Southern Maine businesses embrace Nordic cuisine and lifestyle

Portland and Saco businesses embrace Nordic cuisine and lifestyle

A growing number of restaurants and specialty shops across southern Maine are leaning into Scandinavian traditions, offering everything from Swedish cardamom buns to Finnish meatballs. This shift toward Nordic-inspired dining and culture is moving beyond simple food trends, as business owners focus on the customs of slowing down and finding comfort in the moment.

As reported by the Portland Press Herald, the movement spans from the East End of Portland to Saco, manifesting in bakeries, candy shops, and even bathhouses. While the region shares similar latitudes, dramatic coastlines, and climates with Scandinavian countries, the local embrace of these traditions appears to be as much about social connection and “hygge”—the Danish concept of coziness—as it is about the menu.

The trend highlights a broader consumer shift toward “experience-based” commerce. For many local entrepreneurs, the goal is to provide an antidote to the fast-paced nature of American hustle culture by centering their businesses around intentional breaks and community gathering.

The pursuit of intentional breaks and shared traditions

In Saco, the bakery Fika operates as a microbakery designed around the Swedish practice of taking a deliberate break for coffee and pastries. Co-owners Kristina Alving and Samuel Wiese aim to create a space that is antithetical to the daily grind. Their menu changes monthly to reflect Maine’s seasonal bounty, featuring items like appelbullar—apple knots with cider glaze—and their consistent staple, kardemummabullar, or cardamom buns.

The demand for this intentionality is evident in the crowds. During the launch of their October menu, customers faced waits of over 30 minutes, yet the owners maintained a practice of chatting with nearly every patron. This focus on human connection is a core component of the “fika” philosophy.

Similarly, Sødt Nordic Candy Shop in Portland is capitalizing on the desire for communal activities. Owned by sisters Nikoline and Signe Østergaard, the shop brought the Danish tradition of fredagsslik, or Friday candy, to Maine. In Denmark, this involves families picking out a bag of candy from a kiosk to enjoy together during weekend activities.

The Østergaard sisters saw immediate success; their first Portland location, opened in May 2025, ran out of stock on its opening day. This prompted a summer expansion to a second, larger location in Freeport. Nikoline Østergaard suggests that the popularity of these shops may be tied to a desire for stability.

“When you’re uncertain about times in your life — like how the United States is in a very weird situation right now — I think you look elsewhere and see what’s working,” Østergaard said, noting that Scandinavian countries have maintained steady economies and work-life balances for years.

Sauna culture and seasonal dining in the East End

The influence extends into wellness and specialized beverage service. Washington Baths in Portland’s East End offers a sauna experience that differentiates itself from standard American spa culture by focusing on self-care rather than mere indulgence. Co-owner Izabel Nielsen has integrated a cafe into the space to encourage multi-generational gathering, serving staples like rye-based sauna bread and mineral waters from Iceland, Georgia, and Romania.

Greater Portland restaurants embrace Scandinavian cuisine — and habits — Photo: chilichili.net

In the culinary scene, the practicalities of local resources have also shaped Nordic-inspired menus. At the craft cocktail bar Hunt + Alpine, owner Andrew Volk noted a natural kinship between New England and Nordic countries due to shared flora and fauna. Because the Market Street location lacks a traditional stove hood or fryer, the menu leans into Nordic staples that require less heavy equipment, such as cured meats, pickled vegetables, and fish.

The connection between these regions is more than just environmental. Volk previously released a cookbook, Northern Hospitality, alongside then-co-owner Briana Bononcini, which featured recipes from Bononcini’s Finnish grandmother, including pulla (cardamom bread) and riisipuuro (rice pudding). Even as the bar has undergone rebrands, Finnish meatballs remain a permanent fixture on the menu.

A destination for the Nordic diaspora

While southern Maine does not host a massive Scandinavian population, these businesses are becoming significant hubs for the existing community. Business owners report that their shops act as magnets for people with Nordic ancestry who may not have realized how many neighbors shared their heritage.

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The expansion of these businesses suggests that the “Nordic way” is finding a permanent foothold in the Maine lifestyle. Whether through the ritual of a Friday candy run, the heat of a sauna, or a simple cardamom bun, the trend is rooted in a search for community and a slower pace of life.