Long summer nights let you party well past dawn in Sweden and the best bars in Stockholm will give you plenty of reasons to drink from sunset to sunrise.
You’ve surely heard about the Spy Bar and ICEBAR Stockholm watering holes, but some travelers don’t know that bars in Stockholm come in all shapes and sizes. Chill pubs and speakeasies are found on tap just as often as gay bars and wine bars.
Open a tab at the best bars in Stockholm and let this Swedish city leave you intoxicated in more ways than one.
Image Credit: Getty Images, Maria Swärd. Image Location: Södermalm, Stockholm, Sweden
Pregame: what to know about drinking in Stockholm
What’s the legal drinking age in Sweden?
The minimum drinking age in Sweden is 18, but don’t get too eager to bar hop before checking the age requirements at different venues. For instance, nightclubs and bars may have a minimum age for entry set between 20 and 25.
Is Stockholm a lively city?
Stockholm is a lively city—and we’ve got a list of bars that’ll prove it—but make sure you read the room at every watering hole you visit. Swedish culture is all about kindness and politeness so drink and act like the responsible, respectful traveler we know you are.
Does Stockholm have good nightlife?
Stockholm has no shortage of clubs that close between 3am and 5am. If you’re not keen to party until the sun comes up, dozens of rooftop bars, swanky cocktail bars, breweries, and wine bars will keep you content until your personal last call.
Does Stockholm have pubs?
Yes, Stockholm has its share of cozy pubs. Pub culture doesn’t run as deep into the past as other European cities, though Stockholm is slowly brewing a pub scene that is influenced by the pubs of Belgium, Germany, Ireland, and the UK.
What alcohol do people in Stockholm drink?
Once upon a time, brännvin was the drink of choice for most Swedes. Now, instead of spirits and liquors, wine (and, in fact, bag-in-box wine) is the most popular alcoholic drink.
Image Credit: Mathias Nordgren. Image Location: Spy Bar, Stockholm
The best bars in Stockholm
Spy Bar | Nightclub
Spy Bar is the star of the Stockholm club scene and one of the most popular in the country. Get there early if you want to wait in line as little as possible but nurse those drinks: the best times at Spy Bar in Stockholm happen between 3 a.m. and 5 a.m.
ICEBAR Stockholm | Bar
ICEBAR Stockholm was the first ice bar built in the world. The bar is made of ice. Your glass is made of ice. The walls and art are, you guessed it, ice. You’ll throw on an ice cape and spend 45 min in 23°F (-5°C) warming your bones with cocktails. And since it’s near Stockholm Central station, it can be the first bar you stop at when you leave the airport.
Image Credit and Location: Le Hibou, Stockholm
Le Hibou | Rooftop bar
Located in the luxe Bank Hotel, Le Hibou is a rooftop bar with great views of Stockholm. As with any five-star hotel bar, you can count on elegant cocktails like the Hibou Negroni and Tokyo Collins to be perfectly stirred in a chic surrounding.
Akkurat | Gastropub
Akkurat is one of the bars in Stockholm you should belly up to when you crave a craft beer or whisky with some Nordic noms. Charred mackerel, homemade sausage, and deep-fried calamari pair perfectly with your pint.
Image Credit and Location: Akkurat, Stockholm
Lucy’s Flower Shop | Speakeasy
Behind a nondescript wooden door is one of downtown Stockholm’s most coveted bars: Lucy’s Flower Shop. This speakeasy takes walk-ins, but its popular cocktails warrant weekly reservations.
Klubb Moxy | Gay club
One of the gay bars in Stockholm that hoists the rainbow flag high during Stockholm Pride. Their Pride parties sell out, but if you aren’t in town for Pride Week, you’ll still find the largest lesbian club in Sweden to be one of the most bumping gay clubs in Stockholm no matter the night.
Image Credit and Location: Savant Bar, Stockholm
Savant Bar | Wine bar
Natural wines and seasonal Swedish food are all the rage at Savant Bar. New wines are poured daily, as is the organic veggie menu. The ethos of this Stockholm wine bar extends to its operations: it has a zero-waste vision and seeks to be as sustainable of a restaurant and bar as possible.
Getting around Stockholm without a car
Right when you arrive at Stockholm Arlanda Airport, you can hop a train and get to Stockholm Central train station in 20 min. Once you’re in the city, boats, trams, buses, and metro lines are your designated drivers.
Download the Trainline app and discover how Sweden’s railways can take you to some of the coolest (and coldest) bars in Stockholm.
Header Image Credit: Getty Images, scanrail. Image Location: Old Town, Stockholm, Sweden