Swedish Culinary Tasting Under The Oaks
This is one of GO Nordic’s most distinctive outdoor culinary experiences. There are no restaurants here. No venues, no event spaces. Just a long wooden table set on a small clearing beneath ancient oak trees, a few steps from the Swedish waterfront, with furs draped over the chairs and the sound of seabirds overhead. The Swedish Culinary Tasting Under The Oaks is a private, chef-led tasting of delicate Swedish bites in a setting that takes about thirty seconds to understand why it works. Part of the Nordic Reset collection. Available May to September from Kalmar or Karlskrona.
Tour description
Guests are transferred from the pier to a hotel close to the coast, arriving to a short walk that begins the experience before the food does. The path leads down towards the water through a pristine natural setting — seabirds, open sky, the particular quiet of the Swedish coast in summer — and ends at a small clearing beneath a canopy of centuries-old oaks.
The table is already set. Long, solid wood, with plates, glasses and folded napkins arranged with care. Furs are draped over the chairs for warmth. The oaks form a natural ceiling overhead and the waterfront is just beyond the treeline.
The chef, from the hotel’s own restaurant, leads guests through a series of small, very delicate courses built entirely around local Swedish producers. The focus is on herbs, sprouts and carefully sourced meat from the surrounding region. The first course arrives with inspiration from the forest and the berries of the Swedish countryside — a quiet, grounding introduction to what follows.
Every bite is considered. Nothing is heavy, nothing is rushed. Courses are paired with wines and served with the kind of attention that only comes from a small group in an unhurried setting. Between courses there is time to look up, listen, and simply be somewhere that most cruise guests will never see.
The experience lasts approximately four hours from pier to pier. Groups are kept to a maximum of 12 guests and the full experience is available as fully private.
Quick Facts
Port: Kalmar or Karlskrona
Transfer: 35 min from Kalmar, 50 min from Karlskrona
Duration: 4 hours
Guests: 2-12
Period: May-September
What’s included
- Scenic transfer to and from the oak forest setting
- Short guided forest walk
- Welcome champagne on arrival
- Multi-course Swedish tasting menu with seasonal, locally sourced ingredients
- Paired wines throughout
- Chef and host throughout the experience
- All arrangements and transfers included
Additions and combinations
- Add the Drinks Under The Oaks-concept for a full experience (allow 1 extra hour)
- Private option: The full experience is available as a fully private tour for couples, families and superyacht guests. Contact GO Nordic to arrange.
- Combine with a second experience: Pair with the Kalmar Castle Private Tour or Oland Coastal Hike for a full-day programme from Kalmar.
- B2B and trade bookings: GO Nordic works with cruise lines, luxury travel advisors, DMC partners and superyacht operators for group and trade arrangements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is this one of the best outdoor culinary experiences available as a shore excursion in Sweden? Yes. The Swedish Culinary Tasting Under The Oaks is one of the most distinctive outdoor dining experiences available on any cruise itinerary in Scandinavia. It combines a private natural setting, a chef-led seasonal tasting menu, and paired wines in a location that cannot be replicated on any other shore excursion in Southeast Sweden.
Q: Where exactly does the experience take place? Guests are escorted from a hotel close to the coast, from where a short five-minute walk leads down through a pristine natural landscape towards the Swedish waterfront. The table is set in a small clearing beneath centuries-old oak trees, just steps from the water. It is an entirely private outdoor setting — not a restaurant, not an event space. A long wooden table with solid wood, furs on the chairs, and the sounds of seabirds and open water as the only backdrop.
Q: What kind of food is served? The chef from the hotel’s own restaurant serves a series of small, very delicate bites built around local Swedish producers. The focus is on fresh herbs, sprouts and locally sourced meat from the surrounding region. The first course is inspired by the forest and Swedish berries. Each course is paired with wine and served unhurried, with time between each to enjoy the surroundings.
Q: Is this experience suitable for superyacht and expedition vessel guests? Yes. GO Nordic regularly arranges this experience for superyacht crews and guests and expedition vessel passengers visiting Kalmar or Karlskrona. The experience can be tailored to group size, dietary requirements, and timing. Contact GO Nordic directly for private vessel arrangements.
Q: What is the Nordic Reset concept? Nordic Reset is GO Nordic’s philosophy of slow, high-quality travel experiences designed to give guests genuine access to Swedish nature, culture and food. Experiences in the Nordic Reset collection are unhurried by design – small groups, exceptional settings, and time to actually be present rather than just visiting.
Q: Is this experience available for private bookings? Yes. The full experience is available as a fully private tour for couples, families, and superyacht guests. GO Nordic also works with cruise lines, DMC partners and luxury travel advisors for trade bookings. Contact GO Nordic directly to arrange.