A foodie guide to Gothenburg

Gothenburg might be known as Sweden’s second city, but it's the capital for cuisine. To whet your appetite, we're serving up a list of the city's best home-grown specialties and culinary experiences for you to look out for.&Gothenburg's cobbled streets buzz with a vibrant café culture and the sounds of street vendors touting pickled herring and sausages. Further east, the&harbors overflow with&seafood restaurants, where locals dine on freshly caught fish while watching the sun set over the archipelagos. Cuisine here is closely tied to the city's sea-faring history - so there are few better ways to get to know Gothenburg than through the stomach.

The gothic-style archways of the&Feskekôrka&look more like a&19th century church than the entrance to the city's biggest fish market. It's the perfect place to taste pickled herring; once the mainstay of Swedish diets, sustaining families through long, harsh winters, this staple has become a delicate regional specialty steeped in complementary sauces and spices. Restaurant&Gabriel,&housed within the&Feskekôrka, gets first refusal on all incoming catches. Unsurprisingly, it's a hot spot for herring fanatics and one of the city's best-loved seafood joints. Chef-owner Johan&Malm is&also a champion oyster shucker, so expect the juiciest oysters in town.

Bjorn&Persson's&Michelin-starred&Koka&is proudly Swedish. While it's tempting to try the pan-fried catch of the day, the wild duck is a real stand-out dish, sprinkled with grated walnuts and parsley.&Persson's&other eatery, Restaurant Familjen, is one of Gothenburg's trendiest dining spots. Serving up tapas-sized&plates of regional favorites, it's perfect for those who want to try a bit of everything. Be sure to save room for the fluffy Mazarin&cake soaked in warm rose-hip consommé.

Swedish cuisine is famous for tasty meatballs, so don't leave Gothenburg without sampling some of the best. Head to&Kungstorget, a leisurely walk from our&Radisson Blu Scandinavia Hotel, Gothenburg, where they're served with creamy mashed potatoes and tart&lingonberries. Those on the go should stop at a local 'korv&kiosk' (hot dog stand) and order&the whole and half special (two sausages in one bun topped with a generous helping of mashed potato). This hearty dish was invented in Gothenburg during the&1930s.

Fika&is a Swedish term for a coffee break enjoyed with a sweet pastry, and no afternoon in Gothenburg would be complete without it. Stop by Cafe Husaren&in the heart of the Haga district for a freshly ground cup of coffee and a cinnamon bun - they claim to have the largest (and most flavorful) in the world. You'll recognize the shop window immediately by the pile of enormous swirls that are laid out before your eyes. Anyone with an insatiable sweet tooth should head to&Cafe&Kringlan for a decadently rich hot chocolate. This rich winter warmer pairs perfectly with a&Gothenburg truffle, topped with flakes of sea salt - a tasty nod to the city's ocean-faring heritage.