The story
Sitting at Östra Kajen in the small fishing village of Grundsund, Pelles Rökeri is as close to the water as a restaurant can get — literally zero metres from Västerhavet, the North Sea. Every table looks out over the water, and on the now-glazed veranda, the sound of waves rolling under the jetty is part of the experience. The name may suggest a smokehouse, but this is something broader: a gathering place for families, sailors, and anyone drawn to the Bohuslän coast.
The kitchen cooks from scratch, drawing on the best ingredients from sea and land. The sea naturally dominates the à la carte menu. White Guide, which awarded Pelles Rökeri its Fine level recognition for 2026, highlights the smoked salmon spread served with bread as a welcoming start — simple, well-judged. The kitchen doesn't shy away from bold combinations: smoked ox tartare on a vivid orange pumpkin purée with pickled onion brings both colour and depth to the plate. A cod dish arrives with n'duja, the spicy Calabrian sausage, stirred into a bean purée — an unexpected pairing that works. Wine recommendations are well-matched to the food.
Alongside the main restaurant, a Neapolitan pizza operation runs next door on Terrassen, where the focus shifts to wood-fired pies, small sharing plates, and a cocktail bar with both classic and original drinks.
The complex owned by Ulf Grundén brings together the main restaurant deck, Terrassen pizza and lounge, and Hugos Bu — a bar and café housed in a genuine boathouse dating from 1905. In summer, the whole place opens daily from midday into the late evening, with live music, DJ nights, and the kind of easy atmosphere that suits both a long lunch and a late dinner. Guests who want to extend their stay can book into Grundéns Hotell, a short walk away, set among granite and greenery on the island of Skaftö.
For a coastal seafood experience with genuine character and a kitchen that earns its recognition, Pelles Rökeri delivers — and the view alone is worth the trip.
Recognition
Ambience
Location