Have you ever heard the Swedish word fika? Going for a “fika” entails meeting up with someone for coffee and a sweet treat. It is also an absolute must do if you are visiting Sweden. And there few sweet treats quite as classic as the one and only cinnamon bun! One of the best things about Stockholm is the tremendous amount of cafés, bakeries and patisseries that you can visit for your fika cravings, but it can also be difficult to navigate which ones are worth the visit. As a former Stockholm local who lived in Sweden for almost two decades, let me tell you about my top recommendations where you can find delicious cinnamon buns!
What is a Swedish cinnamon bun?
Cinnamon buns aren’t unique to Sweden, but people around the world make them in countless ways. The classic Swedish version uses a sweetened wheat flour dough filled with cinnamon, butter, and sugar, then topped with pearl sugar. There is usually no glaze on top and the shape is either rolled or twisted. I may be biased, considering I grew up in Sweden, but these Nordic style cinnamon buns are just such a treat. And if you are looking for the best fika in Stockholm, you kind of have to try at least one cinnamon bun.
Kanelbullens dag!
The cinnamon bun is so popular in Sweden that it even has it’s own day: Kanelbullens dag (or Cinnamon Bun day in English). On the 4th October the sales of cinnamon buns go crazy and everyone competes about having the best one. I actually passed my drivers test on the 4th October many years ago now, but I definitely celebrated with a cinnamon once I had stopped crying tears of happiness. Cinnamon Bun day – or kanelbullens dag in Swedish – has been celebrated annually since 1999. It’s difficult to guess exactly how many cinnamon buns that Swedish people buy and eat on this day, but the estimation is somewhere between 7 and 9 million buns, in Sweden alone. So when you go for fika in Stockholm, check out the cinnamon bun and see what so many Swedes are crazy about!
♥ In Swedish a cinnamon bun is a kanelbulle – and it’s a direct translation with kanel meaning cinnamon and bulle meaning bun.
Cinnamon Bun versus Cardamom Bun – and the bonus Saffron Buns!
The cinnamon bun may be the most classic bun, but lately it has gotten some competition from the cardamom bun. To decide which one you like the best, you’ll probably just have to try them both. And there are plenty of spots where you can go for fika in Stockholm, that serve both versions. I like the cinnamon buns with the pearly sugar topping, but I also adore cardamom so recently I have been opting for the cardamom buns instead. Besides the spices used, they are pretty much identical. However there are also other version of buns with common variants having flavourings of blueberry or vanilla.
Around Christmas time you will also see the saffron buns make their annual appearance. And they are so good! Perhaps it’s because they are only available during the Christmas season, but these are my absolutely favourites! Saffron buns can be made with raisins or without and come in various shapes. It’s believed that saffron was used in Sweden around Christmas time as the yellow spice brought light and and warmth during the cold winter months.
But on to the important question of: where do you find the best cinnamon bun in Stockholm?
♥ Need recommendations for where to stay on your Stockholm trip? Read our guide to the best hotels in the city here!
Where to Find the Best Cinnamon Bun in Stockholm: How to do fika like a local
Stora bageriet
This is a really popular spot, so don’t be surprised if there is a queue and especially on weekends. But it’s a really lovely spot for both coffee and a sweet treat and the cinnamon buns are a delight. During the warmer months there is also a lovely outdoor seating area which is brilliant for people spotting. Stora bageriet means “the big bakery” and the site was previously home to another bakery that had been operating for over 300 years but unfortunately had to shut down in 1958. But now baking is once again taking place inside its doors.
Stockholm 1897
Stockholm 1897 is a fairly new addition to the café scene in the city. I went for the first time last summer and really enjoyed it. It is located on Djurgården, just past the bridge. Their cinnamon buns (and other goods) feel really fresh and they a great line up of local Swedish fizzy drinks that I just love – the Stockholm view from here is also so lovely. It is also a beautiful spot right by the water and in the summer you can sit on the terrace outside. Even though I have only visited once so far, this is my new favourite spot in town.
Flickorna Helin
Flickorna Helin sits on Djurgården island in an incredibly charming brick building called Skånska Gruvan. Built for the 1897 Stockholm Exhibition, it’s one of only three remaining pavilions from that event. Today, the building serves both as museum storage and as the cosy home of Flickorna Helin. The baked goods are lovely and I usually come here for a cup of tea as well, as they have a nice loose tea menu. I particularly like this location during the winter months and the saffron bun is fantastic.
