Simsons Restaurang

The story

Crafted with passion, served with love

A Rectory by the Church, an Island at the Edge of the Sea

Midway across Käringön, beside the old church, stands Simsons Prästgård — a rectory built in 1877, its garden softened by fruit trees and lilacs. The setting is unhurried, almost accidental. Yet when five o'clock arrives, the wooden veranda fills with guests, and what unfolds inside is anything but casual.

Simsons Restaurang has earned recognition in the White Guide 2026 at "Very fine level," a distinction that reflects both the ambition of the kitchen and the devotion of the people running it. The food is rooted in Swedish produce sourced close to home, shaped by technique, and presented with quiet elegance.

The Göttemenyn — Three Courses That Border on Five

The kitchen's signature offering is the Göttemenyn, a three-course menu that generously expands as the evening progresses. It opens with a thin potato chip carrying a tarragon emulsion — a small, precise thing that sharpens attention. Freshly baked rye bread follows, made from a sourdough culture dating to 1980, served warm with butter and a pinch of sea salt.

A tartare of beef from nearby Sörbo farm arrives with thin carrot slices, nettle powder, and a piece of chicken skin, paired with Pinot Noir from Alsace. A broth course brings cauliflower and a veil of foamy mussel broth alongside a well-balanced German Sauvignon Blanc. Before the finale, a cheese course: Almnäs brick from Hjo, sliced thin, with homemade malt syrup, roasted spelt, and lavender. The meal closes on a bright, tangy note — fresh goat cheese with white chocolate and liquorice herb, served with sorrel-rhubarb ice cream.

"It should be a taste experience," the staff say. It is.

The Space and the Spirit

The restaurant occupies the original rectory building, with a large dining room, the smaller Röda Rummet, a bar section, a veranda, and a garden. The Swedish cuisine here is served by staff described as knowledgeable and devoted — people who understand both the food and the drinks they place in front of you.

Beyond the main restaurant, Simsons also runs a wine café (drop-in only, no reservations) and a deli, making the old rectory a natural gathering point for the island. For groups and weddings, the space accommodates up to 98 guests indoors, with the garden available for larger occasions.

Käringön is a place people travel to reach. Simsons is a reason to make the trip.