Tvååker, Sweden

Restaurang Äng

The Nordics • Eat & drink • Restaurang Äng in Tvååker, Sweden

What’s the restaurant in a nutshell?

A meal at Restaurang Äng starts ahead of entering the restaurant. The winding path that runs through a Halland meadow is the first taste of what guests of the one Michelin star restaurant are about to experience: a bountiful region filled to the brim of beautiful produce. Housed inside a mirrored glass greenhouse – another metaphor of sorts, you might say – is run by chef Filip Gemzell and his partner Ann-Catrine Johansson, who takes on the role of Äng’s sommelier. The restaurant, which reopened in the new multi-level glass structure in 2022, is the stunning work of Copenhagen-based Norm Architects.

What are the signature dishes?

The restaurant’s name Äng, Swedish for ‘meadow’, gives a clue of what to expect on the culinary side. Produce for the 19-course tasting menu is sourced and foraged from the fields, forests and lakes in the vicinity. Favourite dishes include the chestnut tart with pickled chanterelles, portobello cream and Swedish Gotland truffles, the oyster emulsion with chips made from shrimp shells and the langoustine with caramelized cream, juniper, dill oil, and yarrow. For dessert, the truffle and brown butter fondant with a camellia cheese crisp and pine ice cream is a fan favourite.

Drinks, anyone?

Not many Swedish restaurants can boast of having their own small-scale winery (none can, come to think of it). At the nearby Ästad vineyard, run by the three Carlson siblings, the focus is solely on organic sparkling wines made in accordance with the traditional Champagne method. Restaurang Äng’s wine pairing also includes other mainly European wines. Halfway through dinner, guests are invited into an internal lift that takes you down a level to a cool, windowless wine cellar and lounge where the walls are lined with wine bottles.

What’s the area like?

Steeped in agricultural history and a dedication to sustainability, Halland – just south of Gothenburg – stands as ’the good land’, marking itself as a paradise for foodies and a vital pit-stop for anyone journeying to Sweden’s west coast. Visitors are invited to discover the region’s historical gems such as Halmstad’s medieval castle or Tylösand’s breathtaking beaches and to savour the eclectic array of traditional Swedish to modern fusion dishes served at the plethora of excellent restaurants and cafes.