A really fabulous cocktail is so much more than just a drink, it's a complete sensory experience. Interest in cocktails is growing and Gothenburg has several bars which focus on mixologically advanced cocktails with exciting new flavours and trends. We guide you to Gothenburg's best cocktail bars, bars where cocktails take centre stage and the bartenders reign supreme. Take a deep dive into the world of Old Fashioneds, garnishes and bitters, or just enjoy the luxurious feeling a well-mixed cocktail in a stylish bar provides.
The guide to Gothenburg's best cocktail bars
In this guide
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The best cocktail bars in Gothenburg
- Norda – Skilled craftsmanship
- Steampunk Bar – Steampunk and smoke-shrouded cocktails
- The Parlour – Elegant cocktail lounge
- Bar Bruno – Trendy spot
- Bov Discobar – Unique creations in disco surroundings
- Bruk – Nordic elegance
- Adamo – Well-known gem
- Visage – Playful
- OGBG – Urban vibes and fun, friendly atmosphere
- Bongo Bar – Innovative variations
- Locatelli – As cheerful as a colourful tropical cocktail
- Mei Rose – Asian flavours
- Postbaren – Extravagant surroundings
- Cheri-Lee – Asian flavours
- Jacy'z – Asian sky bar with LA vibes
- Scandic Göteborg Central – Caribbean vibes up high
- Familjen – Home, away
- Buteco – Latin American vibes
- Dorsia – Rich tones and abundance
- Rollin Bistros – Continental cocktail experience
- Mercado Mexico – Cocktails with Mexican influences
- Kaifo – Asian fusion
- Cuckoo's Nest – One of Europe's best-designed bars
- Tant Anton i Stan – A colourful stop
- Elite Plaza Hotel – Classic elegance
- Stranger – Speakeasy style
- Barabicu – Big city vibes with New York influences
- Bar Palavas – Greetings from the Riviera
- Brasserie Lavette – Classic and modern
- Puta Madre – Mexican bordello style
- Papa Mastani – Bistro with a cocktail corner
- Floating Saigon – Far from a sinking ship
- Heaven 23 – High up in the skies
- Made in China – Raw and elegant
- Pixbar – Cocktails and snacks
- Ruby – Cocktail bar with a view
- Zamenhof – Ping pong pause
The best cocktail bars in Gothenburg
Skilled craftsmanship
Clarion Hotel Post has a number of strings to its bow and Norda, on the first floor, is one of them. They can proudly claim to have won the Bartender of the Year award in both 2014 and 2015. The drinks list is regularly updated and includes their own twists on classic cocktails along with modern cocktails with edgy flavour combinations. A treat for the eyes and the tastebuds.
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Drottningtorget 10, Centrum
- Website • 031-61 90 60
- Read more on Thatsup
Steampunk and smoke-shrouded cocktails
You'll find Scandinavia's first steampunk bar in Kungshöjd. The term and subculture are influenced by 19th century Victorian industrialism and staff wear classic steampunk costumes. The bar specialises in cocktails, and don't be surprised if your carefully mixed cocktail arrives shrouded in dry-ice vapours, served by someone wearing goggles and a top hat.
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Kungsgatan 7 A, Centrum/Kungshöjd
- Website • 031-774 20 55
- Read more on Thatsup
Elegant cocktail lounge
In glamorous surroundings on Avenyn, The Parlour blends up delightfully creative cocktails. With a restaurant section and a cocktail lounge, the idea is that you can drop by any time for a Peruvian-inspired dinner or just luxe up your weekday with a really great cocktail.
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Kungsportsavenyen 2, Centrum
- Website • 031-711 16 93
- Read more on Thatsup
Trendy spot
Look for the neon signs and cruise into Bar Bruno - if there's room. Despite the small space, this little cocktail bar has a large heart and, as the Swedish saying (roughly) goes: if there's room in your heart there's room to park your bum. Check out Gothenburg's in-crowd and sip on some of the best cocktails in the city.
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Kyrkogatan 13, Centrum
- Website • 031-309 99 69
- Read more on Thatsup
Unique creations in disco surroundings
As the name suggests this bar is something completely different - a discobar! Guests are transported to the colourful 70s with a disco ball on the ceiling and pop music from the speakers. In the bar, innovative cocktails are shaken and stirred, with slightly unexpected ingredients such as white chocolate, meadowsweet and yogurt, and in addition to the menu's regular favourites, there's also a cocktail of the day. If you get peckish, you can order in snacks and small dishes, or a crispy pizza.
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Tegnérsgatan 10, Centrum
- Website • 076-898 74 96
- Read more on Thatsup
Nordic elegance
Bruk is run by a bartender duo with a passion for service, food and drink. The cocktail menu includes both well-loved classics and Bruk's own creative interpretations. The atmosphere is intimate and homely and attracts a mixed crowd.
