Feskekôrka, the Fish Church

Feskekôrka, literally the fish church, is a nineteenth-century market hall that looks more like a place of worship than a place to buy herring. Built in 1874 beside the Rosenlundskanalen canal, its steep gables and arched windows gave it the nickname, and it has been Gothenburg's fish market ever since. Inside, stalls display fresh and smoked fish, shellfish and prepared dishes, with a seafood restaurant and counters for lunch. It is a good place to try west-coast specialities such as shrimp on bread, fish soup, gravlax and smoked salmon. The hall has been through renovation work in recent years, so the mix of stalls and restaurants can change; check current opening days and what is open before you plan a meal there.

The building is the first reason to visit. It was designed in a Gothic Revival style, with a high, vaulted interior that suits the echoing calls of fishmongers and the clatter of plates. Even a short visit gives you a sense of how important the sea has been to the city. In the market stalls, look for west-coast shrimp, mussels, Bohuslän oysters and cold-smoked salmon, which locals buy by the slice for the weekend.

If you want a sit-down meal, the restaurants in and around the hall serve classic Swedish seafood: fish soup with aioli, skagen toast (prawns in dill and mayonnaise), pan-fried fish with butter sauce and the traditional shellfish platters in season. Lunch is the sweet spot, since many places are quieter and offer set lunches on weekdays. Markets in Sweden often close on Sundays or Mondays, and this one tends to follow the pattern, so check before you go.

The location is part of the pleasure. The hall sits next to the canal, a short walk from the Opera and the Haga district, and the Paddan boats pass nearby. You can combine Feskekôrka with a walk along the canal, a stop at the market hall at Kungstorget for contrast, and a coffee in the Linné area.

If seafood is not your thing, there is a limited range of other foods, but this place is at its best when you want fish. Bring a reusable bag if you plan to shop, and ask the stallholders for storage and travel advice if you want to take fish home.

To eat well at the hall, decide what kind of meal you want before you arrive. For a quick, inexpensive bite, a bowl of fish soup or an open sandwich with shrimp or smoked salmon at a counter is enough, and you can eat it at a nearby bench by the canal.

For a longer sit-down meal, book a table at one of the restaurants and ask for the day's catch. If you want to shop, buy from the stalls in the morning when the selection is widest, and ask staff how long the fish will keep.

A good-value approach is to share starters, such as shrimp and smoked fish, among the table, then add one main to share. Since fish is sold by weight, ask for a price before you order, and pay by card where possible. When you leave, take a short walk along the canal to see the building from the outside, and compare the Gothic Revival form with the stone bridges and warehouses nearby. Remember that opening hours differ by stall and restaurant, so check ahead for the day you plan to go.