In 1640, the county governor of Örebro, by the command of Queen Kristina, ordered the construction of a road from Örebro that would pass through Grythyttan and continue on to the silver mining areas around Hällefors. A provision of the order called for the establishment of inns and restaurants along the thoroughfare. One of these inns was established in Grythyttan. This inn was to, in keeping with guidelines from the queen, provide facilities for three classes: nobility and statesmen, honorable citizens and the common folk. The first innkeeper, Anders Larsson, was also responsible for making sure that there was adequate place for at least 24 horses.

Innkeepers came and went, and visitors were many, but by the end of the 1800s, the inn was overshadowed by Järnvägshotellet (“the railway hotel”). Eventually, furniture makers, cobblers, saddlers and painters moved in to the old inn. The 1920s and 1930s was a very active time for Grythyttan. The railway hotel burned down and the buildings around the inn were sold to several different people. Many of the buildings decayed over the years that followed and people in the area thought that the entire inn should be demolished. During the 1960s, however, they began to appreciate the culturally rich history of the area, and realized that the buildings should be preserved. Soon, a very extensive renovation project was under way.

Eventually, the local community center, which now owned the inn, realized that it was necessary to locate an ambitious restaurateur. Everybody who was approached declined… Grythyttan is, after all, not exactly centrally located. Contact was made with a young restaurateur, who happened to be interested in antiques and was looking to run his own business. Dressed in red plaid golf attire with short trousers and a vest, 26-year-old Carl Jan Granqvist made his first visit to Grythyttan. Liking what he witnessed, March 17, 1973, saw the official re-opening of the inn. During his next 25 years as innkeeper, Carl Jan did everything in his power to build up the reputation of the inn and of Grythyttan… not only in Sweden, but in other countries as well. Today, Jenny Ljungberg owns the inn and the preservation and further development of the Grythyttan Inn continues with the same enthusiastic spirit.

Additional stories and anecdotes about the history of the inn can be found in the book about Grythyttan.