Gothenburg
Christmas buffets in Gothenburg: Liseberg, the archipelago and hotels
Mulled wine steams on the verandah, and inside there is herring in many forms, Jansson's temptation and a whole table of sweets. In Gothenburg, the Christmas buffet also tastes of the sea.
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In short: Christmas buffets in Gothenburg
The Christmas buffet season in Gothenburg runs from mid-November to Christmas Eve. The most popular places are Liseberg, the Imagine restaurant on the 29th floor of Gothia Towers, the buffet boats from Lilla Bommen and Sjömagasinet in Klippan. Our first choice for a festive weekend is Gothia Towers, where the buffet, your room and Liseberg are all on the same block.
Our first choice: Gothia Towers. Check availability and prices at Gothia Towers
Swedes treat the Christmas buffet as the highlight of December, and booking one is the best way to understand the season. Most of the places below are within walking distance of the centre, a short tram ride away or reached by boat.
We have grouped them by mood: at Liseberg, with a view, on the water and with a starred chef. At the end you will find hotels where you can eat the buffet and sleep under the same roof.
How a Swedish Christmas buffet works
A Swedish Christmas buffet is eaten in rounds, and the order matters. Herring comes first, in several kinds, then salmon, then cold meats such as ham and pâté.
Next come the small hot dishes: meatballs, small sausages and Jansson's temptation, a potato and anchovy gratin. Cheese and dessert follow, and last of all there is a table of Christmas sweets. In Gothenburg the seafood gets more space than elsewhere in Sweden, with prawns, crab and lobster.
A Christmas buffet at Liseberg
Liseberg serves Christmas buffets in several restaurants while the park is open for Christmas. Hamnkrogen, the park's fish restaurant, offers a West Coast buffet with seafood, the classic dishes and plenty of vegan options. Alcohol-free mulled wine and gingerbread are served on the verandah half an hour before each sitting.
Restaurang 1923 serves a traditional buffet, and families can book Nissebordet, a spread of children's favourites. Combine dinner with an evening in the park, and read more in Christmas at Liseberg. For a short walk home, see our pick of hotels near Liseberg.
The lift goes to the 29th floor
Gothia Towers is right across the road from Liseberg. Photo: Hotels.com (Expedia Group)
A Christmas buffet with a view
The Imagine restaurant sits at the top of Tower 3 at Gothia Towers, on the 29th floor. The evening starts with a welcome drink on the floor below. The buffet is then served in seven rounds, from herring to cakes and sweets from the hotel's own pastry kitchen.
The buffet runs on selected dates from late November to Christmas Eve, including Christmas Eve itself. There is no separate vegan menu. Children under three eat free, and there are reduced prices up to the age of twelve.
Gothia Towers
Gothia Towers has three towers at Korsvägen, with Liseberg on one side and the Swedish Exhibition and Congress Centre on the other. Eat on the 29th floor, take the lift down to your room and walk to the park the next day.
Upper House Spa in the same building has a pool with views over the city, and Gothia Towers guests get a discount. Read more about Gothia Towers and Upper House.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Gothia Towers
A Christmas buffet on the water
From late November until just before Christmas, buffet boats leave Lilla Bommen every day. Strömma serves mulled wine and a Christmas buffet on a cruise through the archipelago, with lunch from 12 to 3 and dinner from 6 to 9. A troubadour plays on the evening cruises.
Sjömagasinet in Klippan fills a warehouse built in 1775 for the Swedish East India Company and is listed in the Michelin Guide. Its buffet takes its cue from the sea and is served at lunch and dinner. Read more in Seafood in Gothenburg.
Tullhuset on the island of Hönö serves a buffet of seafood only, with no ham or meatballs. Take the ferry out from the city and make an afternoon of it.
A sauna before dinner
Hällsnäs is on Lake Landvettersjön, 20 minutes from the centre. Photo: Hotels.com (Expedia Group)
A Christmas buffet by a starred chef
Hällsnäs on Lake Landvettersjön is home to Signum, Thomas Sjögren's restaurant with two Michelin stars. He designs the Christmas buffet here, with game, vegetables and seafood alongside the classics.
