Hey Lykkers! The Bohuslän coast on Sweden's west coast is the platonic ideal of a Scandinavian summer: red boathouses, wooden jetties, and water clear enough to see the bottom. And that means one very important thing for your trip: you are in seafood heaven. The cold, salty waters here produce some of the best shrimp, oysters, and langoustines in Europe.

Here are six top restaurants to build your coastal drive around.

Skärets Krog (Smögen)

If you only stop for one shrimp sandwich, make it this one. Smögen is the colorful fishing village you see on postcards, and Skärets Krog is a local legend.

The shrimp sandwich is even said to have originated here back in 1931. The setting is right on the harbor, and the classic version is served on rye bread with egg mayonnaise and pickled fennel. The signature shrimp sandwich here is famously piled high with roughly 50 shrimp and costs roughly US$24–26 depending on exchange rates. It is the perfect introduction to the west coast's most famous lunch.

Havstenssunds Skaldjurscafé (Havstenssund)

For a quieter, more authentic experience, head to this tiny fishing village north of Grebbestad. The café sits right on the waterfront, and the shrimp sandwich is straightforward but perfectly balanced on freshly baked bread with pickled onion, dill, and mayonnaise. The surrounding area is part of the Kosterhavet Marine National Park, so you can combine lunch with a swim or a walk along the cliffs. Prices here are generally in line with the regional standard, with a classic shrimp sandwich likely landing in the US$20–25 range.

Fjällbacka Fisk & Skaldjur

This place has a distinct advantage: it is directly connected to the local fishmonger. That means the menu changes daily depending on the catch. You might find fish and chips, a snack box filled with crayfish and shrimp, or a classic shrimp sandwich with all the trimmings. It is open year-round, which is rare for these parts, and it sits right on the harbor with views of the boats. It is small, so book ahead for busy nights. Expect a casual meal here to cost roughly US$20–35 per person (cost may vary).

Restaurang Vatten (Skärhamn)

If you want to elevate your shrimp sandwich experience, this is the spot. Located next to the Nordic Watercolor Museum, Restaurang Vatten is one of Bohuslän's more ambitious dining rooms. Their shrimp sandwich gets meticulous treatment: served on fresh rye with mayonnaise and topped with lumpfish roe. It is a refined take on a classic, and the museum setting makes it a great cultural stop. Menu items are listed roughly in the US$12–28 range, though a full meal with drinks will likely be higher.

Peterson's Tavern (Käringön)

Käringön is a car-free island just off Orust, and Peterson's Tavern is the place to eat. The island itself is worth the ferry ride, with charming wooden houses dating back to the 18th and 19th centuries. The tavern is celebrated for its seafood, and the shrimp sandwich comes topped with freshly boiled egg, homemade mayonnaise, and thinly sliced onion and cucumber. It is a proper island lunch, and the B&B attached makes it easy to stay the night. A special turbot dish for two is reported to cost around US$110, giving you a sense of the higher-end pricing here.

Grebbestad Oyster Pilgrimage

This is not a single restaurant, but a food experience. Grebbestad is the center of Sweden's wild oyster production, responsible for about 90% of the country's output. The harbor is lined with fishing boats and restaurants like Grebys and Telegrafen, where you can eat fresh oysters, shrimp, and lobster. At Grebys, a single oyster served natural with lemon costs roughly US$6. The best time for oysters is autumn and winter when the water is cold. If you are serious about seafood, this is the pilgrimage you make.

Final Thoughts

The Swedish west coast is not a place for fancy, white-tablecloth dining. It is a place for shrimp sandwiches eaten on a wooden jetty, oysters shucked by the harbor, and long lunches that stretch into the afternoon. Pick a few of these spots, drive the coastal roads, and let the catch of the day decide your plans. That is how the Bohuslän coast works best.