Eating and Living Well in Sweden: From Michelin to Peaceful City Visit
In Sweden, sustainability isn’t a selling point—it’s a way of life. From the wooded stillness of the north to the sea-lapped edges of Malmö, this Scandinavian nation has mastered the alchemy of blending conscious design, forward-thinking food, and slow luxury. Whether you find yourself dining in a forest, cycling through car-free streets, or sipping herbal tea in an organic garden café, you’ll quickly understand: sustainability here isn’t about sacrifice. It’s about sensuality, soul, and the sublime.
At the forefront of this quiet revolution are Sweden’s Michelin Green Star restaurants—a designation awarded to kitchens that embrace sustainability not just in concept but in practice. From the culinary capitals of Stockholm and Gothenburg to the countryside’s hidden gems, these restaurants don’t just serve food. They serve perspective.
But the beauty of sustainable travel in Sweden doesn’t stop at the dining table. Cities like Malmö are redefining what it means to live—and visit—responsibly, offering immersive experiences in urban development, nature preservation, and holistic well-being. This is travel for those who want every detail of their journey to mean something.
Here, we take you across the country—through award-winning kitchens, into nature-filled cities, and into the heart of what makes Sweden one of the most refined conscious destinations in the world.
1. PM & Vänner
Location | 352 31 Växjö, Sweden
Michelin One Star & Green Star
A trailblazer in the sustainability scene, PM & Vänner embodies the trinity of forest, lake, and meadow—an ethos rooted in its Småland surroundings. Here, dining is a poetic ritual. With much of the produce sourced from their own garden or neighboring farms, the restaurant honors the Swedish tradition of husmanskost (home-cooked fare), but with modern flair. Expect dishes that surprise in both simplicity and depth, served in a tranquil setting that nods to Scandinavian warmth and restraint.
2. Oxenstiernan
Location | Storgatan 35B, Stockholm, Sweden
Michelin Green Star
Housed in an 18th-century manor in the heart of Stockholm, Oxenstiernan is both an architectural gem and a bastion of ethical dining. Spearheaded by award-winning chef Elvira Lindqvist, the kitchen revives traditional Swedish techniques—fermenting, preserving, pickling—while showcasing hyperlocal ingredients. Every element is deliberate, from the biodynamic wine list to the hand-thrown ceramics. This is not just a restaurant—it’s a manifesto for a new kind of urban sustainability.
3. Etoile
Location | Norra Stationsgatan 51, Stockholm, Sweden
Michelin One Star & Green Star
Etoile dances between boundaries: French culinary elegance meets Nordic earthiness, modern gastronomy meets rooted sustainability. Known for its daring tasting menus and meticulous attention to provenance, Etoile is where creativity meets conscience. Menus evolve with the seasons, often featuring foraged ingredients and playful reinterpretations of French classics. It’s a celebration of contrasts—refined yet rustic, delicate yet bold.
4. Fotografiska
Location | Stadsgårdshamnen 22, Stockholm
Michelin Green Star
Inside the famed contemporary photography museum, Fotografiska’s restaurant challenges conventional notions of fine dining. Here, vegetables take center stage. Through a wholly plant-based menu curated by chef Martin Wall, the restaurant explores a world of umami, texture, and zero-waste beauty. Paired with panoramic waterfront views and thought-provoking exhibitions, this is a cultural and culinary experience rolled into one—art you can taste.
5. Bhoga
Location | Norra Hamngatan 10, Gothenburg, 411 14, Sweden
Michelin One Star & Green Star
In Gothenburg, Bhoga delivers a quiet revolution. The restaurant’s philosophy is rooted in relationships—with nature, with farmers, and with the seasons. Chef Niclas Yngvesson crafts delicate, flavorful dishes that make vegetables shine and proteins a thoughtful accent. Local, wild, and biodynamic ingredients become vessels for storytelling, each dish offering a moment of reflection in a fast-moving world.
6. Knystaforsen
Location | Rydöforsvägen 4, Rydöbruk, 31442, Sweden
Michelin One Star & Green Star
Perhaps the most poetic of all, Knystaforsen sits by a waterfall deep in the forest. It’s a place where nature is not a backdrop but a participant. The menu is composed around what’s found, foraged, or fished that week—from chanterelles and lingonberries to river trout and pine shoots. Every bite feels elemental, as if conjured from the soul of the woods themselves. This is slow dining at its most primal and profound.
Urban Living, The Swedish Way: Discovering Malmö
If the restaurants are the crown jewels, Malmö is the velvet case that holds them. Sweden’s third-largest city is a living case study in sustainable urban planning, with climate-neutral districts, extensive bike paths, and adaptive reuse projects that turn industrial spaces into community-minded hubs.
But don’t let its forward-thinking infrastructure fool you—Malmö is also rich in charm. Visit in late summer, when golden light stretches the days and locals spill into leafy parks and seaside cafés. Stay at Scandic Triangeln, an eco-conscious hotel powered by renewable energy. Dine al fresco at Far i Hatten, a bohemian garden spot serving natural wines and farm-fresh dishes, or book a table at Vollmers, a two-Michelin-starred destination where every ingredient tells a story of locality and purpose.
Explore Kungsparken, the city’s lushest park, or cycle to Ribersborg Beach, where coastal biodiversity meets clean urban design. Guided eco-tours take you deeper—into Malmö’s green lungs, its conscious architecture, and the beating heart of its sustainability ethos.
Beyond the Cities: Stockholm’s Nature-Infused Lifestyle
Stockholm, too, is deeply connected to nature—something you’ll feel instantly in places like Djurgården, a forested island that doubles as a cultural hotspot. Grab a fika at Rosendals Trädgård, a biodynamic garden and café blooming with seasonal produce and edible flowers. Or take a boat to the nearby archipelago, where islands shimmer in the Baltic and time slows with the tide.
Sweden’s Michelin Green Star establishments go far beyond the plate—they are living expressions of how culinary excellence can support biodiversity, empower local communities, and honor heritage. But the country’s commitment to conscious living extends well beyond its kitchens. Whether you're dining by candlelight in a forest, cycling through Malmö’s car-free boulevards, or harvesting tomatoes in a Stockholm garden café, every moment becomes a quiet act of intention. Here, luxury is no longer defined by opulence, but by meaning—by the feeling of being part of something beautiful, ethical, and enduring. So when you next journey to Sweden, don’t just book a meal—book a memory. One that nourishes your senses and your conscience alike.