Image by Aaron L

I’m not sure why this place hasn’t been written about before. Perhaps, it’s because its not located in a place you’d usually look. Unless you’re the kind of person who searches for bars 33 meters up in the air! BAM!

Gondolen has a bar with the best view in all of Stockholm. Although 33m doesn’t sound very impressive, please consider the fact that Stockholm city isn’t exactly filled with towering office buildings and skyscrapers worthy of King Kong’s attention. The bar is located in the bridge that connects the old Katarina Hissen (Katarina lift) and Mosebacke on Sodermalm.

The bartenders are professionals in red and white striped uniform. Cute right? And you’ll have a dazzling view over Gamla Stan and the rest of Sodermalm by the large windows on both sides of the bar. I would say the clientèle at the restaurant are locals and Swedish tourists who are slightly more mature (like a good wine, around 40 years old and up) but don’t let that stop you young travelers! Or maybe you kind of dig that? Youngsters nowadays…

Anyway the view and great cocktails make for a memorable night out in the city and when you’re feeling the need for a change of scenery just head over to Götgatan, which is a 5 minute walk from Gondolen and check out the indie bar scene like Bauer, Ljungrens (check the articles here & here) and Indigo (Götgatan 19). All hugely popular with the Stockholm locals.

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Gondolen | Bars
Stadsgården 6 | Södermalm | +4686417090
Mon – Fri 11:00 – 01:00, Sat 16:00 – 01:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Stockholm

Image by Tiki Room

You feel a whole mixture of excitement, curiosity and the slight need for a wee as you walk down the iron staircase of the average run-of-the-mill restaurant (that serves portions too small on plates too large) and enter the bar with bamboo covered walls, Tiki heads and bartenders in Hawaiian shirts. “Aloha!” you say, catching your balance after tripping on the last step.

The Tiki Room is located in the basement of Mellow, a slightly upscale restaurant located in St. Eriksplan. The bar serves up drinks inspired by Polynesian culture and are served in a Shrunken Skull. If you’re in the party mood you can order HAWAI’IAN LANAI (LAVA BOWL) which is made for 2-3 people to share. It’s served in a large bowl with Tiki heads surrounding it and a volcano in the middle with a flaming shot of sambuca. A must try!

The bar has the Polynesian theme running through everything. Retro tv, 50′s rock, red leather chairs and diner-esqeue sitting booths to through you back in time. The cocktails are great and the bartenders super friendly and can make you anything you want even if its not on the menu. Just tell them what sorta flavors you’re jonesin’ and consider it done.

Definitely one of my most unique find here in Stockholm city.

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The Tiki Room | Bars, Music
Birkagatan 10 | Vasastan | +468331555
Mon – Sat 16:00 – 01:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Stockholm

Image by Peppar AB

This article may seem a little late due to the photo but read on and you’ll find out that it’s actually Christmas at this bar/ restaurant all year long.

Peppar is crazy. I mean seriously, if you wanna have drinks with some friends at a really unique place this is it. It’s like no bar you’ll ever visit in Stockholm and perhaps the rest of the world. It is where Santa Claus and all his elves die and go to heaven.

Besides beers, cocktails and ciders, you can also order food. At Peppar they serve simple New Orleans themed dishes. The chili here is to die for! It’s a really cool and relaxed place to come to visit and definitely will make great holiday photos.

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Peppar | Bars
Torsgatan 34 | Vasastan | +468342052
Mon – Sat 17:00 – 01:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Stockholm

Image by Aaron L

Juke boxes, neon signs and milk shakes will take you back to the retro 50′s era here at Marion’s Gastro Diner. It’s the perfect place to host your bi-annual Grease Lightning themed party or go bowling with a bunch of friends and realize that you don’t need alcohol or David Guetta to have a good time! They do serve cocktails and beers here though, if your bowling is really not your thing.

Marion’s is a large American styled diner that serves up your typical diner type food. Hamburgers and pickles, baby back ribs and that classic chocolate milkshake. After dinner you can choose to go bowling to work off those calories. They’ve got super cool lanes lit up by neon and ultraviolet lights on both bottom and second floor and they’re really great for big groups and a fun afterwork session.

In all seriousness, it really is a refreshing take on a night out with friends. It could serve as a great pre-party place as it’s located walking distance from Stureplan (clubbing central! untz untz) and the 50′s style decor makes for great photos to upload on Facebook and tag the members of your family so they stop asking you if you actually have real friends… Story of my life.

Regardless! Bowling is 250kr/hour for one lane before 16:00 and 400kr from 16:00 till 01:00. Strike out now!

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Marion’s Gastro Diner | Bars, Restaurants (American)
Kungsgatan 37 | City/Norrmalm | +46854611000
Mon – Wed 11:00 – 00:00, Thu 11:00 – 01:00, Fri 11:00 – 2:00, Sat 13:00 – 02:00, Sun 13:00 – 00:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Stockholm

Image by Aaron L

Situated right around the corner of my apartment, Ramblas is a very small dimly lit tapas restaurant that serves up a delicious assortment of tapas for affordable prices. Its that winning combination that draws all the locals here to eat. It almost always full during every day throughout the week so be sure to make a reservation the day of or the day before!

Their tapas menu covers everything from gaspacho (cold tomato soup), dates rolled in bacon to my all time favorite gambas al ajillo. The tapas are served on flat brown bowls that quickly leave your table without space for your glass of sangria. Its a great place to go with friends or with that special someone to enjoy a jug of sangria, great food and a bustling cosy neighborhood restaurant.