Hällsnäs
Hällsnäs has 69 rooms and a spa with a sauna raft, an infrared sauna and warm outdoor baths. Take a sauna in the afternoon, eat in the evening and wake up to a lake view. Read more in Spa hotels in Gothenburg.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Hällsnäs
Christmas on Drottningtorget
Hôtel Eggers has been a hotel since 1859. Photo: Hotels.com (Expedia Group)
A Christmas buffet in the city
Many of the buffets in the centre are in hotels, so you can eat and sleep in the same building. Here are some of the best.
Hôtel Eggers
Eggers has been a hotel since 1859 and serves its buffet in rooms inspired by belle époque Paris. The dishes come on silver platters in the classic style of the chef Tore Wretman, and the whole buffet is lactose-free.
It runs from late November until shortly before Christmas. The hotel stands on Drottningtorget, a few steps from the Central Station.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Hôtel Eggers
Clarion Hotel Post
In the old post office, the restaurant Norda serves a Christmas buffet in Posthallen, with Nordic classics given a twist and a dessert table from the hotel's award-winning pastry chefs. The Skönhetsfabriken spa is in the same building. You can also book directly with Strawberry.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Clarion Hotel Post
A buffet with a river view
Hotel Riverton is on Skeppsbron. Photo: Hotels.com (Expedia Group)
Hotel Riverton
Hotel Riverton on Skeppsbron serves its buffet with views over the Göta älv river. Swedish classics meet international dishes here, and there are plenty of vegetarian options.
Linnéstaden and Haga are within walking distance, so the night does not have to end after dinner. The hotel spa has a pool and warm baths for the morning after.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Hotel Riverton
If you like game, Pivo serves a buffet with elk, venison and reindeer. Dicksonska palatset is a historic party venue with a buffet from mid-November and a room given over entirely to sweets.
Good to know before you book
Book early: The weekends at the end of November and early December sell out first, in restaurants and hotels alike.
Budget in kronor: Most Christmas buffets in Gothenburg cost between 700 and 1,300 Swedish kronor per person. Drinks are extra.
Eat in rounds: Take a little at a time and go back often. Herring first, sweets last.
Pick your day: Lunch and weekdays are usually cheaper than Friday and Saturday evenings.
Last checked October 2026 with Liseberg, Gothia Towers, Strömma and Göteborg & Co.
Our first choice for a festive weekend in Gothenburg
Gothia Towers
Gothia Towers puts the whole weekend on one block. Eat the Christmas buffet at Imagine on the 29th floor, with the city below you, then take the lift down to your room. The next day, Christmas at Liseberg is right across the road, and Upper House Spa waits in the same building for anyone in need of warm water. The hotel has three towers at Korsvägen, and the tram runs straight into the centre.
Frequently asked questions about Christmas buffets in Gothenburg
When does the Christmas buffet season start in Gothenburg?
The season starts in mid-November and runs until Christmas Eve. Liseberg serves Christmas buffets from mid-November until just before Christmas, and Gothia Towers from late November up to and including Christmas Eve. The buffet boats from Lilla Bommen sail daily from late November. The first weekends in December book up first.
How much does a Christmas buffet cost in Gothenburg?
Most Christmas buffets in Gothenburg cost between 700 and 1,300 Swedish kronor per person, without drinks. Lunch is the cheapest, often around 700 kronor, while Friday and Saturday evenings cost the most. The buffet boats from Lilla Bommen start at around 700 kronor for lunch. Children usually pay a reduced price.
What is on a Swedish Christmas buffet?
A Swedish Christmas buffet starts with herring and salmon, then moves on to cold meats such as ham and pâté. After that come hot dishes such as meatballs, small sausages and Jansson's temptation, a potato and anchovy gratin. Cheese, dessert and a table of Christmas sweets round it off. In Gothenburg you will find extra seafood.
Can you have a Christmas buffet on a boat in Gothenburg?
Yes, buffet boats leave Lilla Bommen in the city centre every day from late November until just before Christmas. The cruise lasts about three hours, with mulled wine on arrival and the buffet served as the boat sails through the archipelago. There are lunch and dinner cruises, and the dinners have live music. Book early for weekends.
Where should we stay for a festive weekend in Gothenburg?
Stay where you eat, so you do not need a taxi home. Our first choice is Gothia Towers, with a buffet on the 29th floor and Liseberg across the road. Hôtel Eggers and Clarion Hotel Post are by the Central Station and serve their own buffets. For a spa and a starred chef, Hällsnäs on Lake Landvettersjön is a fine choice.