16 Best Bars in Sweden

In the hangout of choice for Stockholm's wealthy elite, sit at the bar, sip champagne, and wonder at the glamour of it all.

Located just up the hill from Slussen, Akkurat is a paradise for beer and whiskey lovers. It has what’s quite possibly Stockholm’s best selection of draft and bottled beers, as well as a selection of nearly 400 different kinds of whiskey, particularly Scottish varieties. The menu is a cut above the usual pub grub and is especially known for its mussels prepared in various ways. There's live music on the last Sunday of every month.

This popular meeting place at the waterfront end of Kungsträdgården has fantastic 19th-century decor, including painted ceilings and elaborate chandeliers. Along with dining and drinking, the draws include a party atmosphere and major dancing after midnight. On Friday, the party starts right after office hours, at 5 pm, for an "afterwork" event each week. Guest list spots can be requested via the website.

A concert venue, nightclub, and restaurant, Fasching is the best and most popular place for jazz and world music in town. International and local bands play here year-round.

Quintessentially European, Kino is known for its trendy crowd and locally brewed beer as well as a spread of vegetarian sandwiches and dishes from sister café Hagabion. It's also got an outdoor terrace that faces Linnégatan.

This classic club, one of Stockholm's hottest night spots from the 1930s through the 1960s, still holds major performances throughout the year by Swedish and international artists.

Modern jazz enthusiasts usually head for Nefertiti, the trendy, shadowy club where the line to get in is always long.

Overlooking Stortorget and the Nobel Museum, Pharmarium takes its history—as the site of the city's first pharmacy—seriously. The walls of this cozy bar are lined with wooden medicine cabinets and the copper-lined bar is topped with glass chemical jars and equipment, alongside the burning candles that add to the intimacy of the space. The cocktail menu prides itself on unusual flavor combinations that mix local spirits with ingredients ranging from flower cordials to balsamic-soaked blueberries and arctic bramble.

Located on Sveavägen's main drag, Pub Anchor is the city's downtown hard-rock and heavy metal bar.

An entertainment venue since the 1920s, Pustervik began to focus on music in 2012, featuring artists young and old, new and established. Popular club nights are held late on Friday and Saturday.

For panoramic views of Malmö from one of the city’s few high-rise buildings, head to the Sky Bar on the 25th floor of the Clarion Live Hotel. As you sip your drink, you can look out over a vista that includes the castle, the harbor, the Öresund Bridge, and Turning Torso, one of the region's most distinctive buildings. If you’d prefer a full meal, make a reservation at the adjoining Kitchen & Table restaurant, whose menu is overseen by celebrity chef Marcus Samuelsson.

This combination indoor theater, comedy club, nightclub, and outdoor café comes with a spectacular view of the city. The crowd here leans toward over-30 hipsters.

As one of Stockholm's most exclusive clubs, Spy Bar is often filled with local celebrities and lots of glitz and glamour.

Asian fusion cocktails are the order of the day at Toso, which hugs the foundations of Göteborgs Konstmuseum, on Götaplatsen. Think twists on the Negroni, piña colada, and martini, along with a selection of mocktails.

The basement bar of the popular Tranan and Grus Grus restaurants at Odenplan is a fun place to party in semidarkness and enjoy a local small-brewery beer, a glass of wine, or cocktail, while gazing at the wall murals that decorate the space.