Many of the world’s best burger joints are, unsurprisingly, in the US. But America doesn’t have a monopoly on burger brilliance. Across Europe, from Sweden to Switzerland, a thriving burger culture has emerged, creating its own distinctive flavours and styles – and we've scoured the continent for the best burgers you need to try right now.
Click or scroll through our gallery to discover Europe's best burgers, counting down to the tastiest of all. Did your favourite burger make the list?
Our ranking is based on awards, accolades and reviews, as well as on the opinions of our well-travelled (and well-fed) team.
Weekly specials keep things exciting at Friez & Burgz, which has four restaurants in and around Newcastle upon Tyne. If you’d rather not risk your new favourite burger disappearing after just one visit, the permanent menu has plenty to tempt you. All burgers are of the double, smashed variety – and while the Fussy (with cheese) and the Classic (with cheese, lettuce, onions, dill pickles and 'Classic Sauce') take care of the basics, the Delicate adds some heat with spicy pickled onions, fresh chilli and chipotle sauce.
Rekas Burgers opened its first restaurant in Malmö, Sweden in 2019 – and it's since expanded to two more locations, bringing lots of hype with it. There’s plenty to choose from on the menu, but the Brorsan ('brother') is the stand-out. To make it, double beef patties and double Cheddar are paired with tangy pickled red onions, sweet caramelised onions, fried jalapeños and mayonnaise. Reviewers say this burger joint has stepped up its game in recent years, consistently turning out amazing smash burgers with super-crispy edges.
Towering burgers named after celebrities and pop culture characters are what you'll get at MakaMaka Beach Burger Cafe, a beachfront burger joint in Barcelona. Created by a group of friends in 2012, the 1970s-inspired restaurant is a fun, relaxed place to grab a delicious bite to eat by the sea. Served in a soft bun, the Maradona (named after the legendary Argentinian footballer) layers a beef patty with creamy buffalo mozzarella, aubergine, peppery rocket, sun-dried tomato and chimichurri sauce.
Bread Meats Bread’s slightly outrageous Luther Burger, which comes stuffed between two doughnuts, is certainly a novelty. However, if you’re looking for something a little more classic, the Double Royale With Cheese is the one to pick. This dry-aged, double-patty burger features American cheese, onions, pickles, ketchup and mustard – and it's proof that this Scottish chain can nail tradition and isn’t all about gimmicks.
Smash burgers may have taken longer to reach some parts of Europe than others, but this joint in Bosnia and Herzegovina’s capital was well worth the wait. The first smash burger restaurant in the city, this place keeps things authentic, with a few surprising twists. Pick any of its smash burgers and ask for it to be served in the Smashburger Pan – your burger will arrive at your table cut in half and nestled in a bed of melted cheese.
Feeding Stockholm’s burger enthusiasts since 2014, Franky’s has two locations in the capital – and it's constantly improving its menu. Dry-aged beef from Swedish cows goes into its crispy-edged patties, and soft toasted buns give each handheld meal a rich flavour and a balanced texture. The Umami Special is a firm favourite, combining truffle and gochujang for a taste you definitely can’t accuse of being subtle.
Norwegian flavours are on full display at Helt Vilt (‘completely wild’) – not just in the burger toppings, but in the patties, too. One burger features a beef patty, while all the others (save the veggie option) make use of reindeer, moose and wild boar meat. The Venison Burger is a true celebration of Norwegian ingredients; the rich and gamey venison patty is enhanced by the flavours of Jarlsberg cheese, rosemary mayo, caramelised apples and rocket.
Cosy Leytonstone Tavern’s modern pub menu has an exciting selection of burgers, with names ranging from the ordinary (Double Cheese + Onion Smash) to the punny (Pluck Off) – and some are even named after famous people (take the Jacques Cousteau, for example). The Bone Daddy is a decadent number, stuffing braised brisket, Guinness gravy, blue cheese, fried onions, roasted bone marrow, pickles, lettuce and rich confit mayo into a seeded bun. Proudly over the top, it manages to balance its many flavours in one delicious, if somewhat messy, package.
