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.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Gondolen | Bars
Stadsgården 6 | Södermalm | +4686417090
Mon – Fri 11:00 – 01:00, Sat 16:00 – 01:00

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.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Ramblas | Bars, Restaurants (Tapas) | Per tapas SEK 53
Långholmsgatan 3 | Södermalm | +4686692536
15:00 – till late daily

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…

Details about this spot (Show on map)
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

Image by Natalia Urbanska

This museum is pure joy for photo lovers. Opened in may 2010 with the top name Annie Leibovitz. It was a big success, no doubt about it. They have lots of different exhibitions every year, so far I haven’t been disappointed.

Fotografiska is beautifully situated in Slussen, just by the water with a nice view over Skeppsholmen and Djurgården. It has really generous opening hours – everyday from 10:00 to 21:00! More museums should have these kind of opening hours! Perfect for some inspiring exhibitions before going out…

I loved the premiere exhibitions. Lennart Nilsson’s “A child is born” was really impressive and made me all nostalgic remembering his photos from my old school books. Leibovitz’s “A photographer’s life” was also impressive, beautiful, startstruck, melancholic and very personal. Speer’s “The birthday party” was beautiful (my favorite!) and Joel-Peter Witkin’s “Bodies” was uncomfortable, disgusting and absolutely beautiful.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Fotografiska | Art & culture, Bars, Shopping, Snacks | Adult entrance SEK 110
Stora Tullhuset Stadsgårdshamnen 22 | Södermalm | +46850900500
10:00 – 21:00 daily

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Stockholm

Image by Natalia Urbanska

This is one of my favourite places to dance for sure! They have many different clubs and they’re usually for free if you come before 22:00. They also have lots of concerts, check their homepage for dates! Some of them here at Medis and some of them at Debaser Slussen.

One night that was particularly wonderful was during Debaser Medis “Berlin night” where one of my favourite artists Apparat performed. It was an excellent night, packed with different electronic music which made us dance for at least 6 hours.

The first floor has two rooms. The larger room gives me a feeling of prom-night or something. The ceiling is really high, the stage is large and the floor spacious. There’s lots of room to dance, though it does get pretty packed during the night. Losing your friends in the crowd is not unusual, which is okay, you always find someone else to chat or dance with.

The smaller room is more chilled out with a bar, seats and you can order food. They also have a nice bar and a small cinema on the second floor.

Bring earplugs!

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Debaser Medis | Bars, Cinemas, Music, Snacks | Entrance SEK 100.00
Medborgarplatsen 8 | Södermalm | +4686947900
Fri – Sat 17:00 – 03:00 (concerts 19:00) | Check their website

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Stockholm

Image by Natalia Urbanska

This is my favourite café. Perfectly situated next to small shops and nice parks in the south of Stockholm. I introduce everyone I know to this pearl.

The interior is very welcoming and inspiring with wallpaper tricking your eye, making you think the place is packed with shelves of books; a very creative and fun atmosphere. It is a very popular spot and sometimes very packed. Oh, don’t go here if you’re allergic to dogs, there’s usually at least one hanging around.

The tiles covering the floor are very beautiful and contribute to the creativity as well. Red cushions and chandeliers meets Middle Eastern patterns and colours! I love the imaginary bookshelves and the corner with that light green armchair that is placed there just for you.

But what I love the most is the laid-back service and cosy, homely feeling. The people working here are really sweet, their sandwiches delicious (especially the mozzarella toast) and their caffe lattes a piece of art.

If you only have time for one café during your stay in Stockholm – this is your café! I’m sure you’ll love it.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Gildas rum | Bars, Coffee & tea, Snacks | Caffe latte SEK 32.00
Skånegatan 79 | Södermalm
Mon – Thu 08:00 – 23:00, Fri 08:00 – 20:00, Sat 09:00 – 20:00, Sun 09:00 – 21:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Stockholm

Image by Vasco Castro

Marie Laveau is both a restaurant, a bar and a club. Even though the restaurant is highly praised by the critics, it is because of the bar and the club that I usually go there.