Rosendals Trädgård
Rosendals Trädgård – or the Rosendal Gardens – can also be found on Djurgården. The gardens are a lovely spot for a walk and you can sit inside in the greenhouses for lunch or fika. I really like the little shop which has a lot of local produce and items. It’s an excellent spot to pick up a souvenir or gift from your Stockholm trip. They also sell cinnamon buns here – and they taste really fresh! We usually visit in the summer or autumn and pick up buns to enjoy in to the orchard.
Bröd & Salt
Bröd & Salt (translation: Bread & Salt) have several shops across Stockholm but they are a reliable spot for good baked goods like cinnamon buns. It’s very handy to know that in most places there is a Bröd & Salt waiting around the corner. They also offer little bags of cookies to take away (or bring home as a souvenir) in case you want to put together a little fika at home or in your hotel.
Fabrique
Fabrique is another one that has several shops a little all over Stockholm. They are also really reliable and good. The cafés are usually really charming and rustic and they are a great spot to go for breakfast too.
Skeppsbro Bageri | An award winner for the best cinnamon bun
Skeppsbro Bageri won Best cinnamon bun in 2024 and they are 100% ecological. The bakery sits in a really scenic location by the Old Town right by the water. A lovely spot for a fika in Stockholm. There is seating both indoors and outdoors but you can also pick something up to take away and go explore Old Town or take the ferry across to Djurgården.
Lillebrors Bageri | One of my favorite cinnamon buns in Stockholm
Lillebrors Bageri (translation: Little brothers bakery) is well worth a mention on this list too. I have it on good authority that the locals (= my best friends) think Lillebrors have the best cinnamon bun in Stockholm. This is another really popular spots as the local really do like coming here. But the baked goods are worth a little bit of queuing in my opinion.
Cinnamon Bun Crawl
I am very partial to a nice walk through Stockholm to see and experience as much as possible. The underground and buses are really handy, but I always recommend a nice Stockholm walk. My favourite route has not only one spot for good cinnamon buns, but seven! So plenty of spots to search of the best cinnamon bun in Stockholm… Cinnamon bun crawl anyone?
Start near the Östermalm area centrally in Stockholm at Stora Bagariet on Sibyllegatan. It’s a great spot to pick up a drink – hot or cold depending on season – for a stroll along the water over to the island of Djurgården. Right across the bridge to Djurgården you’ll find Stockholm 1897. And if you continue along the water to your left as you’ve crossed the bridge, you stumble upon Flickorna Helin. The scenic walk continues along the water for a little further, before you head up to your right toward the Rosendal Palace. And just past it you will find the Rosendal Gardens (Rosendals Trädgård).
Pass through the gardens and head toward Djurgårdsvägen on the other side. But instead of heading back to the bridge, take the ferry across to Gamla Stan (Old Town). The ferry is available through the public transport ticket and has some of the best views of Stockholm. Right on the water on the other side, you’ll find not just Bröd & Salt but also Skeppsbro Bageri. However if you want to see the cinnamon bun window, this is also at a Bröd & Salt café and in the old town as well, but at Järntorget, a short walk away. And if you’ve not had enough by now, there also happens to be a Fabrique in the old town too…
FAQ – cinnamon buns in Stockholm
There are plenty of Swedish treats to try when you are in Stockholm and cinnamon buns should of course be top of that list! Besides cinnamon buns I would also recommend trying kladdkaka (gooey chocolate cake), princess cake, toast skagen, meatballs with lingonberry jam and also moose.
My favourite spot for the best fika in Stockholm or maybe in all of Sweden (and yes they do a good cinnamon bun too) is Djurgårdsbrunn Café.
There are many great bakeries in Stockholm that do good cinnamon buns, but my personal favourite is the one from Skeppsbro Bageri or Lillebrors.
Need more inspiration for your Sweden trip?
- Things to See and Do in Stockholm: An Insider’s Guide to the City
- The best hotels in Stockholm Sweden: Five-Star, Boutique & Iconic Luxury Hotels
- Grisslehamn Hotel Havsbaden Spa & Resort: Luxury relaxation near Stockholm
- Stora Sundby Slott: a Swedish fairytale castle outside of Eskilstuna
- Collector’s Victory Hotel Stockholm – An antique collectors charming hotel in the heart of the Old Town
Meet Moa, our multi-talented writer from Sweden who now calls Edinburgh, Scotland home. With over a decade exploring Europe’s hidden corners—from Nordic landscapes to alpine villages—Moa brings a unique perspective shaped by her years as a travel guide in the Swiss and Austrian Alps. As a whisky book author and freelance drinks writer, she has an eye for exceptional food and beverage experiences, while her background as a photographer ensures she never misses a scenic moment. Whether she’s discovering old European cities or chasing golden hour in mountain villages, Moa’s stories blend cultural insight with a dash of adventure and plenty of authenticity.