Globally inspired restaurant The Bite uses Swiss beef to make its secret-recipe patties. Each burger brings in flavours from around the world, and weekly specials always offer something new – plus, there are also vegetarian and vegan burgers, so no one’s left out. A vibrant burger featuring bulgogi (Korean barbecue) sauce, mayo flavoured with spicy chilli paste gochujang, pickled daikon radish and carrots, the South Korean–inspired Seoul Mate is a much-loved item on the menu.
Meaning ‘just right’ in Swedish – and run by a chef with Swedish heritage – London’s Lagom has been heaped with praise for its well-balanced burgers. The Smash Burger features a rich dry-aged beef patty, American cheese, tangy vinegar slaw and, in a nod to Nordic flavours, dill and mustard mayonnaise. Cooked over fire, the patty has delightfully crispy edges and lots of fatty, smoky flavour. It’s served on a toasted bun that holds everything together perfectly.
The offering at Bunson Burgers is about as simple as you can get: hamburgers and cheeseburgers. This tight focus allows the joint to smash it in the taste department – and to keep its burgers relatively affordable too, for such a central location. The hamburger is really all you need, but you can choose to embellish it with a few toppings at no extra cost if you’re looking for a bit more pizzazz.
It may be more famous for glaciers and the Northern Lights, but Iceland also knows how to make a mean burger. Tommi’s Burger Joint has been dishing up delicious burgers to Reykjavík locals since 1981 – and in that time, it's expanded across Iceland and even opened outposts abroad. Wherever you’re visiting from, its signature Steakburger is a must-try. Served on toasted brioche with cheese, salad and sauces, the tasty handheld features a patty made from a mix of locally sourced ribeye, tenderloin and rump steak.
The Swedish burger enthusiasts behind burger review website Burgerdudes have named Funky Chicken Food Truck the best place to get a burger in their home country for four years in a row. Serving the lunch crowds of Stockholm’s Nacka Strand neighbourhood, the truck has a rotating menu of around 10 burgers and is especially known for its super-peppery smash burgers. Keep an eye on its social media channels to find out when to catch The Godfather, featuring double beef patties, a double helping of Cheddar, bacon and Parmesan mayo, grilled peppers and roasted onions.
The winner of the UK’s National Burger of the Year competition 2025, Black Bear’s Double Bacon Miso Burger doesn’t hold back on flavour. It starts simple, with two beef patties, melted cheese and a double serving of smoked bacon. It’s then given a refined, indulgent touch with a demi-brioche bun glazed with miso butter. This London burger joint strives to do simple things well, putting high-quality ingredients first and sourcing its produce locally wherever possible.
Hawksmoor’s executive chef Matt Brown had the genius idea of giving the Big Mac a luxury spin – and the resulting burger is a juicy, meaty, cheesy stack of goodness that makes McDonald's signature offering seem rather small in comparison. The Big Matt, available only on Hawksmoor's lunch menu, layers two dry-aged beef patties with a double helping of American cheese, the restaurant's signature sauce and three layers of squishy bun.
Shed. BURGERS, a sustainability-minded restaurant, is known for championing local produce. Its Onion Cheeseburger delivers everything you’d want from a classic cheeseburger, but with a little extra flair: a juicy beef patty, Cheddar, onions, house-made pickles and Shed’s secret sauce, all tucked inside a pillowy soft bun. Quality ingredients and bags of flavour are guaranteed every time.
Keeping it simple with just three burgers on the menu, Berlin’s All In knows how to deliver both quality and taste. Options may be limited, but each burger is consistently good – though it’s the Twin Cheese that keeps fans coming back for more. American cheese is melted onto two all-beef patties, which are then topped with pickles, fried onions and a generous dollop of secret sauce. It’s all piled into a potato bun and wrapped in paper for easy portability.
Sold Out Burger’s unique concept is what makes its burgers so irresistible. Each day, it offers just one burger in limited quantities – designed to sell out completely and eliminate food waste. With only one option on the menu, it has to be exceptional, and every recipe is carefully perfected. Topped with melted aged Cheddar, house-made pickles, red onions and secret sauce, and served on a soft potato bun, the spot's signature cheeseburger features a patty made from freshly ground beef.
Chic PNY, with 15 locations across Paris, serves up style just as bold as its flavours. The bestseller here is the Return of the Cowboy, a burger that earned a permanent spot on the chain's menu after its original limited run proved a runaway success. This hearty handheld stacks a mature beef patty, Cheddar, a crispy onion fritter, smoked pork belly, sticky onion confit and tangy barbecue sauce for a truly unforgettable bite.
