“This award feels extra special just at the moment as we have just reached 250,000 visitors to the embassy’s programme. It shows us that we have put Sweden on the map with Washington residents,” said Swedish ambassador Jonas Hafström.

The Swedish embassy won the “Best Of” competition from a field of 181 embassies in the US capital, beating Brazil and France in to second and third place respectively.

The newspaper’s 300,000 readers motivated their choice with respect to the Swedish embassy’s “fantastic, different design”, but also due to the active and diverse programme of events that are open to the general public.

The embassy is now conducting its 11th Public Diplomacy programme which has its starting point in Sweden’s progressive image and spans politics, culture, trade and research/science.

“My fantastic team’s work continues to reap rewards after the embassy and the House of Sweden were already in 2008 named as Venue of the Year by the Washington Post.

The “Best Of” competition is conducted annually by the Washington Post/Express and canvasses readers for their choice of leading establishment in a number of categories, for example restaurant, museum and embassy.