Stockholm’s nightlife offers a variety of clubs, bars and live music events. One of the city’s most iconic nightlife destinations is Berns, located in Berzelii Park in the Norrmalm district. Berns is a landmark venue featuring clubs, bars, and even live performances under one roof.
The Stureplan area in the Östermalm district is another hotspot for clubbing. This area features several upscale nightclubs and trendy bars. Additionally, the Södermalm district stands out for its dynamic nightlife scene, home to venues like Trädgården, a popular summer club open from May to September, and its winter counterpart Under Bron, which operates from late September to mid-April.
South of Södermalm district, you’ll find the industrial area at Slakhusområdet, which is turning into a new district and a buzzing nightlife destination.
Stockholm also hosts some of the best cocktail bars in the world, and is home to several world-class beer bars and microbreweries. During the warm months the outdoor clubs and rooftop bars open up and make the best of Stockholm summer nights. Wine is getting all the more popular in Stockholm, with numerous wine bars specializing in natural wines and food pairing.
These are our recommendations for making the most of Stockholm’s nightlife.
Cocktail bars
Craft cocktails are quite popular in Stockholm, and you’ll find most of the cocktail bars concentrated in the Östermlam, Norrmalm, and Södermalm districts. Most of these bars focus solely on serving expertly crafted cocktails, while others are part of restaurants that also feature a bar. These venues often offer a small food menu with dishes specifically paired to complement the drinks. If you’re not up for drinking alcohol most of the cocktail bars have great options for mocktails, which are just as creative as the cocktails.
There’s generally no dress code at cocktail bars in Stockholm – you can dress casually or dress up, depending on your personal style. That said, guests in Östermalm tend to be more dressed up, while the vibe in Södermalm is typically more relaxed and casual.
Röda Huset, which translates to the Red House, is a restaurant and cocktail bar located in an actual red building just by the Sergels Torg square, close to the Central Station. Recognized as one of the 50 best bars in the world, it crafts creative cocktails with novel Swedish ingredients. Here you’ll get to try cocktails with ingredients such as blueberries, plums, and fir tree.
Lucy’s Flower Shop is a speakeasy cocktail bar, with a true passion for mixology. Step through an unmarked door, which takes you downstairs to this hidden gem. Located in the upscale Östermalm district, right at the heart of Stureplan’s nightlife, the bar was ranked among the world’s 50 best bars in 2022 and has also earned recognition as the best bar in the Nordics.
20hundra5 is an award-winning cocktail bar, with a relaxed setting and a playful atmosphere. Located in the Vasastan district, it has built a strong reputation for serving high-quality, inventive cocktails. The menu features creative twists on classic drinks as well as unique, often unconventional, original creations.
Hernö Gin Bar is the flagship venue for the Swedish Hernö Gin Distillery. The bar features a Scandinavian aesthetic, and its cocktails often highlight local ingredients like lingonberry, rhubarb, and apples.
Rooftop bars
Rooftop bars are growing in popularity. It might have something to do with the fact that Stockholm is building taller buildings than we used to, but also due to the fact that more rooftops are being utilized as bars and restaurants. Summer is the special season for rooftop bars, as this is the time when their outdoor seatings are open, though most of the rooftop bars also offer a great indoor ambience year-round.
Freyja + Söder is a fairly new rooftop bar and restaurant located on the top floor of a building close to Slussen, in the Södermalm district. The bar has emphasizes Swedish flavors and offers both indoor seating and a large outdoor terrace, with stunning views of Gamla Stan and Kungsholmen.
Le Hibou is the rooftop bar located on the top floor of the Bank Hotel, in the Norrmalm district. The vibe is upscale, the drinks are superb and the service is friendly yet attentive. Access the bar through the door next to the hotel entrance, and take the elevator straight to the top floor. Their indoor bar feels more like sitting in a living room with groups of cozy sofas and chairs.
During the warmer months their outdoor terrace is a great choice for having a drink with a view. Their creative cocktail menu revolves around ingredients of your choice, such as apples, coffee, or grapes, and it includes both alcoholic as well as non-alcoholic options.
Tak and Stockholm Under Stjärnorna, or just SUS, are in fact two different rooftop bars connected by a bridge between their buildings. Tak is the bar of the restaurant with the same name, located on the top floor of the At Six Hotel. The restaurant serves modern Swedish cuisine with Japanese influences and the bar offers both indoor and outdoor seating with an impressive view of Stockholm. Their drinks are also influenced by Japanese flavors with ingredients such as sake, yuzu and umeshu.
Right next door is SUS, which translates to Stockholm Under the Stars, a large outdoor rooftop bar that is a popular hangout during the spring and summer months. SUS has a casual vibe, and it tends to get crowded, so if you want a seat, it’s best to arrive early. Alternatively, you can grab a drink, find a spot to stand, and take in the views.
A tip: bathrooms at SUS are limited, so if there’s a long line to the few bathrooms available, just head over to Tak’s bar next door, which feels like an extension of the same space. There are significantly more bathrooms there.
Beer bars
The best beer bars are located in the Södermalm district. While you certainly can enjoy a good beer in other parts of the city, if you’re looking for craft beers, locally produced beers, or bars with an extensive beer selection, Södermalm is the place to go.
Omnipollos Hatt is one of the bars of the award-winning Omnipollo brewery. Their craft beer will usually focus on different variants of pale ales. The beer selection on tap changes often, featuring creative and unexpected flavors that work surprisingly well in beer. Located in the Södermalm district, near the Slussen metro station, this spot is popular for both its beer and its pizzas. If you visit during a popular time such as a weekend night, expect the bar to be crowded.
