Fika on the Island: 3 Scandinavian-Inspired Restaurants in Bali for Your Meals and Afternoon Coffee

All the Scandinavian style seems to have invaded Indonesia in the last couple of years, including the simple and minimalist interior design (which was probably started by a certain furniture giant) as well as the kitchen. Scandinavian open sandwiches and Swedish meatballs with gravy and cranberry sauce are no longer foreign to Indonesian foodies as many places have started offering these dishes.
In Bali, you can also find these items at popular brunch spots or cafes, although there are some that actually specialize in Scandinavian cuisine. Here are three restaurants in Bali for your Nordic cravings:
Cafe Smorga
One of the oldest of its kind in Bali, Cafe Smorgas describes itself as an “authentic Swedish cafe”. The cafe was established in Sanur in 2006 by a Swedish family who moved to Bali. You can taste a number of classic Swedish dishes here, such as the traditional SOS aperitif (threshold, ost, snaps), which consist of pickled herring, cheese, boiled egg and a shot of homemade spiced vodka; Skagen Toast or Swedish Shrimp Toast; Swedish meatballs on mash; and Biff Rydberg, a classic restaurant dish featuring cubes of beef, onions and potatoes with creamy Dijon.
While smorgas means “sandwich” in Swedish, Cafe Smorgas produces its own homemade bread, cakes, pastries and jams, among other things.
Jl. Danau Tamblingan No. 56, Sanur. Opening hours: 7 a.m. to 11 p.m., daily. Telephone: +62 361 289 361. Website, Instagram
Copenhagen Canggu
Copenhagen, located near Canggu’s Echo Beach, specializes in all-day Nordic-inspired brunches and sweets. Here you can create your favorite breakfast and lunch by choosing three to five dishes for the first and up to three dishes for the second, for a fixed price. Expect basic Scandic items such as Smorrebrod with salmon,
Honsesalat (chicken salad) with Danish rye bread and mini hot dog with green salad. There are also healthy bowls such as the Nordic Bowl and the Kale Bowl.
Don’t miss their Scandinavian pastries such as cinnamon roll and Hindbærsnitter (Danish raspberry slices).
Jl. Canggu Padang Linjong No. 71a, Canggu, North Kuta, Badung Regency. Hours: 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., daily. Instagram
Ours Bali
Ours is a restaurant and spa lifestyle brand that combines Bali’s open-plan lifestyle with Scandinavian-style architecture, resulting in a rustic, tropical feel. Restaurant Ours draws inspiration from European and Mediterranean cuisine, but two of their popular dishes are Nordic-inspired, namely smoked salmon toast and baked meatballs.
Jl. Labuansait, Pecatu, Badung. Opening hours: 8 a.m. to 11 p.m., daily. RSVP via Whatsapp to +62 813 5337 3163. Website, Instagram