In my previous blog you can read all about our Swedish road trip and the unique spots, towns and nature sites we visited throughout Småland.
And because we saw and did so much in this 7 day trip with Visit Småland I found it only just to dedicate another full blog to the historic hotels, quaint accommodations and delicious restaurants we experienced here!
In this blog I will share 14 of them in order of our trip, with a special bonus hotel tip in Northern Germany at the end, which we experienced on our way back! Of course, as always, accompanied by many of my own pictures.
Itinerary - 7 day road trip through Småland
To follow our route and find the exact locations of all 15 hotels and restaurants, including the other sites we visited, you can also check this Google map I made for your convenience:
15 Unique Hotels & Restaurants Småland
Our first night in South Sweden started well with a royal stay at Teleborgs Slott, set in a small forest park by a lake, about 3 kms outside the city of Växjö.
1. Teleborgs Slott near Växjö
The castle’s exquisite interior, reminiscent of the turn of the century, offers a glimpse into the past. The castle from the 1900's, is now a charming hotel, offering 30 rooms, spread out over 3 buildings. Each unique with historic details, yet with modern amenities.
Do note that the rooms in the palace itself only have shared showers and toilets in the hallway, but also a sauna. We stayed in one of the smaller side buildings, which do have ensuite bathrooms in the room, are still quaint, yet have less historical charm.
The castle provides different rooms with 8 suites, one more atmospheric than the other, even including a tower suite with private rooftop access!
Breakfast in the Great Hall is always included in the stay and is a real treat. But lunch and dinner should be great as well, serving original dishes prepared with local ingredients. All meals are also available to non-guests.
In summer Brygghuset’s Bistro in the garden is opened with a lakeside terrace, the perfect spot to enjoy the tranquil natural surroundings of Teleborg Castle.
2. Huseby Bruk private afternoon tea
This factory, mill and castle estate, surrounded by extensive gardens, is truly worth a visit. You can read more about our visit to this historic place in my Smaland road trip blog.
One of the most unique experiences during our trip through Småland was the private Swedish afternoon tea, served in Huseby Castle by a private butler.
This treat includes everything you expect from a classic high tea, but also with some Swedish sandwiches and delicacies, prepared with ingredients from their own kitchen garden.
This unique lunch is served in the Grand Dining Room, in exactly the same manner as the castle’s old owner Elisabeth Stephens would have experienced it, at the end of the 19th century, with the original furniture, interior and service.
We got to enjoy this luxurious event privately with our group, making it an memorable part of our visit. And surely recommended to experience this yourself by booking in advance via: Contact Huseby Bruk
3. Asa Herrgård by lake Asa
After that we stayed for 1 night at a 17th-century manor house, that has been in the possession of several noble families for centuries, with a history that even goes back to the Middle Ages.
Asa Herrgård was renowned for having the most beautiful forests in Småland, and today, it offers plenty of trails surrounding the hotel, to enjoy this enchanting piece of nature.
The manor itself houses the reception, an organic kitchen and the breakfast / dining room, which are very atmospheric. The 30 hotel rooms are located in the wings and dormitory, all classically decorated with that quaint Swedish vibe.
You can also rent canoes or rowing boats here to enjoy the 120 km long lake system. And of course an evening in their Spa with 2 hot tubs and a sauna by Lake Asasjön should not be missed either.
4. Table in the forest - unique culinary experience
Although the restaurant’s dinner options should be very good and the breakfast truly was amazing, the highlight of our stay here was Asa’s unique dinner in the woods.
This special ‘Edible Country’ experience was introduced by Visit Sweden, and transforms Swedish nature into a do-it-yourself gourmet restaurant.
Guided by Pontus, Asa Herrgård’s foraging expert and chef, we picked some of the ingredients in the surrounding woods and helped cook over an open fire amidst an enchanting forest.
You can book this experience in advance as a private group or as a romantic dinner for 2.
After a delicious and pure 3 course dinner, enjoyed on a beautifully decorated table, prepared with nothing but local ingredients, we were transported back to the manor house on a four-wheel drive, ready to relax in the outdoor Spa.
5. Heimdallsgård - farm stay B&B vol Liefde
Set between a scenic forest in the heart of Småland you can find this unique Bed and Breakfast / Camping of Bram and Esra, known from the Dutch TV-series B&B Vol Liefde.
Here you can park your camper van or set up your tent on their small, yet cozy field, right next to the vegetable garden. Or opt for a bit more comfort, by staying in one of their authentic wooden accommodations.
The Viking Cabin and Kabouterhuisje are both quite basic, with an outdoor bathroom. Yet very atmospheric, with unobstructed views, located more privately in this pure nature setting!
Get an impression through this gallery:
Staying here is the perfect opportunity to learn more about farming and off-grid living, which Bram is more than happy to share. He even gives courses on permaculture farming and offers different excursions and activities as well.
This is THE place to enjoy a more pure way of life and reconnect with nature, completely back to basic!
6. Slotshotellet Kalmar
In the quaint seaside town Kalmar we checked into Slottshotellet, a charming city hotel, almost next to Kalmar Castle and the Stadsparken, in the Gamla Stan neighborhood.
This authentic hotel consists of 5 buildings, dating back to the 18th century. The main building houses the reception and Jeansson's lounge where you can enjoy drinks and snacks, as well as on the lovely outdoor terrace.
Slotshotellet is part of the cultural district and is conveniently located near the city center and railway station.
