Where to find the best "semlor" Lenten buns in Stockholm

Organic artisan bakery Skeppsbro Bageri on Skeppsbrokajen, hasn't just won the hearts of Stockholmers with its classic semla, it also took first place in Thatsup's major semla test 2025. With views over the water, you can enjoy a tall and majestic bun with a generous cardamom flavour, marzipan with large almond pieces, and a proper dollop of cream. You can also shop from their bread vans, whose schedule is available on their website. 

At Pesso, they bake everything from scratch, without any unnecessary additives and with a large dollop of love. The bakery's classic semla is generous, with crunchy almonds and a carefully balanced mix of cream, almond paste, and bun. In Thatsup's major annual semla taste test 2024, Pesso was crowned the very best in Stockholm. 

K-märkt's cafés can be found at a few different addresses in Stockholm. The semlas served here are filled with smooth marzipan and topped with a generous amount of chopped almonds as well as lightly whipped cream. When Thatsup chose Stockholm's best semla in 2025, K-märkt took home the prestigious second place. 

Top-notch ingredients are the order of the day at Haga Tårtcompani & Bageri. Their semlor are filled with creamy almond paste made with roughly-chopped organic Valencia almonds, and they serve a lactose-free version if you prefer. If you want to feed a crowd, or you're just really hungry, you can pre-order their semla cake. In Thatsup's major semla taste test in 2023, Haga Tårtcompani was voted best in Stockholm. 

This family-owned stone-oven bakery won the title Semla of the Year in Thatsup's major digital competition in 2021. Vallentuna Stenugnsbageri serves classic semlor with roughly-chopped Valencia almonds. If you want to be sure of bagging a semla on Shrove Tuesday pre-ordering is recommended.

This uberclassic café between Odengatan and Sankt Eriksplan always ranks highly on Thatsup's annual semla taste test. Tuck into a traditional semla or a semla with a twist - over the years they've served variations such as liquorice-flavoured semlor and fluffy Karlsbader semlor. A perfect semla stop for anyone who fancies doing a little ice skating in Vasaparken before or after their semla.

Family-owned Café Crema can be found in both Bromma and Kungsholmen, where they serve breakfast, brunch, lunch, and snacks – as well as semlor throughout the whole semla season. With a fluffy bun, a generous amount of coarsely chopped almonds, and finely piped cream, Café Crema's semla secured fourth place when Thatsup named Stockholm's best semla in 2025. The Lenten bun is available in both regular and small sizes, and on weekends, they also serve vegan semlor and semlor with vanilla cream.

This popular artisanal bakery a stone's throw from Odenplan sells semlor made with cardamom and plenty of almond paste made from roughly chopped almonds and cream. Drop by and buy a semla to take away or enjoy one in the bakery.

Bullar & Bröd won Best Semla in Stockholm in 2020 for the second year in a row, in a major competition organised by Thatsup and Smakdomarna Stockholm. Their moist bun, almond paste full of crunchy almond bits and excellent whipped cream sent Bullar & Bröd straight to first place.

Socker Sucker's baked goods are famous for their photo-friendly aesthetics, and that goes for the semlor too. Choose between classic, vegan and "laminated" with crispy croissant dough. All of them are filled with their homemade almond paste made from roasted Valencia almonds, a pinch of bitter almonds, vanilla and cardamom. From time to time new variants pop up, so keep an eye on their Instagram.

The semlor at Lillebrors Bageri in Birkastan are as well-known as they are popular, so you'll often find a queue out of the door. Their classic semla has roughly-chopped almonds and a hint of vanilla, but they constantly coming out with new variations.

Winner of the Best Semla of the Year award in 2018, in a test organised by a group of expert tasters. You're guaranteed a truly fresh semla at Brioche, as they never serve buns more than four hours old. You can try your semla served "hetvägg" style - with warm milk - here too.

Tössebageriet was the talk of the town in 2015 with their innovative 'semmelwrap' and they'll be serving them again this year to mark their ten year anniversary. Naturally, they also serve award-winning classic semlor from the beginning of the new year onwards. 

Since opening their bakery and café in Zinkensdamm in 2020, Svedjan has become a great success. They're especially famous for their moist semlor with lightly whipped cream and almond paste flavoured with blood orange - a recipe that's been a huge hit with semla aficionados.

Granero Bakery is in Norra Djurgårdsstaden, and if you're craving a really good semla, it's definitely worth the trip. Freshly made semlor are served using selected ingredients, with pieces of almond in the almond paste and lightly whipped cream. If you fancy a slightly more luxurious semla, there's also a version with candied almonds. Why not combine your semla treat with a stroll in the beautiful surroundings?

When it gets close to Shrove Tuesday, the queue of semla fanatics can stretch around the block at popular Bageriet BAK, which opened in Hökarängen in 2019. They bake a large, fluffy semla with generous amounts of cream and almond paste made from scratch.

