What Is a Smorgasbord? The Ultimate Guide to Sweden’s Famous Buffet

 

If you love buffets, you’ll love the smorgasbord. This iconic Swedish meal is more than a table full of food, it’s a carefully structured dining tradition with history, etiquette, and classic dishes.

In this guide, you’ll learn what a smorgasbord is, what you’ll typically find on the table, and how locals eat it so you can enjoy it the right way.

 

What Is a Smorgasbord?

A smorgasbord is a style of meal served buffet-style with a wide variety of hot and cold dishes. Guests help themselves and often return for multiple rounds.

The word comes from Swedish:

• smör = butter
• gås = bread
• bord = table

Originally, it meant a butter and bread table, but over time it evolved into a feast featuring fish, meats, cheeses, salads, and warm dishes. Today, the term is used worldwide to describe any meal with a large, diverse selection of foods.

 

The History of the Smorgasbord

The smorgasbord began in Sweden several centuries ago as a pre-dinner spread served to guests before the main meal. Hosts would lay out bread, butter, cheese, and preserved fish to welcome visitors who might have traveled long distances.

Because refrigeration didn’t exist, curing, smoking, salting, and pickling were essential. These preservation methods naturally shaped the foods that became central to the tradition, especially herring.

By the 19th century, the small appetizer table had grown into a full meal with multiple courses. When restaurants and hotels adopted the format, the smorgasbord became both a celebration of Swedish ingredients and a practical way to serve many diners.

 

The Heart of a Swedish Smorgasbord

A traditional Swedish smorgasbord follows an order. It’s not just random grazing.

Locals typically move through the meal in stages, starting with lighter items and building toward heavier, warmer dishes.

1. Pickled and Cured Fish

The first visit to the buffet often focuses on seafood. You might see:

• Pickled herring in different sauces
• Gravlax (cured salmon)
• Smoked salmon
• Shrimp

These are usually eaten with bread, butter, boiled potatoes, sour cream, and fresh dill.

2. Cold Cuts and Salads

Next come meats and cold dishes such as:

• Roast beef
• Ham
• Liver pâté
• Beet or potato salads

Crispbread is a common companion.

3. Hot Dishes

After the cold plates, diners move to warm food. Popular options include:

• Swedish meatballs
• Small sausages
• Janssons frestelse (a creamy potato and anchovy casserole)
• Cabbage dishes

4. Cheese and Dessert

The final round may include cheeses, crackers, fruit, and sweets. Coffee often follows.

 

Smorgasbord vs Buffet: What’s the Difference?

While a smorgasbord is a buffet, not every buffet is a smorgasbord.

A true Swedish version usually:

• Encourages multiple trips
• Follows a loose eating order
• Highlights Nordic ingredients, especially fish
• Connects to seasonal or celebratory traditions

Outside Sweden, the word often just means “a big variety.”

 

When Do Swedes Eat a Smorgasbord?

You’ll find them during:

• Christmas (Julbord)
• Easter (Påskbord)
• Midsummer
• Special events and hotel meals

Holiday smorgasbords can be enormous, sometimes featuring dozens of dishes.

 

Smorgasbord Etiquette: How to Eat It Like a Local

There are a few unwritten rules that make the experience smoother:

• Take small portions since you’ll return several times.
• Follow the typical order from fish to meats to hot dishes.
• Avoid piling everything onto one plate at once.
• The idea is to enjoy each category properly, not rush through it.

 

Smorgasbord FAQs

What does smorgasbord literally mean?

It translates to “butter and bread table.”

Is it all you can eat?

Yes. Guests usually serve themselves and go back multiple times.

What is the most famous smorgasbord food?

Pickled herring and Swedish meatballs are among the classics.