar Centro
Bar Centro is a hole in the wall restaurant by night and coffee shop-come-alley during the day. The limited seating inside is supplemented with stools in the alley next-door and street tables in the spring and summer. It has a pretty unique atmosphere compared to other cafes in Gothenburg. And I've often noticed a southern European clientele at Bar Centro: people who appreciate good coffee!
Hot tip: Mahogny Espresso bar
Honestly, this place serves the best coffee in Gothenburg. And at a good price too. As well as the excellent and friendly service, you get to relax in this small but comfortable cafe with some chilled vinyl playing in the background. At this Italian espresso bar on Postgatan, near the historical Kronhuset and German Church, you will find Italian cakes and grilled sandwiches on offer too.
da Matteo
You won't see an article about cafes in Gothenburg that doesn't mention da Matteo. The quality of coffee is evident at all four locations Vallgatan, Magasinsgatan, Victoriapassagen and Sprängkullsgatan and Lindholmen. The baristas know their blends and they roast coffee on-site.
It does really good food too, with delicious home baked good and tasty salads. It’s slightly more expensive than most cafes, but the quality can’t be questioned. The courtyard at da Matteo's on Magasingatan basks in the sun most of the year and is often filled with happy customers getting some vitamin D with their fika.
JOS
There are two JOS cafes in Gothenburg. The first opened on the main boulevard, Avenyn. In the summer, this is the place to sit outside and people watch. The other cafe is located by Domkyrkan, the city cathedral, and is a quieter spot to be in. For me , the stand-out reason to go to Jos is their fantastic salads. Of course, there are good juices, fika and coffee options too. The atmosphere is fresh and light with a hint of Californian lifestyle inspiration.
Allora Espresso bar and more
When visiting The Allora Espresso bar and more, it’s like stepping into a cafe in Napoli or Rome. You can buy good food with usual array of salads, sandwiches, pasta and snacks. It does great coffee and has a small number of tables outside, which are often filled in the late afternoon when people are finishing the day with a glass of Aperol.
Jimmy & Joan’s
Owned by a New Yorker who moved to Gothenburg, Jimmy & Joan’s is the place to go for bagels. With a great selection of bread, you can enjoy the classic savoury bites or new creations such as a bagel with Nutella and sea salt. An extra point for their New York Cheesecake served with fresh blueberry compote. A great addition to the Gothenburg cafe scene.
A43 Coffee
This is a cafe that takes coffee seriously. So it’s my tip for coffee geeks who want to talk to their barista, In fact, if you’re not a coffee geek (yet) you can book yourself onto a coffee tasting course and learn a thing or two! Great coffee, sourced from local micro-roasters this cafe on Avenyn has a small number of outdoor tables.
Kaffelabbet
Following on from A43, this is another for the coffee geeks to check out. While you can order a coffee here, Kaffelabbet (“The Coffee Lab”) also sells beans, machines, accessories and offers courses. Honestly, if you can’t get a good cup of coffee here, well, something has gone seriously wrong!
Viktor’s Kaffe
This is a trendy cafe in Gothenburg that has a friendly vibe. Found on Geijersgatan, just off Avenyn, it has been serving great coffee amidst stylish music, art and interior design since 2012. In fact, when I go here, I’m likely to leave with at least one new song for my playlist! It’s a got a lovely, local neighbourhood feel. A good place to chill, any time of the year.
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Brogyllen – Brogyllen is a Gothenburg establishment. A delightful cafe with excellent coffee and food.
Cafe Skogen – Worth the slight detour if you are out walking in Slottsskogen, Skogen is is an old school cosy cafe in the heart of Majorna.
Café Søderläge – Life in the city gets even better with a balcony in this combined café and showroom with Danish roots.
Kafe Majas – the place to go for some baked goods and a read of your book.
Images: Göteborg & Co, Superstudio, Beatrice Tornros
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