Stockholm's best bars

Passion and creative expression take centre stage at this cocktail bar, run by award-winning bartender Johan Evers along with rising star Oscar Drigoris. As well as craft cocktails, you can also drop by for a beer or a refreshing non-alcoholic drink after work.

This cocktail bar and restaurant in Röda Huset on Sergels Torg is run by the Stureplan group of restaurants and award-winning bartender Hampus Thunholm. Come by to sip on perfectly blended cocktails with Swedish ingredients, and to eat small dishes. The view is the cherry on the cake. 

Hernö Gin Bar is spread out over two floors in a historic building next to Slussen. They serve cocktails made from all the different variations of Hernö Gin, including an award-winning gin & tonic, as well as small plates with Swedish influences. The restaurant and cocktail bar are on the ground floor and downstairs you'll find a cosy bar and tasting venue.

Bar Nombre opened in 2011 and is Stockholm's answer to a Spanish cerveceria (beer bar). The bar section, which tends to get full to bursting in the evenings, is also known for its selection of cava, brandy and well-mixed cocktails. A popular spot for thirsty city-dwellers who aren't afraid of a bit of a squeeze.

Tjoget is without doubt one of Hornstull's and Södermalm's most popular meeting places, with a wine bar, cocktail bar, beer café and restaurant all under one roof. In the evenings, the place is often filled to the brim with groups of friends and anyone who appreciates a well-mixed cocktail as much as they do oysters, charcuterie and rustic dishes from the Mediterranean.

This award-winning cocktail bar in the Old Town stands on the site of Sweden's first apothecary, which opened around 400 years ago. Imaginative cocktails with fresh ingredients are the order of the day here and can be combined with small dishes if you want a complete taste experience.

Lucy's Flower Shop on Birger Jarlsgatan has managed to earn a place on a list of the world's 50 best bars. You enter the bar through an anonymous doorway via an abandoned flower shop. Once inside, founders Ola Carlson and Alex Skärlén take the cocktail concept to the next level. There's also a snack menu if you get peckish.

Tranan's cellar bar has long been a favourite place to meet in the middle of Odenplan. Cocktails, bar food, DJs and photographic exhibitions, as well as an old pinball machine, are just a few of the ingredients that make up this packed restaurant. One floor up you'll find the dining hall's characteristic red-checked tablecloths and Swedish homecooking classics. 

This award-winning hole-in-the-wall joint in Södermalm serves a wide selection of wine and is a popular spot for wine nerds and keen amateurs alike. Sommelier duo Jonas Sandberg and Beatrice Becher are happy to give recommendations. Since the bar opened in 2017, it's been an extremely popular watering hole in eastern Södermalm, earning plaudits far and wide. If you get hungry, just head next door to their sister restaurant, Voisine.

Once upon a time, on the edges of the Old Town, there was a dimly lit venue in an alley wayby the harbour where merchants would gather. Today, the venue retains its cosy dimly-lit charm, but no trading in bricks takes place. Instead, expertly crafted cocktails are mixed to the sounds of live jazz in true speakeasy spirit.

At Artilleriet's whimsical cocktail bar, there's always something new and creative brewing. The cocktail menu is regularly updated with various experimental combinations, with or without alcohol. Those wanting to sample a bit of everything can try Stjärtilleriet's “cocktail omakase” – a disruptive cocktail tasting served in half-glasses.

Amber-coloured drinks take centre stage at Akkurat, ie. beer and whisky - although they can of course have other colours as well. They have a selection consisting of hundreds of varieties of each drink. There's a bar section that doesn't need to be booked, and a restaurant section where can enjoy dishes including their signature dish, mussels.

Enjoy fantastic beer culture in the Luma area of Hammarby sjöstad. Nya Carnegiebryggeriet brews craft beer to suit all tastes and preferences, which can be enjoyed just a few steps away in the brewery bar. Comfort food is also served there, designed to pair perfectly with the drinks. The brewery is housed in a historic lamp factory in Luma and combines Swedish tradition with American adventurousness, resulting in hundreds of different kinds of beers over the years.

This place oozes New York and Parisian bistro vibes. The restaurant's long cocktail bar serves both wine and fabulous cocktails and, if you happen to be hungry, snacks and small dishes are also on offer. 

Whether you're a businessman, DJ or just an ordinary bar-hopper, you'll probably end up at Grodan sooner or later. These days the restaurant is something of an institution on Grev Turegatan. The upper floor bar is a lively haunt that's collected numerous regulars over the years. Lots of punters have a drink here before dinner, and there are plenty of stragglers late into the evening. If you want to enjoy a drink in one of Stockholm's most beautiful locales, check out Grodan's sister spot in the Kungliga Operan.

AG isn't just famous for its excellent meat dishes and cool industrial decor. The friendly bar has attracted a regular nightlife crowd over the years. A large part of the experience (and hipness factor) is down to trying to find the right entrance in the seemingly empty backstreet and then find your way up to the hidden-away industrial locale.

Combine beer, wine or cocktails with mini golf at Golfbaren. Compete in a tournament or play just for fun, and let the best man win! The bar serves a wide, classic selection of drinks to suit all tastes. Next round on the loser?

Två små svin in Årsta serves smørrebrød (Danish open sandwiches) with various toppings and Czech beer. They stock Konrad and Primator, among other beers, as well as spiced brännvin (vodka) from Möja bränneri which is served all day. Champagnes and wines from France, USA and Germany can also be found on the drinks menu - many of them organic.

