Östermalm's best bars

If there's one place you can be sure the bartender knows how to handle a cocktail shaker it's Hantverket. Swedish ingredients, unusual bitters and top-shelf spirits combine in your glass. Try out the "cocktail of the evening", something non-alcoholic or go large and order the cocktail package served in combination with five creative dishes.

Brasserie Godot is something of a communal living room for Östermalm residents. Before you enter the dining room you pass through the bar area, where there's always a great atmosphere after work. The brasserie is run by two sommeliers so you can expect an interesting wine selection and a reliable cocktail list including both classics and new combos.

Asia, in particular Bali, Singapore and the Sichuan province of China, are the inspiration for the restaurant and bar at Story Hotel Riddargatan. In the evenings it's a buzzy hangout and the drinks menu includes innovative cocktails and exciting ingredients, like green tea and maple syrup.

This co-working space on Grev Turegatan serves up skilfully mixed cocktails, cold beers, non-alcoholic drinks and snacks. The cocktail bar is run by award-winning bartender Johan Evers together with rising star Oscar Drigoris, and the emphasis here is on passion and craftsmanship.

Inside Artilleriet is the restaurant's cheeky little cocktail bar, Stjärtilleriet. Take a seat in the playful surroundings and sip an experimental cocktail with new and innovative flavours, perhaps with something to eat. They hold a happy hour several days a week, often with live DJs. 

Come in, sit down, order a beer from the large selection, grab a bite to eat, and relax. Rosa has a nice relaxed atmosphere perfect for laughing or crying about life over good food and drink. Check out the art on the walls or listen to DJ-curated music on certain evenings. Beer takes centre stage with numerous taps in the bar, but there are drinks to suit all tastes.

This sociable cocktail bar on Nybrogatan serves up great cocktails and food, alongside board games and activities. The concept is a relatively new one for Östermalm and the aim is that guests should feel right at home. Leather sofas, subtle lighting, curtains and rugs create a living-room feel that encourages lounging and socialising. Drop by with a group of friends or colleagues for a game of shuffleboard or billiards.

Hotel Kung Carl, with its prime location on Stureplan, has two bars and a French bistro. Drink punsch cocktails, champagne or wine. Take in the atmosphere of the Parisian cocktail bar on the corner of Stureplan, or drop by the jazzy wine bar tucked away inside.

If you want to have a drink in gorgeous surroundings, Hillenberg is a hot tip. Designed by the Okidoki! architect firm, the backdrop provides endless interiors inspiration as you sip your drink. The drinks list is equally smoking, with masses of innovative flavour combinations.

In the historic restaurant neighbourhood that used to be home to Östergök, you can now bar hop between Cuculo, Aristo and Uva Vinbar. Cuculo carries on the legacy of Östergök, and you can enjoy Italian dishes here as well as hang out in the playful bar sipping drinks like Negroni and Aperol spritz.

Uva serves up Scandinavian design and wines from the Old World, with the odd element from the USA. They've created an oasis for wine lovers craving an excellent glass of wine, whether it's for a quick post- work drink or a full evening out. You can also order snacks from Uva's sister restaurants, Cuculo and Aristo.

Duck off lively Grev Turegatan into this cosy yet buzzy bistro. The bar may be small, but the wine list is long. There's plenty of room on the outdoor dining area in the summers, perfect for a little Östermalm people-watching.

Kommendören is famous for its warm, welcoming atmosphere. Take a seat in their intimate little bar and watch the bartenders conjure up cocktails that span the range between sweet and bitter. You can also order from the restaurant menu if hunger should sneak up on you.

Svenska Brasserier is a collective name for several well-known Stockholm restaurants, most of which happen to be located in Östermalm, on the edge of the city centre. As well as sharing the same owners, Sturehof, Riche and Teatergrillen are all institutions in Stockholm nightlife. Their generous opening hours make them popular meeting places for media types and aspiring club kids alike, and you can drop by for something to drink every day of the week.

ISSEI, inside the Strand Hotel, is one of Stockholm's first Nikkei restaurants. The Japanese/Peruvian restaurant also has a cocktail bar where you can drink cocktails with pisco from Peru and sake from Japan. Nibble on Nikkei-style snacks with your drink. 

Grodan has been on Grev Turegatan since 1985. The restaurant was originally called La Grenouille, but was quickly renamed when more and more regulars started calling it Grodan - "the frog". More than three decades later it's still a hot spot and the bar, as well as the outdoor dining area, are places to see and be seen. Expect a steady stream of guests and French-influenced drinks.

This popular neighbourhood restaurant on Linnégatan has both a dining room and a large bar where you can meet up with friends and have something to eat or just a drink. The bar is a relaxed meeting place that's ideal whether you want to order dinner or just drop by for a glass of wine after work. 

You don't have to be a chess pro to visit Svarta Hästen, Stockholm's first wine and chess bar - in fact, you don't even have to like chess, you're just as welcome just to explore the bar's unique wine list. You'll find labels from winemakers around the world, from classic French wines to slightly more offbeat natural wines. And if the red and white chess tables beckon, you can enlist the help of a personal chess coach to learn the basics or take your game to the next level.

You'd be hard-pushed to walk past East's outdoor dining area in the centre of Stureplan and find it empty. This Asian fusion restaurant is open for dinner and drinks in the same premises and the drinks as well as the food are inspired by lands to the east, including a wide range of sake, beer and cocktails with Asian flavours.

At Zink, they want every guest to feel like part of the family, whether they come here for dinner or for a drink at the bar. The drinks menu lists both classic and newer cocktails flavoured with typically Italian ingredients such as limoncello, Aperol and olive oil, as well as a selection of (mainly Italian) wines. If you're a bit peckish, you can order some snacks in the form of olives, charcuterie, almonds and other antipasti.

This wine café from star chef Niklas Ekstedt serves a carefully curated selection of natural wines from all over the world. The knowledgeable staff who are passionate about wine are happy to give recommendations.

On the ground floor of the grand Art Nouveau building on Strandvägen that houses one of the city's swankiest hotels, you'll also find the hotel's brasserie, bar and an incredibly popular outdoor dining area with waterfront views. The drinks menu is particularly popular after work and on sunny days.