
The guide to Gothenburg's best cocktail bars
Updated 29 Mar 2022
A really fabulous cocktail is so much more than just a drink, it's a complete experience. Interest in cocktails is growing and Gothenburg has several bars which focus on mixologically advanced cocktails with exciting new flavours and trends. We guide you to Gothenburg's best cocktail bars, bars where cocktails take centre stage and the bartenders reign supreme. Take a deep dive into the world of Old Fashioneds, garnishes and bitters, or just enjoy the luxurious feeling a well-mixed cocktail in a stylish bar provides.
Avalon
Kungstorget 9, CentrumInternational flair
Avalon's bar is known for being one of Gothenburg's first cocktail bars and it's also been named as one of best in the country by the prestigious White Guide. The buzzy atmosphere is international and luxurious, just as it should be in a hotel bar, and muted music sets the tone. Service and craftsmanship are the watchwords here.
Norda
Drottningtorget 10, CentrumSkilled craftsmanship
Clarion Hotel Post has a number of strings to its bow and Norda, on the first floor, is one of them. They can proudly claim to have won the Bartender of the Year award in both 2014 and 2015. The drinks list is regularly updated and includes their own twists on classic cocktails along with modern cocktails with edgy flavour combinations. A treat for the eyes and the tastebuds.
Steampunk Bar
Kungsgatan 7 A, Centrum/KungshöjdSteampunk and smoke-shrouded cocktails
You'll find Scandinavia's first steampunk bar in Kungshöjd. The term and subculture are influenced by 19th century Victorian industrialism and staff wear classic steampunk costumes. The bar specialises in cocktails, and don't be surprised if your carefully mixed cocktail arrives shrouded in dry-ice vapours, served by someone wearing goggles and a top hat.
Bruk
Friggagatan 4, CentrumNordic elegance
Bruk is run by a bartender duo with a passion for service, food and drink. The cocktail menu includes both well-loved classics and Bruk's own creative interpretations. The atmosphere is intimate and homely and attracts a mixed crowd.
Locatelli
Kungsportsavenyn 36-38, Centrum/AvenynAs cheerful as a colourful tropical cocktail
This semi-circular bar on Avenyn, with its year-round outdoor dining area, is a true cocktail mecca. Experience the big city buzz while you sip on a fruity, cheerful cocktail. Upbeat electro tones create a great atmosphere with chilled Ibiza vibes. The bar has been named by the New York Times as one of Europe's top To-Do spots.
Postbaren
Drottningtorget 10, CentrumExtravagant miljö
Inne på Clarion Hotel Post huserar den påkostade Postbaren. Här sitter du i lyxiga art deco-inspirerade omgivningar medan du njuter av deras innovativa cocktails, snacks och internationella atmosfär. Baren besöks dessutom regelbundet av trollkonstnärer och artister som underhåller under kvällarna.
Familjen
Arkivgatan 7, CentrumHome, away
Rag rugs on the floor and portraits of the staff on the walls give this place an inviting, homely feel. The bar serves cocktails with Swedish flavours and names inspired by forests and nature. The restaurant has won prizes and awards from the Michelin Guide and White Guide, among others.
The Parlour
Kungsportsavenyen 2, CentrumElegant cocktail lounge
In glamorous surroundings on Avenyn, The Parlour blends up delightfully creative cocktails. With a restaurant section and a cocktail lounge, the idea is that you can drop by any time for a Peruvian-inspired dinner or just luxe up your weekday with a really great cocktail.
Bistro Français
Kungsportsavenyn 7, Centrum/AvenynParty atmosphere
What used to be Le Pain Francais Bistro now goes under the name of Avenyn 7 and there's a lively atmosphere here from morning until evening. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are served, and then the party vibe grows with each passing hour. The bar is filled with everyone from tourists to regulars, friends and colleagues, dropping by for a post-work drink or warming up for a big night out. The menu includes all the cocktails you can imagine and you can always ask the bartender to create one specially for you.
Dorsia
Trädgårdsgatan 6, CentrumRich tones and abundance
What could be more delightfully decadent than champagne and cocktails? This luxurious, colourful hotel happily combines both components, resulting in a drinks list filled with bubbly cocktails. During the warmer months, head out to the roof terrace to drink cocktails under the city's summer skies.
Mercado Mexico
Södra Vägen 18, CentrumCocktails with Mexican influences
Mercado is the Spanish word for market and Mercado Mexico's light, lively surroundings feel just like being in a busy, colourful marketplace. As well as Mexican food with a twist, the team here are experts in creating well-balanced cocktails. Unsurprisingly, many of them have Mexican flavours and are made with a base of tequila or mezcal. Why not cool off with a refreshing Frozen Margarita?
