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

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

Tatty Good, Content Writer UK & Translator SE, Thatsup Tatty Good, Content Writer UK & Translator SE, Thatsup
Tatty Good

"Semlor" (singular "semla") Lenten buns were traditionally eaten on Shrove Tuesday but are now available from January until Easter so if you're in Stockholm during this period don't miss the chance to sample these creamy, cardamom-scented delights. The competition among Stockholm bakers to make the best semla of the year gets hotter every year, and the quality varies considerably, so to make sure you find the real gems - from classic buns to creative takes on the traditional semla, as well as gluten-free and organic buns - we've listed the cafés, konditoris and bakeries where you're guaranteed to find a superb semla. Here are some of the best semlor in Stockholm - sample a few and don't miss Shrove Tuesday, which falls this year on 13 February 2024!

  1. The best semlor in Stockholm
    1. 1
      Pesso Stockholm's Best Semla 2024
    2. 2
      Haga Tårtcompani och Bageri Stockholm's best semla 2023
    3. 3
      Vallentuna Stenugnsbageri Semla of the Year 2021
    4. 4
      Ritorno Semlor and ice skates
    5. 5
      Bergstrands Bageri Craftsmanship on the corner
    6. 6
      Skeppsbro Bageri 100% organic
    7. 7
      Bullar & Bröd Semla of the year 2019 and 2020
    8. 8
      Lillebrors Bageri Artisan bakery in Birkastan
    9. 9
      Brioche Semla of the year 2018
    10. 10
      Tössebageriet Classic with modern influences
    11. 11
      Svedjan Recipe for success
    12. 12
      Socker Sucker A treat for the eyes
    13. 13
      Linnea's Lactose-free semlor
    14. 14
      Granero Bakery With candied almonds
    15. 15
      Bageriet BAK Popular bakery south of Södermalm
    16. 16
      Vattenverket Close to nature
    17. 17
      Bröd & Salt Semlor for everyone
    18. 18
      Lidingö Bröd & Pâtisserie French-Swedish in Lidingö
    19. 19
      Panem Café meets bistro
    20. 20
      Spånga Konditori Popular spot outside town
    21. 21
      MR Cake Swedish meets American
    22. 22
      Rosendals Trädgård Organic in Djurgården
    23. 23
      K-märkt At several addresses
    24. 24
      Vår Gård Semlor in Saltsjöbaden
    25. 25
      Valhallabageriet Popular sourdough bakery
    26. 26
      Viggbyholms stationskafé Täby talking point
    27. 27
      Gunnarsons Reliable semla spot
    28. 28
      Stora Bageriet Salty-sweet semla
    29. 29
      Fabrique Gorgeous buns at one of the city's favourite bakeries
  2. Gluten-free semlor
    1. 1
      Malvas glutenfria hantverksbageri Fine craftsmanship
    2. 2
      Café Så Gott Semlor in Sundbyberg
    3. 3
      Gullegårdens 100% gluten-free

Jump to

The best semlor in Stockholm

Stockholm's Best Semla 2024

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. 

  • Patentgatan 7, Lilla/Stora Essingen Drottningholmsvägen 15, Kungsholmen Bobergsgatan 59, Norra Djurgårdsstaden

Stockholm's best semla 2023

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. 

  • Hammarby Allé 1 Fleminggatan 107, Kungsholmen Torsgatan 75, Vasastan Swedenborgsgatan 4B, Södermalm

Vallentuna Stenugnsbageri

Semla of the Year 2021

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.

Ritorno

Semlor and ice skates

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.

Bergstrands Bageri

Craftsmanship on the corner

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.

Skeppsbro Bageri – Semlor
Skeppsbro Bageri
Skeppsbro Bageri – Semlor
Skeppsbro Bageri
Skeppsbro Bageri – Semlor
Skeppsbro Bageri
Skeppsbro Bageri – Semlor
Skeppsbro Bageri
Skeppsbro Bageri – Semlor
Skeppsbro Bageri
Skeppsbro Bageri – Semlor
Skeppsbro Bageri

Skeppsbro Bageri

100% organic

This organic artisan bakery on Skeppsbrokajen sells a classic semla, as well as a croissant semla, which you can enjoy with beautiful views over the water. You can also buy from their bread busses; check their website for their current location.

Bullar & Bröd

Semla of the year 2019 and 2020

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.

Lillebrors Bageri

Artisan bakery in Birkastan

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.

Brioche

Semla of the year 2018

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

Classic with modern influences

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. 

Svedjan

Recipe for success

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.

Socker Sucker

A treat for the eyes

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.

