Bistro apan

The story

Crafted with passion, served with love

A Former Car Workshop, Now One of Dalarna's Most Sought-After Tables

In the village of Vikarbyn, tucked into a paved backyard among the classic red timber houses of the Swedish countryside, Bistro Apan occupies a converted car workshop that has become something genuinely hard to categorise — and even harder to get into. The courtyard sets the tone immediately: graffiti-painted containers, oil drums, worn rag rugs, string lights, a rose arch wound with plastic roses, and tables of all sizes lit by pendant lamps. It is kitsch taken to a considered extreme, and it works completely.

White Guide awarded the restaurant its Fine level recognition for 2026, and the description in that guide says more than most reviews could: locals, Stockholm transplants, American tourists and birthday parties of all ages share the same space, week after week. The village hat-maker and her husband hold a standing table every Thursday. Getting your own requires sending an email and hoping for the best.

Chef Micke and the Kitchen

Solo in the kitchen is Micke, whose philosophy is direct: a meal is something you share with friends, and every dish gets cooked with care. The menu runs to small plates — from the house classic Kapten Janssons Skagensmörgås to slow-braised long-cooks — and the kitchen's honesty extends to acknowledging that, with one person running it, a little patience may be required. That transparency is part of what makes the place feel real.

The Bar, the Cellar and the Courtyard

When dinner winds down, the bar takes over. Round ping-pong, a pinball machine, a Spritz or a cognac by the fireplace — the evening has room to breathe, and there are no fixed sitting times. Bistro Apan closes at 22:00, but guests are welcome to stay until 22:30 without anyone rushing them out.

The drinks list is taken seriously. Craft beers from near and far share space with a wine cellar stocked exclusively with Portuguese artisan wines — foot-trodden, natural and pét nat — sourced from what the restaurant calls Portugal's best producers. Alcohol-free options are kept equally well stocked at the bar.

In summer, the terrace opens and the pétanque court is freshly raked for a game before or after dinner. The bistro also hosts events a few times a year — music, fashion, art — and runs a pre-concert menu for visitors heading to nearby Dalhalla.