Scandinavian London

Whether homesick Scandinavian or hungry Brit, you get a warm welcome from the smiley staff at SK, who are a dab hand at doling out decent coffees and Swedish cinnamon buns. Lunch is mix-and-match combos of salads and open sandwiches, and cakes are baked every day: kladdkaka (Swedish sticky chocolate cake, served with whipped cream) and apple cake are excellent. Further temptation comes in the form of Scandinavian groceries, from crispbreads to herring and liquorice.

Stepping into Nordic Bakery’s calm, ordered world gives you a rush of reassurance that everything will, in fact, be alright. The sandwiches are neat circles of dark rye supporting Scandinavian staples such as gravadlax, brie and lingonberry, or vinegary herring with soft egg and a mustardy mayonnaise. Or try a karelian pie – a traditional Finnish rice or potato pasty. Get there early if you want to get your hands on one of the famous cinnamon buns, though the squishy, sugary butter buns are pretty addictive too.

This Swedish bakery (‘bageriet’) in Covent Garden is a contender for producing the capital’s best buns. Judging by the succession of Swedes popping in for a coffee and a sweet treat during our visit, it hasn’t taken long for word about this diminutive but stylish bakery and café to get around. A counter along one wall is lined with delicious Nordic baked goods – rounds of crispbread, plump cream buns and almond tarts – and the savouries just as successful. And the cinnamon buns? Delightfully light, buttery and aromatic. We’ll be back for more.

What with Violet, Pavilion, E5 Bakehouse and The Dusty Knuckle, Hackney has more artisanal bakeries than you can shake a rolling pin at. But you can never have too many, especially when they’re lovely as The Bread Station. Danish chef Christoffer Hruskova specialises in dark rye loaves, wholemeal boules and cinnamon buns.

Scandinavian cooking has been a big deal here in London for a few years, but much of it has been Swedish in origin or orientation. Snaps & Rye is Danish, and is also sensationally good. The venue embodies all that’s best about Scandinavian design, but the owners have clearly taken pains to make their food as good as it can possibly be. There’s a selection of ready-made sandwiches, but the superb ‘à la carte smørrebrød’ with Danish specialities is the menu to go for.

Sticks n Sushi has been imported from Denmark, where there are ten branches; many design elements in the cavernous space allude to its Scandinavian origins – such as the comfy wooden chairs. The sticks, or skewers, are safe and western-friendly: no gizzards, cartilage or other more uncomfortable cuts. Vegetarians won’t feel left out either, as there are plenty of veggie sushi choices and sides.

There are a few spots in London where you can get a decent Nordic pastry, but we’re particularly keen on the buns they’re doing at this Swedish bakery. Artisan bakery chain Fabrique offers excellent sourdough loaves baked in the stone ovens, huge walnut bread boules, batons of rye sold in whole or half loaves and, of course, cinnamon buns. Thank fika!

Kupp transcends its soulless and bleak Paddington Basin setting and establishes itself as a destination worth travelling to for anyone who lives within walking distance. And for the office minnows who paddle in the Basin, it’s a godsend – the best place to eat in the complex. Kupp is officially Scandinavian, and plenty on the menu justifies the tag. Other things don’t, such as burgers or a chorizo sausage roll. ‘Modern restaurant with Scandi roots’ might be closer to the mark. The look combines Scandi-streamlined with London-industrial, and windows the size of Berkshire give a great view of the canal just a few feet away.  

This Portobello Road café and restaurant has a firmly Nordic feel – the food and drink is Swedish and the staff are mostly Scandinavian. The eponymous Lisa has departed for pastures new but a focus on traditional Swedish home-style cooking remains. Expect, then, meatballs, Swedish fish stews, 'koldolmar' (a white cabbage roll with red lentils, mushrooms, onion, garlic and herbs) and 'pytt i panna' (a Swedish hash of pork sausage with ham, potatoes, onion, pickled beetroot and raw egg yolk).