This leafy summer café serves both food and drinks. Take a seat on the outdoor dining area and cool off with a beer, Aperol spritz or a glass of cava. There's a food menu with simple dishes if you get peckish.

Hornsgatan Kvarterskrog & Barservering on the corner of Ringvägen/Hornsgatan is a firm favourite. In true neighbourhood pub spirit, you're just as welcome here for a cup of coffee or a glass of wine as for lunch or dinner. A long bar stretches out across the room with plenty of space for new and old acquaintances alike to meet over a glass of something and few snacks. And if you look for the right place behind the counter, you'll find the Rock Bar, where they serve Pistonhead accompanied by loud rock music.

Riche, Sturehof, Teatergrillen, Riche Fenix and Taverna Brillo are all part of the group of obligatory restaurants that make up many Stockholmers' absolute favourite places to hang out. Classic, buzzy and always on-trend. Riche Fenix is the black sheep in the flock, as it's the only restaurant in Södermalm, while the others are around Stureplan. 

Baras Imperium, part of the Baras group, aims to give their guests a great night out that doesn't cost an arm and a leg. Eat and drink in warm, welcoming surroundings in the heart of Södermalm; they even have a glassed-in veranda that's open all year round.

Boqueria Torg in the centre of the Mood gallerian shopping centre is just made for after-work socialising or a drink after shopping - you can combine a glass of wine or a beer with Spanish tapas and listen to guest DJs after work. The tempo and party mood rises as the evening goes on.

From HIGH, you can enjoy views of Stockholm's rooftops and waterways with a cocktail in hand, whatever the season or weather. Nine stories up in the Radisson Blu Royal Viking Hotel, the bar offers an innovative drink menu with exciting flavours, but you can also opt for a classic cocktail or something bubbly. If you're feeling peckish, order some simple snacks to nibble on.

The lush bar downstairs at the Astoria serves perfectly blended classic cocktails, carefully selected wines and beers. The bar has plenty of drop-in places and you can come by for a glass of wine after work or stay on for a drink after dinner. If you're hungry, the restaurant's large à la carte menu is also served in the bar.

Well-loved Södermalm bar and restaurant with unpolished vintage vibes and a crowd packed with regulars. Or, as they describe themselves; "a pleasure palace and champagneria" with an adjoining barbershop one floor down.

Tilt is like a second living room where you can enjoy cocktails and fun activities at the same place. Get comfy on one of the sofas and sip a drink, challenge your friends to a game of billards or shuffleboard, throw some darts or pick your favourite board game.

Take your chess game to the next level with the help of a personal chess coach at Stockholm's first wine and chess bar. You can also meet others with the same interest - or just enjoy a glass of wine in an unusually peaceful pub environment. If you want to play, you can book one of the specially designed red and white chess tables, otherwise just drop into the bar, which serves everything from unusual natural wines to more traditional varieties.

If you like a fun atmosphere and fabulous cocktails, head to The Social in the Clarion Hotel Sign. Its handy location means it's ideal for a post-work drink, bar crawl, dinner or pre-party. Have a cocktail at the bar or sit down for dinner and choose from the modern and international bistro menu.

This Continental restaurant and bar is hidden away in Hallwylska museet's stunning inner courtyard. Open all year round, they serve cocktails, mocktails, beer, wine and champagne in gorgeous surroundings. Stop by for a pre-dinner cocktail, post-work drink or a big night out in the heart of the city.

Football, beer and pub grub - the concept at Pitcher's is as familiar as it is popular. Socialise over a bite to eat or a beer, play a game of shuffleboard, or watch football on the big screen. The atmosphere is typical of a classic British pub, with patterned walls and a cosy feel.

Many people consider Wirströms Pub in the Old Town to be one of Stockholm's absolute best pubs, as the selection of whiskey and beer in the bar is both broad and large. Regulars and tourists alike come here to have a drink, enjoy live music and quiz nights in the cellar or watch the game.  

At Tures, just inside the Grev Turegatan entrance to Sturegallerian shopping galleria, the volume and party vibes increase as day turns into evening. The bar serves classic cocktails and a wide selection of signature drinks, as well as bubbles, white, red and rosé wine, beer and cider. 

Combine French park life with something refreshing to drink. Boulebar is the place to come for anyone who wants to challenge each other to a game of boules, hang out and have a good time. Perfect for a post-work drink with an activity. Boulebar works all year round, as there are indoor and outdoor boules lanes. 

The neighbourhood restaurant Kommendören gets its inspiration from New York bistro culture. You'll find an intimate bar built to American design guidelines, bringing you closer to the bartender. This place is the real deal, with a great bar scene for local regulars.

Shotluckan's slogan is "life is too short to sip your drinks". This shots bar on Götgatan in Södermalm serves more than 200 different kinds of shots, which are always served with some kind of spectacle. Expect everything from light shows to chemical reactions and other kinds of guest interactions. Perfect when you want to take a pre-party to the next level.

Cadierbaren is the Grand Hotel's cocktail bar. The bar is named after the French chef Régis Cadier, who founded the hotel. Enjoy the views over the Royal Palace along with fine wines, champagne and a wide selection of expertly-blended cocktails. If you get peckish there's a bar menu to choose from.