Grytthyttans Gästgivaregard

Dinner in the 'prisoner dungeon' room made for a great experience. The food and wine were excellent, and waiter Oskar stood out for his wine knowledge and the way he presented everything.

The surroundings were pleasant, the rooms very nice, and there was a very good range of food. One small thing to keep in mind: quite a few young people are getting their start in the food business here. Customers may need to be patient at some points during a visit.

We arrived with no booking for either a room or dinner, right in the middle of the day, but the receptionist was so persuasive that it all worked out. We were shown to the Countess Cronstedt suite in a yellow villa, with hammocks outside our own veranda. It was a lovely place to have to ourselves. The food was excellent at both breakfast and dinner. The inn is also home to the Swedish cook university, which seems to show in the care taken with the meals. The wine list leans on classic French Clarets and Burgundies, a good investment by the owners. Most of the other guests during our stay seemed to be Swedish upper middle class, the sort you might see in posh retirement homes at other times of year. A good choice for moderately wealthy visitors looking for a quiet afternoon at the bar or a game of boule.

The food is superb, though it isn’t cheap and the portions aren’t huge. The quality really comes through, and even a taste puts a smile on your face. The people working here are also lovely, very friendly and ready to help. There’s beautiful scenery indoors and outside, and the atmosphere and interior are fantastic. I didn’t stay overnight, so I can’t say how that is, but the attention to quality shows in details from the food to the bathrooms and soaps. To me, it’s a must-see while travelling in Sweden. Give it a try, you’ll most likely be happy you did.