Akkurat has the vibe of a traditional pub, and they have an extensive selection of beers and whisky. They have a large selection of beers on tap and also hold a vast selection of bottled beers. If you’d like some food with your drink, they have a small menu with meat dishes, burgers, and vegan options.
Stigbergets Fot is a modern beer bar, well-stocked with craft beers from the Stigberget Brewery, a Swedish micro brewery based in Gothenburg in southwest Sweden. They made their name around 2016 with their take on a hazy IPA, which is still in their assortment. Look for the West Coast IPA, or just as for a “Måsen”, which means The Seagull, since there is a seagull on the can. They often feature other local beers and sometimes international options. Be sure to try one of their own beers, as they offer a variety ranging from IPAs to sour beers. The food menu primarily consists of burgers and similar streetfood, which pairs perfectly with the beers.
Wine Bars
Going out for a glass of wine is just as popular as grabbing a beer in Stockholm. Many bars focus on wine and often feature menus designed to complement their selection. Natural and organically produced wines are particularly popular, and you can usually order by the glass or by the bottle.
Grus Grus is the wine bar of the Tranan restaurant, located next door in the Odenplan area of the Vasastan district. The bar offers a wide selection of wines from small scale producers and natural wines.
Vinverket is a cozy and intimate wine bar and restaurant featuring a striking floor-to-ceiling wine cooler. It offers a great selection of wines, available by the glass or bottle, with a wine list covering classic European regions. The food is influenced by Mediterranean cuisine and pairs well with the wine.
Folii is a wine bar founded by two experienced sommeliers and has been voted the best wine bar in Stockholm more than once. They don’t take reservations, so the best way to visit is to simply drop by. Next door, you’ll find the restaurant Voisine, run by the same owners. If you are interested in a wine and food pairing their French cuisine will not disappoint.
Summer outdoor venues
Summer is when outdoor clubs, bara and music venues come alive all around the city. During this time of year, it feels like all of Stockholm is out and about, eating ,drinking, and socializing outdoors. Some clubs are only open during the summer months, offering unique seasonal outdoor-only venues.
F12 Terrassen is an outdoor terrace and nightclub at the stairs to the building at the address Fredsgatan 12. The party kicks off at 10 or 11 pm, depending on the day of the week, and it’s hard to miss it if you are passing by. The club is located across from the parliament building, not far from the Central Station. If you’re up for dancing outdoors in the middle of Stockholm, this is the place to visit during summer.
Trädgården is an outdoor summer club, and a popular destination for live music performances and DJ sets. The venue is located in a courtyard, below the Skanstull bridge in the Södermalm district and is a popular place to visit during the summer weekends. Do arrive early if you want to beat the queues.
Mosebacketerrassen somewhat resembles an outdoor beer garden with a gravel courtyard with rows of wooden tables overlooking the waterway towards Djurgården and Gamla Stan. On warm summer nights the courtyard fills with locals gathering to chat and have a beer or drink. It is located just outside the Södra Teatern establishment in the Södermalm district.
Live music venues
Stockholm offers everything from intimate jazz clubs to large concert arenas hosting international superstars.
Kollektivet Livet is a dynamic venue with both a stage, a bar, a club and outdoor terrace. Located at Stadsgårdsterminalen, which used to be an arrival hall for the ferry traffic here, it is located just a short walk from Slussen, in the heart of the Södermalm district. The space has a capacity of more than 600 guests, so a concert feels fairly intimate with a smallish setting, when it comes to concerts. If you make your way here be sure to also visit the terrace, which has stunning views of Stockholm’s waterfront.
Fasching is Stockholm’s premier jazz club, frequently hosts both international and local artists. The venue offers an intimate setting with top-notch acoustics, making it a favorite among jazz enthusiasts. Beyond jazz, Fasching occasionally features artists from genres like blues, soul, and world music, catering to a wide range of musical tastes. It is located right in the Norrmalm district, close to the Central Station making it an easy spot to visit and a must-visit for live music aficionados.
Södra Teatern is one of Stockholm’s oldest active theaters and a lovely spot for cultural events. With several stages, it hosts everything from concerts to theater performances. The lineup is always varied, so there’s likely to be something that catches your interest.
Night Clubs
The Stureplan area in the Östermalm district is well-known for its nightclubs and gets especially crowded on weekends. Another popular spot for clubbing is Slakthuset, located south of central Stockholm, near the Globen metro station. Slakthuset has a more alternative vibe and generally attracts a younger crowd, while Stureplan has a more posh vibe.
Sturecompagniet and Spy Bar are two of Stockholm’s more well-known nightclubs, both located in the upscale Stureplan area. Housed in historic buildings, these clubs have been the goto place for Stockholm’s nightlife for decades.
Slakthuset is an old slaughterhouse from the early 20th century. The area was once an industrial zone for food production. Today, it’s being repurposed into a new district with a residential space and a destination for leisure, with restaurants and bars. The area still has an industrial vibe to it, and it will be fully completed in 2030. It has become a popular spot for clubbing, particularly for those drawn to an alternative vibe and electronic music. If that’s your scene, it’s definitely worth checking out.
Club Backdoor is a prominent gay nightclub popular among Stockholm’s LGBTQ+ community for a night out. Located next to the 3 Arena and not far from Slakthuset, the club features multiple dance floors playing a mix of pop and electronic music. It’s open on Fridays and Saturdays from 11 pm until 5 am. The closest metro station is Globen.