Smakbyn

The story

Crafted with passion, served with love

A Village Built Around Good Food

Smakbyn — Swedish for "village of flavours" — is exactly that: a small world unto itself on Slottsvägen in Kastelholm, in the heart of the Åland Islands. The restaurant shares its premises with a shop, a wine cellar, conference facilities, and the Smakbyn square, where you'll find a hard candy factory, a bakery, and a pottery workshop. The result is a place that feels genuinely alive, where a leisurely lunch can easily stretch into an afternoon of browsing, tasting, and discovering.

Nordic Food, Handled with Care

The kitchen draws its direction from a deep affection for Nordic cuisine — best ingredients, treated with what the team simply calls "lots of love." Lunch is served Monday through Saturday, while evenings bring a dedicated dinner menu showcasing the best Åland has to offer. Children are described as the most important guests, and a dedicated children's menu backs that up. The White Guide's Fine level recognition for 2026 reflects a kitchen that takes its craft seriously while keeping the door open to everyone.

Michael Björklund and the Drinks Program

Chef Michael Björklund is the name behind much of what makes Smakbyn distinctive. He leads group activities such as "Battle of the Chefs" — a hands-on cooking competition for groups of 10 to 20 — and his influence extends well beyond the kitchen. Björklund has his own wine labels and is a co-founder of Åland Distillery, whose spirits appear throughout the drinks menu. The Blood Orange + Basil Long Drink, made with Åland Distillery Gin, blood orange juice, and basil, is one example of how the Nordic spirit of place carries through to the glass.

More Than a Meal

Cooking classes, wine cellar tours, and drink tastings sit alongside the restaurant offer, making Smakbyn a destination as much as a dining room. Outdoor seating, full wheelchair access, catering, private parties, and banqueting rooms round out the practical picture. Whether you come for a weekday lunch or a summer evening of Nordic food and house-distilled cocktails, the village of flavours tends to give you more reasons to stay than you expected.