Enjoy the popular semlor at Vattenverket, a stone-oven bakery and café i beautiful old industrial premises right next to Lake Kottla in Lidingö. Vattenverket's semlor are served every day from early morning during the season.

Bröd & Salt has stores all over Stockholm and you can buy their popular semlor in classic, nut-free and vegan variations. They'll be making their famous pistachio semlor again this year and if you prefer plant-based they also have a vegan semla.

Lidingö Bread and Pâtisserie may primarily be inspired by France's small local patisseries, but the selection also features classic Swedish fika. Throughout the semla season, the traditional Lenten bun is served with the bakery's own marzipan made from Valencia almonds and beautifully piped cream. Semlor come in both small and regular sizes, and they occasionally feature a couple of guest variations. 

Panem on Stora Nygatan in the Old Town is a luxurious combination of bakery, konditori, café and bistro. You can sample their semlor - which consist of a wheat bun flavoured with cardamom, filled with classic almond paste and fluffy cream - right up until Easter.

Spånga Konditori is well worth the short trip from Stockholm city. This is where you'll find the semla that came second in Thatsup's major semla taste test in 2023. Coarse almond paste, softly whipped cream and chopped almonds characterise this classic bakery's semla.

MR Cake is run by star pastry chef Roy Fares, who combines Swedish fika culture with American café culture. Choose between a classic semla and a vegan semla with caramelised almond fillng and vanilla chantilly made from oat cream. Every Friday, Saturday and Sunday they also make a limited number of fried "cronutsemlor" - a croissant/doughnut/semla hybrid.

Take a walk out to Djurgården and sample the organic semlor at Rosendals Trädgård. They bake fluffy semlor with plenty of almond paste, lightly whipped cream and a round lid. This year they're going all in with a “semla bonanza”, updating their selection every other week with a new kind of semla, flavoured with everything from pineapple weed to peas. The beautiful garden surroundings are an extra reason to make the trip out of the city.

Art Bakery focuses on a truly classic semla with light marzipan, plenty of whipped cream, and a triangular lid as the finishing touch. If you're in the mood for a bit of variation, their croissant semla is a fun alternative.

Vår Gård is a popular destination among Stockholmers, especially on the weekends when many come here to enjoy something delicious and explore the beautiful surroundings. Vincaféet serves classic semlor with piped cream and round tops.

Small and very popular hole-in-the-wall famous for being sourdough pros. They serve traditional semlor with stone oven-baked buns, almond paste and hand-whipped cream.

Josephine Baker, in Årsta in southern Stockholm, is run by two accomplished pastry chefs with a passion for artisanal cakes. During the semla season, they serve not only classic semlor made à la minute, but also creative variants such as vanilla semla and cappuccino semla, as well as semlor that are gluten- and lactose-free.

The Lenten buns at Viggbyholms Stationscafé in Täby draw in semla fans from near and far, and they're a regular feature every year. Their semlor are made entirely from scratch using cardamom, whipped cream and coarsely chopped almonds.

A good old-fashioned konditori on Södermalm whose semlor, finely powdered with icing sugar, are always popular during semla season. As well as classic semlor they also have buns with extra toasted Valencia almonds, vanilla semlor or an extra large luxury semla - for anyone who can't get enough of a good thing. They also bake vegan and gluten-free semlor. 

Stora Bageriet's semla is highly regarded by many Stockholmers, and it's available in both Vasastan and Östermalm. The recipe for success includes gently whipped cream, slightly coarser almond paste with a pinch of salt, and plenty of chopped almonds on top. Hetvägg (semla served in warm milk) is offered for those who prefer to eat their semla this traditional way.

This popular stone-oven bakery (which also has branches in London) produces some of the best bread in the city, and they also make a mean semla, which coarsely ground cardamom, beautifully piped whipped cream and thickly powdered triangular lids. They also serve a semla made with a classic cardamom bun, and during the week around Shrove Tuesday they extend their selection further still with a vegan semla.

Malvas is a small gluten-free artisanal bakery on Vikingagatan in Birkastan. Tuck into gluten-free semlor with beautifully piped cream and a triangular lid powdered with icing sugar. There's also a vanilla semla which is filled with vanilla cream instead of almond paste, which can be pre-ordered. Keep an eye on the bakery's Instagram for info on which days the semlor are available, and send an order.

If you find yourself in Sundbyberg needing sweet treats without gluten, head to Café Så Gott. They serve gluten-free semlor with large lids and fluffy lactose-free cream. Choose between smooth almond paste and almond paste with roughly chopped nuts. 

Gullegårdens stone-oven bakery in Gärdet is especially popular with Stockholmers who want to avoid gluten. They serve creamy semlor all season, all of which are naturally gluten-free. If you'd like a gluten-free vegan or vanilla semla you can also pre-order these.