Get a taste of Umeå through food and drinks

Over the past two decades, Umeå has gone through a restaurant-renaissance. The gastronomy scene offers everything from fine dining to cozy neighborhood hangouts, creative cocktail bars and authentic micro-breweries

Most restaurants in Umeå focus on sustainable, modern, and local cuisine – with inspiration from the 130 nationalities represented in Umeå.

In June of 2023 chefs, authors, publishers, and journalists from all over the world gathered for the “Oscars of food and drink-culture” – The Gourmand and Hallbars Awards in Umeå.

This summer the annual ‘Smakfestivalen’ celebrates its ten-year anniversary. This food and drink-festival takes place at the Umeå city center and offers amazing street food, lectures, competitive cooking, live music, and lots more.

3 x Stars in gastronomy

1. Emil Åreng – The Enfant Terrible of Swedish gastronomy is one of the world’s most respected and creative bartenders. His latest project is a unique cocktail bar concept – Facit Bar – that works exclusively with Swedish spirits and ingredients.

2. Anette Andersson & Malin Vallin – Two of Sweden’s top sommeliers happen to reside in Umeå. Anette was the winner of the 2022 Lily Bollinger Award, and Malin Wallin won the Swedish Championship of Young Sommeliers 2023. Let’s just say: If you’re a wine-lover, you’ve come to the right place.

3. Team Bryggverket – The flavour of Umeå in a can. Bryggverket is a local micro-brewery started in 2013 by a group of friends in Stöcksjö south of Umeå. Their playful takes on beer and soda, along with carefully selected ingredients, has made it a favourite among Nordic beer-lovers.