The hotel's location is perfect to experience the historic atmosphere of the picturesque Old Town, yet within walking distance of Kalmar's main sights. Set in a charming neighborhood with cute cobblestoned streets and colorful houses surrounding Slotshotellet.
Kalmar also has a great culinary offering, of which these 5 restaurants and cafés I can recommended from own experience:
7. Restaurant Postgatan Kalmar
Rated the highest in the White Guide 2019, Scandinavia’s leading restaurant guide, Postgatan offers fine dining and tasty dishes in a relaxed setting. You can order à la carte or a full tasting menu, accompanied by fine wines or locally produced beer.
8. Restaurant Slipkajen Kalmar
Located by the sea at Varvsholmen, about a 25 minute walk from the city center, Slipkajen is a popular spot among locals. The restaurant serves delicious food, with ingredients from local producers and more than 100 different types of gin.
Here you can eat on the sunny outdoor terrace by the water or indoors in a cozy setting with views upon the new harbor.
9. & 10. Lunch & Fika options in Kalmar
A very unique option for lunch in this seaside town is the historic Slottsrestaurangen in Kalmar Castle, within the castle walls.
Here you can enjoy traditional Swedish food and tasty dishes, prepared with carefully selected ingredients. And as many local venues, they also have plenty of fika options.
What's a fika?
This is a very nice, yet dangerously delicious, Swedish tradition of coffee and pastries, enjoyed among friends and family, usually a bit later in the afternoon. Local pastries, such as chocolate balls, cakes or kanelbullar are perfect for this, preferably combined with coffee or tea in a short get together to lift the spirits.
We had our fika break in Kalmar at Kulzénska caféet in the newer Hanseatic city area. Recommended for its quaint and historic ambiance and eclectic interior. However, the traditional bakery Mormors brödbod should also be worth a visit for its classic interior and delicious cinnamon buns.
11. Eksjö Stadshotell
During our visit to Eksjö, which should not be missed while in Småland, we had lunch at the Stadshotell. An impressive building from 1862, located prominently in the heart of the town.
The hotel's main restaurant offers an extensive lunch buffet with traditional Swedish favorites, served in authentic classy dining rooms with a flair from the 1800's.
Dinner is served à la carte in the hotel’s bar & bistro. The atmospheric glass house terrace offers views upon Stora Torget and you can even stay overnight.
With 40 hotel rooms in this historic setting looking out upon the main square of Eksjö, completed with locally produced mattresses of Viking Beds, the Stadshotell provides the perfect place to stay in this authentic wooden town.
12. Fika & shopping stop Butik Botanik
If you’re looking for the perfect place to fika, in a quaint natural setting, while also being able to do some souvenir and interior shopping, I have THE tip for you: Butik Botanik in Flisby, a small town in the north of Småland!
This unique flower shop is so much more than just a shop. It’s full of unique interior pieces, accessories and hand-picked decorations, combined in a lovely setting amidst flowers and plants, which are all for sale.
You can relax and read a book, while enjoying drinks and local cakes, inside or on the outside terrace in a lovely rural setting.
13. Smålandsgården by the lake
This family-owned hotel in the north of Småland was built in the 1920’s, and has its own restaurant with a big outdoor terrace, with unspoiled nature views. As well as long jetty, and outdoor Spa, with wood-fired sauna, directly on the lake.
Smålandsgården offers a variety of accommodations, from standard rooms to studios, cottages, and apartments. The main building has 22 rooms, and several other rooms in separate wings, accommodating about 84 guests in total.
Smålandsgården is pet-friendly with a strong commitment to sustainability, using organic, eco-friendly linens and towels, energy-efficient heating and more.
The hotel offers a variety of activities, such as kayaking, row boating, and fishing. Guided hikes and kayak tours on Lake Ören and Bunn, are also available.
Get an impression of the hotel facilities in this gallery:
Highly recommended to stay here to experience that authentic vibe, with true Swedish hospitality of the friendly owners and staff.
They serve excellent organic and locally-sourced food and it's the perfect place to fully unwind in the tranquil and pure countryside.
14. Bauergården in Bunn
Lastly, we visited Bauergården, situated on the shore of Lake Bunn, just outside the village of Gränna, as quaint as Swedish towns get! Bauergården is a hotel and restaurant that can accommodate up to 120 guests, and even has a private beach with a jetty.
They also offer a variety of activities, including a sauna, bbq areas, canoe rentals, boat trips, fishing, and different excursions.
We only briefly visited this time to make flower crowns for Midsommar and had lunch here on the outdoor terrace. I really liked the large glass windows of Bauergården’s restaurant, creating a connection with the surrounding landscape in a pure setting.
In addition to the main facilities, Bauergården offers a conference center, an authentic guest house and cabin accommodations, as well as an exclusive parking site for RVs.
On our way back, we drove via Denmark to cross over by Scandlines ferry to Rostock. Here we found the perfect spot to break up our trip. Exactly in between Sweden and the Netherlands we stayed overnight at another castle hotel, this time in Northern Germany.
Read all about our royal castle stay at Bernsteinschloss in Wendorf.
After this we drove back home in another 5 - 6 hours reminiscing about all the unique experiences we had in Småland, about which you can also read more in my: Road Trip Blog.
If you want to read on about this tranquil Swedish region or even plan your own trip, you can find everything you need to know on: VisitSmaland.
And for even more inspiration for several South Swedish regions, see my Sweden page.
I hope that I was able to convince you of the beauty and tranquility of South Sweden, and that this map and my 15 unique hotels & restaurants list can guide you on your road trip to Småland.
Comments