The famous Swedish smörgåsbord is rather less common these days, but most hotels offer a smörgåsbord-style breakfast and if you’re there before Christmas you may wish to sample the traditional “julbord” (Christmas buffet).
     
Today’s multicultural society has also resulted in a wide variety of ethnic restaurants and an exciting “crossover” style in which traditional Swedish dishes are reinvented with new foreign influences.  You will also find all the usual fast-food outlets and pizzerias, and if you’re after a good value, tasty snack, you’re never far from a hot dog stand selling popular “varmkorv”  (from just SEK 10).
  
Typical meal prices:
Reckon on paying about SEK 300-500 for a three-course meal with wine in a medium-price restaurant.
  
Value for money:
A “Dagens rätt” (dish of the day) is available in most restaurants at lunchtime, which is served from about 11am to 2pm. It costs from about SEK 55 for a main course (often with a choice), bread and butter, salad, soft drink and coffee. There are plenty of cafés and cafeterias for lighter snacks. "Unique and extremely popular in Gothenburg is the after work concept, on Fridays only. Most of the pubs and bars have a buffet complimentary when having a drink. But don't be surprised if you might have to queue for a few minutes."
    
Drinking
The main alcoholic drink is lager/pilsner type beer, available in five strengths. The strongest is “starköl”, with strength of 5.6% alcohol by volume, while light beer (lättöl) is less than 2.8%. Wines, spirits and strong beer are sold only through the State-owned Systembolaget, with branches all over the country open all day from Monday to Friday and normally on Saturday morning as well. Light beer can be bought at normal grocery shops and supermarkets. Wine prices are on a par with the UK but spirits are rather more expensive because of high excise duty. Minimum age for buying alcoholic beverages is 20 at Systembolaget, 18 at pubs and bars.
   
Buying food
Some food may be more expensive than in the UK, but out-of-town supermarkets offer excellent value for money and there are always plenty of special offers.