Guide to the best sports bars in Stockholm

When you want to be right in the centre of the sporting action, while sitting comfortably with food and drink within easy reach, head to O'Learys Tolv. The sports bar is right next to the Tele2 Arena and is one of Europe's largest, with a unique arena stand from which you can watch matches on a large jumbotron. As always at O'Leary's, there is a large selection of American food, beer and other drinks, and if you get inspired to get sporty yourself, there are activities including bowling, table tennis and billiards.

These retro-style sports bar are frequented by fans, beer enthusiasts and hungry diners alike. The multiple screens located throughout the premises ensure that guests are kept up to date with the latest sports-related news. Happy hour is until 7 pm and the menu features 8 different burgers.

The Laughing Duck is as much a sports bar as it is a relaxed pub for after-workers and happy groups of friends. Everyone meets up over affordable food and drink in a relaxed environment, where sport plays an important part. All the big matches are shown, but you can ask the staff if they can show the particular match you want to see. After the sport, the evening often turns into a party with DJs and singalongs.

This classic pub attracts a wide clientele, particularly sports enthusiasts who come here to watch the game with like-minded people. Order something refreshing at the bar, where you'll find a wide selection of local beers and cocktails, and take a seat in front of the screens. If hunger strikes, there are rustic pub dishes such as burgers and schnitzel to choose from. 

It would be hard to find a sportier spot than this, at least around Sankt Eriksplan. Keen bowlers have been coming to Birka Bowling & Dart since the Seventies, but these days you can also play billiards, darts, board games and eat and drink. Hamburgers of various kinds are the main event in the restaurant and the bar serves cocktails, wine and beer. Everything from Swedish Hockey League to Football League games are shown on the huge screens, which you can watch while playing something, or just enjoying a drink.

The Flying Horse is the personification of a stereotypical pub. The bustling atmosphere and old-school furnishings as well as classic pub grub makes this melting pot the sports bar of choice for many enthusiasts. The well-stocked bar's repertoire includes 16 different types of draft beer and more than 100 kinds of bottled beer and single malt whiskeys.

Bryggeriet shows all the major sports events on their screens, but mainly football from Sweden and the biggest foreign matches. They also boast a wide selection of whisky from the US, Japan and Sweden along with masses of different beers.

Bar 08 is something of an institution for sports fans who prefer to watch the match with like-minded people, in a relaxed pub environment. There's plenty of room around the tables even for larger groups, and you're sure to feel part of the gang even if you come alone. Sip beer on draft and by the bottle and tuck into classics such as hamburgers, pasta and pyttipanna if your tum starts to rumble.

If you like to keep an eye on what's going on in the world, head towards Hornsgatan 104. This is home to Southside, a classic Irish pub where they're passionate about sports, beer and bistro grub. The screens show football, rugby and other big matches - but not Allsvenskan, the Swedish football league, as the focus here is on the international field.

Among Stockholm sports enthusiasts, Krukan in Södermalm is a well-known spot. The traditional bar shows all the big games as well as plenty of smaller sports events. You can either book a table and feast on hearty pub food or just drop by for a beer while watching the match.

Esport has become increasingly popular in recent years, and nowadays you can follow your favourite gamers on the big screen together with other fans. Kappa Bar broadcasts both big games and tournaments as well as smaller matches where local players participate. Eat street food such as burgers and pizza, and of course play all kinds of games on both computer and boards.

In 2010 Tudor Arms was nominated the world's best British pub outside of the UK by the Daily Telegraph and British Airways - which is pretty high praise. This traditional joint has been around since 1969 and exudes genuine Union Jack charm. Grab a pint and watch the latest Premier League game.

In Hammarby sjöstad, Allé Kitchen & Bar attracts sports fans from all over Stockholm year after year. As well as showing all the big matches, the focus is on offering good food and drink to combine with the cheering. Classic dishes such as plank steak, burgers, schnitzel, and pasta make up most of the menu, and you can also enjoy a hearty salad or freshly baked pizza.

Few places feel as much like an authentic sports bar as O'Learys. The Boston-influenced chain has branches all over Stockholm, with a passion for sports and American food and drinks as the common thread. Fans gather here to watch the matches together, toast each other with beer, and maybe satisfy their hunger with a burger or hot buffalo wings.