Linnea's Pâtisserie, Café & Konditori – Semlor
Linnea's Pâtisserie, Café & Konditori
Linnea's Pâtisserie, Café & Konditori – Semlor
Linnea's Pâtisserie, Café & Konditori
Linnea's Pâtisserie, Café & Konditori – Semlor
Linnea's Pâtisserie, Café & Konditori
Linnea's Pâtisserie, Café & Konditori – Semlor
Linnea's Pâtisserie, Café & Konditori
Linnea's Pâtisserie, Café & Konditori – Semlor
Linnea's Pâtisserie, Café & Konditori
Linnea's Pâtisserie, Café & Konditori – Semlor
Linnea's Pâtisserie, Café & Konditori
Linnea's Pâtisserie, Café & Konditori – Semlor
Linnea's Pâtisserie, Café & Konditori
Linnea's Pâtisserie, Café & Konditori – Semlor
Linnea's Pâtisserie, Café & Konditori
Linnea's Pâtisserie, Café & Konditori – Semlor
Linnea's Pâtisserie, Café & Konditori
Linnea's Pâtisserie, Café & Konditori – Semlor
Linnea's Pâtisserie, Café & Konditori

Linnea's

Lactose-free semlor

Enjoy a lactose-free semla filled with Valencia almond paste and whipped cream at this pâtisserie, konditori and café in Tyresö Strand. The semlor are baked using organic ingredients and are left to prove for a long time for a fuller flavour. Linnea's is run by Linnea Andrae, winner of the Swedish version of The Great British Bake Off.

Granero Bakery

With candied almonds

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?

Bageriet BAK

Popular bakery south of Södermalm

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.

Vattenverket

Close to nature

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.

Semlor for everyone

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.

  • Sveavägen 49, City/Vasastan Skeppsbrokajen, Old Town Hammarby allé 66A, Hammarby sjöstad Sveavägen 80, Vasastan Järntorget 83, Old Town Sankt Eriksplan 6B, Vasastan Rosenlundsgatan 48D, Södermalm Regeringsgatan 48, City/Norrmalm Odengatan 83, Vasastan Karlbergsvägen 8, Vasastan Götgatan 93, Södermalm/Skanstull Humlegårdsgatan 7, Östermalm Kungsgatan 2, City/Östermalm/Norrmalm Torsplan 1, Vasastan

Lidingö Bröd & Pâtisserie

French-Swedish in Lidingö

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

Café meets bistro

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

Popular spot outside town

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 Regeringsgatan – Semlor
MR Cake Regeringsgatan
MR Cake Regeringsgatan – Semlor
MR Cake Regeringsgatan
MR Cake Regeringsgatan – Semlor
MR Cake Regeringsgatan
MR Cake Regeringsgatan – Semlor
MR Cake Regeringsgatan
MR Cake Regeringsgatan – Semlor
MR Cake Regeringsgatan
MR Cake Regeringsgatan – Semlor
MR Cake Regeringsgatan
MR Cake Regeringsgatan – Semlor
MR Cake Regeringsgatan
MR Cake Regeringsgatan – Semlor
MR Cake Regeringsgatan
MR Cake Regeringsgatan – Semlor
MR Cake Regeringsgatan
MR Cake Regeringsgatan – Semlor
MR Cake Regeringsgatan

Swedish meets American

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.

  • Regeringsgatan 57, City/Norrmalm Rådmansgatan 12A, Östermalm

Rosendals Trädgård

Organic in Djurgården

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.

K-märkt Hagastaden – Semlor
K-märkt Hagastaden
K-märkt Hagastaden – Semlor
K-märkt Hagastaden
K-märkt Hagastaden – Semlor
K-märkt Hagastaden
K-märkt Hagastaden – Semlor
K-märkt Hagastaden
K-märkt Hagastaden – Semlor
K-märkt Hagastaden
K-märkt Hagastaden – Semlor
K-märkt Hagastaden
K-märkt Hagastaden – Semlor
K-märkt Hagastaden
K-märkt Hagastaden – Semlor
K-märkt Hagastaden

At several addresses

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 2024, K-märkt took home a very respectable seventh place. 

  • Karlavägen 100, Östermalm Gustav Iii:S Boulevard 32, Solna Solnavägen 3, Vasastan Elektrogatan 2, Solna Mäster Samuelsgatan 30, City/Norrmalm Götgatan 132, Södermalm/Skanstull
Vår Gård – Semlor
Vår Gård
Vår Gård – Semlor
Vår Gård
Vår Gård – Semlor
Vår Gård
Vår Gård – Semlor
Vår Gård
Vår Gård – Semlor
Vår Gård
Vår Gård – Semlor
Vår Gård
Vår Gård – Semlor
Vår Gård
Vår Gård – Semlor
Vår Gård

Vår Gård

Semlor in Saltsjöbaden

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.

Popular sourdough bakery

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.

  • Valhallavägen 174, Östermalm Östermalmsgatan 92, Östermalm Odengatan 19, Vasastan/Östermalm

Viggbyholms stationskafé

Täby talking point

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.

Gunnarsons

Reliable semla spot

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. 

Salty-sweet semla

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.

  • Sankt Eriksgatan 88, Vasastan Sibyllegatan 2, Östermalm

Gorgeous buns at one of the city's favourite bakeries

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.

  • Götgatan 24, Södermalm Nybrogatan 6, Östermalm Odengatan 42, Vasastan Scheelegatan 6, Kungsholmen Långholmsgatan 27, Södermalm/Hornstull Rosenlundsgatan 28, Södermalm

Gluten-free semlor

Malvas glutenfria hantverksbageri

Fine craftsmanship

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.

Café Så Gott

Semlor in Sundbyberg

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

100% gluten-free

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. 

Semlor – About the guide

The best semlor in Stockholm - The guide to Stockholm's best Lenten buns is regularly updated. Please get in touch if you know of any really good semla buns in Stockholm that we've missed. Please also let us know if you spot any errors in the guide. Have you eaten at any of the places mentioned in the guide? Don't forget to write a review on Thatsup.

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