Food & Drink

In Pursuit of Perfection: Stockholm’s Best Kanelbullar

One of the first things you’ll notice when visiting Stockholm is the abundance of pastries. And what a great thing to notice! For people outside the Scandi-verse, kanelbullar (cinnamon rolls) are coil-shaped buns with cinnamon-flavoured filling, usually glazed with thin icing. These buns can be enjoyed at any time! There is the traditional fika setting (a cosy coffee and pastry), or lazing in the sun at Mariatorget, or even sitting on the bow of a sailboat while cruising the Stockholm archipelago. All situations can be improved with a nice cinnamon bun.

Over the past few years, the kardemummabulle (cardamon roll) has increasingly become the fika bun of choice in Stockholm, but let’s be real: cinnamon is king of the Swedish pastry jungle. One thing is for certain: in Sweden not all cinnamon buns are created equal. Some are light and fluffy, but more dry; while others are heavier on the butter. Interestingly, the variation between Swedish cinnamon rolls isn’t as noticeable as the cinnamon rolls of Copenhagen. The Danish cinnamon bun tradition isn’t as long as Sweden’s, and so the recipe is more open to interpretation; just a guess.

Here at Scandinavia Standard, it remains our mission to explore the complexities of these mouth-watering pastries. Although you can find kanelbullar at almost any bakery or supermarket, the best ones can be found at a few choice locations around the city.

Here are our favorite, dare we say the best, cinnamon rolls or kanelbullar in Stockholm:

List Marker: Number 1Valhalla

Valhallabageriet has the most authentic bakery feeling in Stockholm. You’ll agree as you watch the bakers rolling out dough in the back, smell the flour in the air, and lust after stacks upon stacks of pastries filling the windows. Sounds like heaven, right? Generally speaking, the taller the cinnamon bun, the more they’re like air castles, but Valhalla breaks this rule. The rolls are tall but packed with cinnamon flavour, not air.


 

Filling and Features

Classic bun with almond flavor. Packed with cinnamon. Crystalised sugar on top

Dough

Fluffy but sturdy

 

→Valhallabageriet

Valhallavägen 174
115 27 Stockholm

Opening Hours:
Mon – Fri 7:00 am – 6:00 pm

Sat 8:00 am – 3:00 pm
Sun 9:00 am – 3:00 pm

 
 
 

List Marker: Number 2Gateau

From the outside, Gateau’s cinnamon buns look like just another classic cinnamon bun. But don’t be fooled, inside they’re filled with bursts of cinnamon-buttery goodness. Gateau has grown enormously and their quality is consistent across Stockholm.


 

Filling & Features

Old school. Sugar crystals. Cardamon notes. Nice little bursts of flavour in the bun

Dough

Slightly more bready

 

Gateau

Hamngatan 37
111 53 Stockholm

Opening Hours:
Mon-Fri 7am – 7pm
Sat 9am – 6pm
Sun 11am- 5pm



Långholmsgatan 23
117 33 Stockholm

Opening Hours:
Mon-Fri 8am – 8pm
Sat 9am – 6pm
Sun 9am- 6pm


Västmannagatan 50
113 25 Stockholm

Opening Hours:
Mon-Fri 7am – 6pm
Sat 6am – 5pm
Sun 6am- 5pm

See more locations here.

 
 
 

List Marker: Number 3Rosendals Trädgård Bageri

This bakery is located in Rosendals Trädgård, a big organic garden on the island of Djugården. This is a solid, all-round bun, and well worth the trek to Rosendal’s garden for a bite. The bun is bready and fluffy, with an excellent syrupy caramelised sugar filling. While you’re there, explore the gardens, greenhouses and café that also serves food based on what they grow in the surrounding gardens.


 

Filling and Features

Crystallised sugar. Nice syrupy, caramelised filling

Dough

Bready, fluffy dough. Slightly more dry

 

Rosendals Trädgård Bageri

February – March 

Tues – Sun 11am – 4pm
Mon Closed

April 

Tues – Sun 11am – 5pm
Mon Closed


May – September
Every day 11am – 5pm

October – December 

Tues – Sun 11am – 4pm
Mon Closed

January – Closed

 
 
 

List Marker: Number 4Green Rabbit Rågbrödsbageriet

Although Green Rabbit was opened by Michelin-starred chefs Martin Berg and Mathias Dahlgren, the cafe has a very casual affair. The flavours of their juicy cinnamon buns won’t disappoint. Their recipe is a unique take on the Swedish classic, with a crunchy top and elements of rye flour. The roll comes with comes in a base paper, like a cupcake.


 

Filling and Features

Crunchy sugar, great texture. Comes with base paper

Dough

Fluffy dough, slightly cakey

 

Green Rabbit

Tegnérgatan 17
111 40 Stockholm

Opening Hours:
Tues – Fri  8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Sat 10:00 am – 3:00 pm
Sun & Mon Closed

 
 
 

List Marker: Number 5Petrus

Petrus bakeri is a favorite amongst the Södermalm locals, evidenced by the throngs of “latte pappas” (Swedish men on paternity leave) you’ll find there in search of good coffee and excellent pastries. These beauties have a strong almond flavour with almond flakes on top to boot. They have a great consistency, not too fluffy, not too dense.


 

Filling and Features

Topped with crystallised sugar and almond flakes. Strong cinnamon and almond flavours. Syrupy filling

Dough

Great consistency, not too fluffy, not too dense

Bageri Petrus

Swedenborgsgatan 4B
118 48 Stockholm

Opening Hours:

Mon – Fri 7:00 am – 6:00 pm

Sat 8:00 am – 3:00 pm
Sun Closed

 
 
 

List Marker: Number 6Fabrique

Fabrique, around since 2008, has bakeries across Stockholm so you don’t have to look far to find your next kanelbulle. Although it seems easy to discount a bakery because it’s a chain, Fabrique remains one of the best. Their buns are more doughy and moist, lying on the buttery side of the spectrum.


 

Filling & Features

Sugar crystals. Caramelised filling. Nice cinnamon to sugar ratio

Dough

Buttery but not too buttery. Extremely moist. Doughy

 

Fabrique

Rosenlundsgatan 28
118 53 Stockholm

Opening Hours:
Mon-Fri 7am – 6pm
Sat 8am – 4pm
Sun 8am- 4pm


Drottninggatan 102
111 60 Stockholm, Sverige

Opening Hours:
Mon-Fri 7:30am – 6pm
Sat 8am – 5pm
Sun 9am- 4pm


Götgatan 24
118 46 Stockholm

Opening Hours:
Mon-Fri 7:30am – 6:30pm
Sat 8am – 4pm
Sun 9am- 3pm

See more locations here.

 
 

Honorable Mentions

Urban Deli

Bakery and Spice

Tösse

 
Special thanks to Albin Blomkvist for his gastronomical guidance.

Hungry for more? Check out our guide to Copenhagen’s Best Kanelsnegle!

Last edited

Freya McOmish

Freya McOmish is a co-founder and Creative Director at Scandinavia Standard. Half Danish, half Australian. Background in law, film and philosophy.