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Ramblas | Bars, Restaurants (Tapas) | Per tapas SEK 53
Långholmsgatan 3 | Södermalm | +4686692536
15:00 – till late daily

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Stockholm

Image by Aaron L

A recent discovery that has already gotten me raving about it to my friends. I went to Köttbaren with a friend on an extremely cold Friday night, got lost, froze some more and finally ended up in the cosy, filled-to-the-brim Köttbaren.

As we waited for our table at the bar, we watched as the chefs dressed in thier white aprons prepared and plated the meals right in front of our wine glasses. Köttbaren has an open style kitchen and bar and guests sit at large dark brown tables and enjoy their plates of meat lit by candlelight. Köttbaren meaning Meat Bar in Swedish, is a boutique slash restaurant that only serves up the finest cuts of meats in town. One would think that this would cost a pretty penny but it actually really doesn’t! Its quite reasonable for the high quality food, service and amazing atmosphere. (The average for a main course: 150kr)

Vegetarians head on over to Hermans, because Köttbaren is definitely a meat lover’s paradise. The menu is comprised of, among other things: a daily slow cooked special (meat, duh), oxribs and steak tartare. My favorite would have to be the “Pelle Janzon”, which is a meat appetizer made of thinly sliced marbled oxfilet, a raw egg yolk on top of a small piece of mildly cheesy toast garnished with fish roe and lemon juice. Serious Mums!

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Köttbaren | Bars, Shopping | Main course +/- SEK 150
Tegnergatan 32 | City/Norrmalm | +46850524426
Mon – Fri 11:15 – 23:00, Sat 12:00 – 23:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Stockholm

Image by Aaron L

An authentic, affordable and delicious Mexican restaurant hidden away on a small street in downtown Stockholm makes La Neta the best taco restaurant in Stockholm period. Its a unique local favorite where everything thats served on the brightly colored plates are freshly made by the Mexican chefs: the soft taco fillings, guacamole and even the tortilla breads, which are made by the machines specially brought in from Mexico!

After a tiresome day of shopping on the main high street of Stockholm, La Neta is my number one restaurant that comes to mind when I wanna tug into some fast and tasty comfort food and destress. It’s my favorite place to introduce to friends and family because no one suspects to find such a refreshing Mexican restaurant right in the city center and to top it off its cheap and has great Mexican beers that can only be found here.

Its often always full of locals, international students and occasionally tourists, but seating has never been a problem for me. The restaurant feels really lively and fun, you can even get shots of tequila with your tacos! La Neta is located below street level and you sit close to the other guests on the picnic-like tables and get your grub on. Friendly, fun and delicious!

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La Neta | Bars, Restaurants (Mexican) | Taco Grande SEK 45
Barnhusgatan 2 | City/Norrmalm | +4684115880
Mon – Fri 11:00 – 21:00, Sat – Sun 12:00 – 21:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Stockholm

Image by Mona Sedghi

Obaren is a great place to come to chill with a few friends and listen to a good live band. It’s pretty unique and special in the fact that its actually located right at the back of one of Stockholm’s most famous and swankiest restaurants called Sturehof (check Anna’s Sturehof article), where they serve oysters and lobsters which you wash down with a bottle of Bolli… you get the idea.

Obaren is best described as a mullet: as it’s business in the front and party in the back. It’s got a great chilled out vibe and the people who frequent this place is quite different from the clientele who dine at Sturehof. I would say its a younger crowd, creative professionals and those who would best identify with the indie/alternative scene.

Music is a huge focus at Obaren and you’ll always hear something different each time you come in. Hip hop, 80′s new wave and if you pressure them enough…some light yodeling is possible too. Its a great place to come listen to some local or international acts and meet some of Stockholm’s best looking locals as well.

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Obaren | Bars, Music
Stureplan 2 | Östermalm | +4684405730
Sat – Thu 19:00 – 02:00, Fri 17:00 – 02:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Stockholm

Image by Natalia Urbanska

Saturday night is Soul night and has been for pretty much 20 years now.

The atmosphere at Fasching’s Club Soul stands out from most clubs in Stockholm. It’s like going back in time entering a beautiful old theatre where the floor is smacked with dancing people. Yeah, people dance like crazy here.

People are not here to get drunk or to flirt (okay maybe some, but it’s not as obvious as at other places), they’re all here to dance their shoes off and that’s very liberating. It’s not weird starting to dance with some stranger, which it can be at other places. We’re all here to dance like there’s no tomorrow.

Fasching has different clubs but is mainly known for their Jazz concerts. So if you’re into Jazz, this is certainly your spot!

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Fasching’s Club Soul | Bars, Music | Entrance & wardrobe SEK 120.00
Kungsgatan 63 | City/Norrmalm | +4670783049
Sat 23:30 – 04:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Stockholm

Image by Natalia Urbanska

Fancy a drink with a vampire? This is one of the coolest bars in Stockholm, for sure! Pass the door, go down the stairs and enter a very different atmosphere set in a cave.

The drinks really make this place, most of them have vampire-names and are delicious as hell! You have to try a Milkshake drink, they’re like candy. My favourite is Vlad the Impaler and yeah, Monday is the day to come here since it’s much cheaper. There’s a new DJ playing records every night and if you’re not into alcohol it’s alright, all drinks can be ordered alcohol-free!

You have to leave your jacket for 20 kronor, even if you’re there only for a drink. I don’t like these kind of small expenses but this place is totally worth that 20. Sit down on a comfy, red sofa with your drink, red wine or beer and enjoy the atmosphere with candle lights and interesting ornaments. The toilet is also quite interesting…

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Vampire Lounge | Bars, Music, Snacks | Drink SEK 60.00
Östgötagatan 41 | Södermalm | +4686432240
Mon – Fri 17:00 – 01:00, Sat 19:00 – 01:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Stockholm