The signature Flippin’ burger at this Stockholm burger joint is a local favourite. To make it, a simple cheeseburger is finished off with silver onions and a saucy trio of mayonnaise, mustard and ketchup. It comes from a spot that’s not only been named the best in Sweden by respected review site Burgerdudes (also based in Sweden), but that also made it into the top 10 in the world in the website's inaugural ranking in 2020.
Spain has a lively burger scene – and not just in its most popular tourist cities. The star of the show at The Carnivan Superbar in León, which started life as a food truck, is the EM2 burger, a delicious creation that took the top spot in the Best Burger Spain 2025 awards. It’s a decidedly gourmet burger; the patty is made with a blend of 90-day aged rib and tail beef, and it's topped with a Parmesan cracker, smoked bacon, caramelised onions, sweet pickles and a secret sauce, all inside a pillowy potato bun.
Goldies has been bringing smash burgers to Berlin and Frankfurt since 2017, all made using local produce. Marketing its offering as ‘the best bad food in town’, the small chain is on a mission to serve burgers with big flavours and big personality, and it's gained legions of supporters in the process. The Super Smash Brother offers all the essentials, bringing together a quality smashed patty with American cheese, salad, pickles, onions and sauce.
Move aside, Quarter Pounder – the Brooklyn, a burger served at Briochef in Madrid, has 50% more meat in its 6oz (180g) patty, which is made from 60-day aged Galician beef. Served in a buttery brioche bun, it’s accompanied by smoky cured Gouda, sweet caramelised onions, crispy bacon and a fiery signature Brooklyn sauce. It’s the Spanish joint’s unique take on the legendary Emmy Burger from New York City’s Emily.
Copenhagen’s Gasoline Grill has achieved what many other chains can’t: it's expanded, without dropping the ball on quality control. With nine locations around the city, it’s still maintaining high standards, grinding its organic beef daily and taking every effort to prevent food waste. The Butter Burger is the one to go for; a pat of butter is melted on top, resulting in a moist handheld that’s full of flavour. It's helped to win the chain a string of awards and accolades.
Soul Coffee Beer’s best burger may be named after a famous rapper (as are all of its burgers), but the Notorious' title is particularly apt, considering its amazing reputation. The patty is the standout feature in this ingenious invention – aged for 45 days, the beef has a rich, deep flavour, and it's complemented by unbelievably crispy bacon. The burger is finished with queso Cheddar, pickles and secret sauce.
Twice crowned champion at the UK’s National Burger Awards, Bleecker’s Bacon Double is a burger to be reckoned with. It proves you don’t need the towering, overstuffed creations of the 2010s to deliver knockout flavour. Built from the finest ingredients, it layers a perfectly cooked patty, molten American cheese, crisp bacon, sweet onion and signature sauce inside a pillowy bun. Bleecker started as a humble food truck in 2012 and opened its first restaurant just three years later – so it’s clear it's doing something right.
The Bacon Butter Burger may have a playful, alliterative name, but it’s backed by serious flavour. Crisp pancetta stands in for the bacon, while the 'butter' comes in the form of an inventive burnt butter mayonnaise. At its heart is a juicy, dry-aged beef patty crowned with sweet onion and a decadent double layer of American cheese. It’s no wonder Burger & Beyond is widely hailed as one of the best burger joints in the business.
When it comes to great burgers, it pays to follow the award trail – and Whole Beast’s incredible Aged Cheeseburger is a shining example. In 2024, it earned the coveted Champion of Champions title at the National Burger Awards, beating 29 other finalists. The winning formula? An aged beef patty paired with melting American cheese, bread and butter pickles, rich smoked bone marrow and house-made burger sauce, all nestled in a soft milk bun. You'll find Whole Beast at pop-up residencies across London.
In a 2024 ranking by burger experts Burgerdudes, this Spanish joint was named as having the best burger in the world. Founded in 2020 by two friends on a global quest to unlock the secret to an unbeatable burger, it’s quickly made its mark with creations like the Singular – a dry-aged Galician beef patty layered with Cheddar, smoky barbecue sauce, crisp bacon, caramelised onions and luscious Camembert cream, all tucked into a light demi-brioche bun.
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