Grenna Hotell – Restaurang

The story

Crafted with passion, served with love

A Drummer Who Found His Rhythm in the Kitchen

Grenna Hotell's restaurant in Gränna is one of those places where an unlikely backstory turns out to be the most compelling thing on the menu. Martin Karlsson swapped life as a touring rock drummer for a career as a chef and hotel owner — and the transition has been anything but quiet. His ambition has already carried him to the semifinals of Chef of the Year, a recognition that sits comfortably alongside the restaurant's White Guide Fine level distinction for 2026.

The Setting

White Guide describes the hotel as having managed "to blend the feel of an urban boutique hotel with the vibe of an old-fashioned guesthouse." Behind the small reception desk, floral wallpapers meet velvet sofas, gold armchairs, patterned tapestries and large green plants — an interior that feels considered rather than decorated. The restaurant shares that same unhurried character.

What to Expect at the Table

The kitchen's centrepiece is a tasting menu — an avsmakningsmeny — that reflects Karlsson's serious approach to Swedish cooking. Alongside it, the restaurant runs a summer bistro and participates in gastronomic competitions, signalling a kitchen that is always pushing. The broader offer covers lunch, fine dining, private parties and events, making it a destination both for a special evening and for longer stays at the hotel.

Worth the Trip

For anyone travelling through Småland, Gränna is already known for its striped peppermint candy and views over Lake Vättern. The restaurant at Grenna Hotell gives it another reason entirely — a White Guide-recognised kitchen where Swedish cuisine is taken seriously, led by a chef whose unconventional path has only sharpened his focus.