Nikola Mirkovic of Gästlistan takes you through Stockholm nightlife.
Photo by Lola A. Åkerström
Stockholm’s nightclub scene is absolutely vibrant. Spread out across the city and its islands, there are numerous clubs, bars and pubs that appeal to just about every taste and the weekend crowds never seem to get enough. While you won’t be disappointed in terms of selection, you do need to be prepared because for a moderately sized city like Stockholm, there are so many places to choose from and that’s why I created Gastlistan.com which is a guide to Stockholm nightlife where you will find information on after work cocktails, pub night quizzes, beer and wine tastings, and nightclubs in Swedish and English.
So if I were to share an ideal night out in Stockholm, I’ll start with the district of Norrmalm. A night out in Norrmalm always takes you on a trip down memory lane. It is not the typical bohemian feeling you get in Södermalm (Söder) nor is it that luxurious highlife feeling of Stureplan in Östermalm. A great night out begins at Treat Bar where you can eat and drink at reasonable prices. Considering its small size, it has a huge selection of drinks and there’s an old jukebox downstairs which plays oldies and adds to its ambiance.
Photo courtesy of Treat Bar
When Treat Bar begins to feel a bit crowded, then it’s time to head towards Sveavägen and Retro. Retro is a fantastic bar with a nice classic feel and walls covered in vintage artwork. There are plenty of seats, lots of TVs for watching sports and important games, and its prices won’t dent your wallet. The music levels are absolutely “lagom” which means you’ll still be able to hold an audible conversation with your friend and hear their latest story . Retro is the place to lounge out at until it’s time to hit the clubs.
Retro Bar | Photo: Patrik Widmark
If you are a beer lover, then Monks Café on Sveavägen is the place to be. A classic pub with an endless range of beer and drafts on tap from all over the world. Monks Café runs its own breweries as well which means you get to sample local brews too. With two breweries, six restaurants and independent activities, tastings, and festivals surrounding beer, wine and whiskey, Monks is at the heart of Stockholm’s beer culture.
Photo courtesy of Monks Café
When clubbing time rolls around, there are a ton of choices and one of my favorites is Ace – which is Sweden’s oldest indie club. Located by the subway station at Hötorget, Ace is the place to party and groove to both pop and indie tracks. It’s never too crowded so you never get that shoulder-to-shoulder packed feeling you might find at other clubs. Downstairs is a huge dance floor and on the upper level is a lounge area to kick back and sip drinks. One of the many perks of Ace is that there is rarely a huge line to get in.
Photo courtesy of Ace
If you feel the need to be out clubbing past 3am in the morning, then Solidaritet is a great place to visit. At Solidaritet, nostalgia sets in and yes, you’ll meet some of Stockholm’s most gorgeous residents. Easy access to its bar usually results in quick turnaround service with a cold beer always in your hand. Solidaritet is also a strategically great place for dancing since its dance floors are quite small – contributing to its overall intimate feeling.
About Gästlistan
Gastlistan.com is a guide to Stockholm nightlife where you will find information on after work cocktails, pub night quizzes, beer and wine tastings, and nightclubs in Swedish and English.