Some time ago, the club stopped running during the weekdays as the neighbors complained about the noise. During working days there are always people here, but nothing compared with the crowded Fridays and Saturdays.

At the bar, where excellent drinks are made, the place is full of young alternative people with the typical laid-back and hip Södermalm style. The music played also has the same alternative vibe both at the bar as well as at the club in the basement.

The club typically has younger people but a similar atmosphere . It is dark, feels like a sauna in an urban environment, but it is well worth to go!

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Marie Laveau | Bars | Entrance weekend SEK 100
Hornsgatan 66 | Södermalm | +4686688500
Mon – Tue 17:00 – 01:00, Wed – Sat 17:00 – 03:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Stockholm

Image by Anna Östman

I really do like this place. Mostly visiting the bar during the weekdays I had forgotten how crowded it gets during weekends. Crowded in a good way. When a place is this small it can get quite claustrophobic with a lot of people, but Snottys seems to manage that perfectly.

Located on Skånegatan, near Nytorget, it really is the kind bar you just pop in to if you’re in the neighbourhood. It is definitely the kind of bar I just slip down to in the middle of the week for a couple of drinks with my friends in the neighbourhood.

But the small and friendly atmosphere is not all to this place. The music here is so good too. They sometimes have their own dj in the bar and have decorated the walls with old album-covers, posters and magazine articles. So the music is serious business for these people.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Snotty Sounds Bar | Bars, Music | Beer SEK 45.00
Skånegatan 90 | Södermalm
16:00 – 01:00 daily

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Stockholm

Image by Anna Östman

What the interior decorators were on when they started designing Bauer is probably something we don’t want to know.

“Should we make it look like a children’s room with big colourful cartoons? Or like a fancy living-room with a lot of white and stucco in the ceiling? Or why not a shed with photos from someone’s holiday? I know, let’s combine all these three ideas! Yeah, great idea!” And therefore, Bauer is a big white room with stucco, colourful cartoons and a wooden panel. In some strange way it actually works.

Bauer is one of the few places that has a big lounge area where you can sit down without having to order food. It’s spacious with a lot of seats to hang out at for a couple of hours.

If you want something to eat with your drink they have a bar menu with some tapas and a few bigger dishes. The tapas are quite small, they are more about taste than being full, according to the waiter. So if you’re hungry make sure you order at least two to three because they do taste really good. Or go for one of the main dishes on the bar menu.

The prices are more on a Stureplan-level than Södermalm-level. Which means that it is quite expensive for being in this part of the city. But the setting is good, the food is good and the people friendly so it is definitely worth a visit.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Bauer | Bars, Restaurants (Spanish) | Glass of wine SEK 82.00
Götgatan 15 | Södermalm | +4686400820
Mon – Fri 16:00 – 01:00, Sat 13:00 – 01:00, Sun 18:00 – 00:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Stockholm

Image by Anna Östman

Ljunggrens is divided in to two areas. One that is attached to the restaurant. To get to this part you use the glass door. And one that is attached to the shopping mall. To get to this you use the big wooden door. This caused me some confusion my first visits here. Now I’m proud to say that I know how to use each entry.

The shopping mall is Bruno gallerian on Götgatan and the bar is in the middle. It’s a weird and funny feeling to sit in a closed shopping mall and have a few drinks in the evening. But I like sitting on the big cushions they have and look at the dark shop-windows. It feels like you have broken in to the place and are not supposed to be there. Daytime this part works as a café. Still with the big cushions.

The other section is a more regular bar next to the restaurant. It’s a nice place with a good lounge area. It’s usually very crowded during the weekends, but it’s worth elbowing yourself to the bar, the drinks are great here.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Ljunggrens bar | Bars | Beer SEK 56.00
Götgatan 36 | Södermalm | +4686407565
Mon – Tue 17:00 – 00:00, Wed – Sat 17:00 – 01:00

Copyrights Spotted by Locals Stockholm