Oak Bar
Nils Ericsonsgatan 23, CentrumClassic New York style with a modern touch
Sip cocktails at Oak Bar in classic New York-style surroundings. Manhattan vibes permeate the decor, drinks menu and service, and they serve a wide selection of cocktails, mocktails, wines and champagne. The cocktail menu includes old favourites alongside innovative concoctions inspired by all corners of the world.
Adamo
Södra vägen 3, CentrumFront-row cocktails
Sit by the bar at Adamo and sip perfectly-blended cocktails as you enjoy the theatre of mixologists showing off their skills. Along with both classic and innovative cocktails, they also serve snacks, medium-sized dishes, pizzas and desserts.
Lola
Viktoriagatan 3, Centrum/VasaCocktails meet Asian flavours and disco
The gold bar is the first thing you see when you step inside Lola. Delicious cocktails are shaken and stirred here, to be enjoyed in fabulous disco surroundings among disco balls, neon signs and coloured spotlights. The banging atmosphere makes for a proper night out, but it's also a great spot to drop by for a quick post-work drink. If you're hungry, the menu includes Asian tapas and dumplings, dim-sum style.
Spice Room
Magasinsgatan 8, CentrumIndian spirits and flavourful cocktails
Experience Indian cuisine and drinks culture in a whole new way. Expect flavourful cocktails and drinks made from Indian and seasonal ingredients at Spice Room in central Gothenburg. Why not try some Indian rum, vodka or whiskey? Whether you're a large or small group planning to drop by for a quick drink or settle in for a whole evening, there's an extensive cocktail menu ready and waiting to give your tastebuds a whole new experience.
Coco Orangerie
Linnégatan 38, LinnéFood, design and cocktails
Enjoy food, cocktails and stylish design at lifestyle restaurant Coco Orangerie. This oasis on Linnégatan works just as well whether you want to share medium-sized dishes or take a seat at the bar and sip a well-blended cocktail.
Elite Plaza Hotel
Västra Hamngatan 3, CentrumClassic elegance
In surroundings reminiscent of an English gentlemen's club, this stylish cocktail bar is next to the hotel restaurant, Swea Hof. Sink into a comfy armchair and order something from the bar's own Martini menu, or choose a refreshing long drink. Drop by and relax for a while in the warm, classic setting.
Stranger
Kungstorget 14, CentrumSpeakeasy style
A "secret" bar which you can only get into by ringing the doorball. A place for real dyed-in-the-wool barflies. The concept is influenced by the USA's Prohibition era and the emphasis is on both classic cocktails and their own creations.
Barabicu
Rosenlundsgatan 4, CentrumBig city vibes with New York influences
This bar, in the corner of the restaurant, is large and roomy with plenty of space to hang out. They're passionate about skilfully mixed cocktails, both popular classics and innovative creations. Craftsmanship is the name of the game. There's also a bar menu that follows the restaurant's rustic North and South American style.
Cuckoo's Nest
Lindholmspiren 4, HisingenOne of Europe's best-designed bars
This bar hasn't just won the prestigious "European Hotel Design Awards 2013", it can also boast several skilled bartenders who compete on the international stage. Their primary passion is gin-based cocktails, but their drinks list is long and includes many mixologically exciting creations.
Puta Madre
Magasinsgatan 3, CentrumMexican bordello style
Hidden behind the doors of Puta Madre is an entire world from a bygone age. The decor oozes early 1900s vibes and culinary and cultural influences come from Mexico. The bar shelves house Gothenburg's largest selection of tequila and many of their cocktails are built around this agave-based spirit.
Heaven 23
Mässans gata 22, CentrumHigh up in the skies
Right at the top of this building you'll find a bar with one of the best views in the city. Every imaginable cocktail is mixed here and at the weekend prices are particularly reasonable during cocktail hour. Guest DJs pop up several evenings a week to create nice vibes.
Made in China
Tredje Långgatan 9, LinnéRaw and elegant
With a menu full of dim sum, dumplings and other Chinese dishes, it's not surprising the cocktail list follows the same lines. The bar takes the restaurant's flavours and runs with them, resulting in some really fantastic flavour experiences. You may even get your cocktail served in a Chinese takeaway box, complete with chopsticks.
Ruby
Kungsportsavenyn 24, Centrum/AvenynCocktail bar with a view
Right at the top of the Scandic Rubinen in the middle of Avenyn, this rooftop bar serves up cocktails and a great view over the rooftops of Gothenburg. A central oasis for thirsty guests keen to admire the view with a clinking glass in their hand. The restaurant on the hotel's second floor also has an elegant bar.