Stockholm’s best beer bars: Cool hotspots, classic hangouts, and beer with a view

By Malin Norman

With its long light days and buzzing atmosphere, there is no better time to explore Stockholm’s beer scene than summer. In this guide, we highlight some of the best places to check out when visiting the Swedish capital.

To kick off the exploration of Stockholm’s beer scene, we start with the cool craft beer bars. In the area Södermalm, where the trendy crowd hangs out, there are quite a few. One of the first you will stumble upon is probably Stigbergets Fot, as it is located at the beginning of the hip street Götgatan, close to the underground station Slussen.

Opened in 2020, Stigbergets Fot is run by Stigbergets Bryggeri, with the brewery itself based in Gothenburg, together with Barrels Burger & Beer. You will find mostly Stigbergets’ own beers on tap, but also tasty options from other Swedish and international breweries. With DJs amping up the vibe on Fridays and Saturdays, this bar sure is a hot spot. Apparently, this is also where you can find one of the city’s best burgers.

Stockholm’s best beer bars: cool hotspots, classic hangouts, and beer with a view

Photo: Nya Carnegiebryggeriet

Brewery church and living room cosiness

Just around the corner, on Hökens gata, is Omnipollos Hatt. The praised brewery Omnipollo has three locations in Stockholm; the brewery and taproom Omnipollos Kyrka in a former church in Sundbyberg, the mentioned pizzeria and bar Omnipollos Hatt in Södermalm, as well as the beer garden Omnipollos Flora in the city park Humlegården. Known mostly for its delicious and elaborate pastry stouts, Omnipollo also makes an excellent pilsner, the perfect thirst-quencher for warm summer days.

After a brisk walk down Götgatan, you will find Katarina Ölkafé on Katarina Bangata. This tiny place serves local beers and mouth-watering bar food, with an undeniably cosy atmosphere. With its living room ambiance, it is no surprise that this bar attracts hipsters from near and afar.

For one of Stockholm’s best views, head to Mosebacketerassen, the spacious beer garden of Södra Teatern. Photo: Mosebacketerassen

On Bergsunds strand, in the buzzing area Hornstull, you will find PangPang Festaurang. Since 2021, this bar and restaurant is run by the brewery PangPang, which is recognised for its unconventional beers and playful branding, The brewery and taproom resides in Hökarängen, in southern Stockholm, in case you want to check that out too.

Another trendy place for craft beer lovers is Omaka, a brewery and restaurant on Uggleviksgatan in the central area Östermalm. Here, brewmaster Hedda Spendrup creates magic in the brewery whilst the kitchen team invents tasty food to match the beer.

Photo: Omaka beer

Classic hangouts with impressive range

The cool kids are irresistible, but perhaps you want to mix it up with something more classic. Often referred to as one of the best beer bars in the world, Akkurat is a must. Located on Hornsgatan, a short walk from Stigbergets Fot, Akkurat has around 28 beers on tap and an impressive number in the cellar. This year, Akkurat celebrates its 30th anniversary with lots of fun activities in the pipeline, such as a joint tasting with Oppigårds Bryggeri and Närke Kulturbryggeri on 11 June, and an exclusive tasting with Geuezerie Tilquin on 12 June.

When here, you are not far from another classic beer bar, Zum Franziskaner in Gamla Stan, the picturesque Old Town. This beer hall is one of Stockholm’s oldest restaurants, first opened in 1889 and housed in its current location since 1910. With a great selection of beer, some of which has been brewed especially for Zum Franziskaner, you can also devour Swedish and German home cooking such as port knuckle, Wiener Schnitzel, stuffed cabbage rolls, and more.

Whilst we are on the German theme, also check out Bierhaus on Tegnérgatan in Vasastan. With a history dating back to the 1940s, this beer hall serves fabulous German beer and tasty food such as Wiener Schnitzel and homemade sausages. Naturally, this is also the place to be if you happen to find yourself in Stockholm during Oktoberfest, the iconic German beer festival.

Popular gastro pub Man in the Moon is also a must, not far from Bierhaus. Opened in 1994, Man in the Moon claims to have one of Stockholm’s best assortments, with 30 beers on tap and some 650 beers in total. The bar is also famous for its range of whiskey, with around 120 single malt varieties, and classic Swedish home cooking.

Photo: Stigbergets Fot

Enjoy a spectacular view with your beer

Stockholm is a city built on 14 islands, which are connected by 57 bridges, and it would be a shame not to see some of the spectacular views. Nya Carnegiebryggeriet has a fantastic location in Hammarby Sjöstad, and is accessible by bus, tram or boat. The brewery and restaurant opened in 2014, as a collaboration between Carlsberg and Brooklyn Brewery. The old lightbulb factory has an unbeatable terrace, where you can fully enjoy the waterfront view with your beer.

Also a boat ride away is Fjäderholmarnas Bryggeri, situated on an island in the Stockholm archipelago. The brewpub opened on Stora Fjäderholmen in 2014, whilst the production is based in Bro, just outside Stockholm. Promising a complete craft beer experience, the brewpub offers a range of beers and food, as well as workshops and tastings. Try Sunscreen Session IPA, a ‘lagom’ beer with hints of grapefruit, passion fruit, pineapple, sponge cake and lemon. The island brewpub is open during summer only, from May to middle of September, so now is your chance.

For one of Stockholm’s best views, head back to the area where we started. Mosebacketerassen is the outdoor space of Södra Teatern, located on Mosebacke Torg, and a top hangout spot for locals during summer. Meet up with your friends at this spacious beer garden, quench your thirst with a few beers, soak up the vibe at the communal tables, perhaps play a game of boule, and be amazed by the beautiful city.