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Friggagatan 4, Centrum
- Website • 031-46 31 00
- Read more on Thatsup
Well-known gem
If you ask a Gothenburger where to go to drink really fabulous cocktails, there's a pretty good chance they'll recommend Adamo. Just a stone's throw from Avenyn, their mixologists shake and stir top quality drinks. Choose to sit with a view over the bar and watch them at work, or relax in the lounge area.
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Södra vägen 3, Centrum
- Website
- Read more on Thatsup
Visage
SponsoredPlayful
Visage Dinner Club is a restaurant, cocktail bar and art gallery, all under one roof. Behind the bar, the mixologists let their imaginations run free, and the cocktails come in all imaginable colours and flavour combinations. Come by for a post-work drink or a party night; a little later in the evening the place transforms into a pulsating nightclub.
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Kristinelundsgatan 16, Centrum
- Website • 070-486 43 89
- Read more on Thatsup
Urban vibes and fun, friendly atmosphere
Central Gothenburg meets the harbour at Stenpiren, and this junction is becoming an increasingly popular spot for sightseeing and entertainment. Few places are better for doing just that than a hotel bar, and OGBG is perfectly placed within the Comfort Hotel. The emphasis behind the large bar is on craftsmanship, and you can sip the results as you watch the world go by. In addition to fabulous drinks in a cool atmosphere, the kitchen serves Asian food.
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Skeppsbroplatsen 1, Centrum
- Website • 031-752 28 10
- Read more on Thatsup
Innovative variations
Restrictions and rules have no place at festive Bongo Bar - here, creativity is allowed to flow freely behind the bar, where they shake and stir a really exciting range of cocktails. Happy hours and other post-work fun is on the schedule several days a week, when you can combine something fabulous to drink with a slice or two of pizza. With a DJ spinning tunes, you can count on a great atmosphere.
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Andra Långgatan 15, Linné
- Website • 031-15 55 15
- Read more on Thatsup
As cheerful as a colourful tropical cocktail
This semi-circular bar on Avenyn, with its year-round outdoor dining area, is a true cocktail mecca. Experience the big city buzz while you sip on a fruity, cheerful cocktail. Upbeat electro tones create a great atmosphere with chilled Ibiza vibes. The bar has been named by the New York Times as one of Europe's top To-Do spots.
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Kungsportsavenyn 36-38, Centrum/Avenyn
- Website • 031-727 10 89
- Read more on Thatsup
Asian flavours
Inside the Liseberg Grand Curiosa Hotel, Mei Rose takes you on a culinary journey of discovery through China. The drinks also follow an Asian theme, with ingredients such as coriander, lychee and the Chinese liquor baijiu, which you can take a deep dive into with their “baijiu flight”. Eight floors above the ground, the restaurant boasts enchanting view sof the city's skyline, not least from the roof terrace open during the summer months.
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Herman Lindholms Torg, Centrum/Johanneberg
- Website
- Read more on Thatsup
Extravagant surroundings
You'll find this swanky bar inside the Clarion Hotel Post. Sit in luxurious Art Deco-inspired surroundings as you enjoy their innovative cocktails, snacks and lively international atmosphre. The bar regularly hosts magicians and artists who entertain guests during the evening.
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Drottningtorget 10, Centrum
- Website • 031-61 90 60
- Read more on Thatsup
Asian flavours
Asian flavours are the name of the game at Cheri-Lee, both food and drinks-wise. The cocktail list is full of exotic ingredients like Roku gin, yuzu, cherry blossom, lemongrass and matcha and there's a wide selection of exciting wines.
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Kungsportsavenyen 8, Centrum/Avenyn
- Website • 031-10 58 30
- Read more on Thatsup
Asian sky bar with LA vibes
This glamorous resort has masses of bars spread out over 27 floors. On the 27th floor you'll find the hotel's Asian sky bar Gogogaga, where you can sip on Insta-friendly cocktails with spectacular views over Gothenburg. The bar oozes LA vibes.
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Drakegatan 6, Centrum
- Website • 031-350 44 10
- Read more on Thatsup
Caribbean vibes up high
On the fourteenth floor of the Scandic Göteborg Central hotel you'll find Above, Gothenburg's highest roof bar. Enjoy cocktails with views over the river and influences from Miami and the Caribbean. During the summer months you can sit out on the terrace and in the winter you can sit inside the restaurant. The menu consists of cocktails that follow the theme, such as Caribbean sour, Bananacolada and Miami mule. They also serve sharing dishes if you get peckish.
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Vikingsgatan 7, Centrum/Gullbergsvass
- Website • 031-751 56 00
- Read more on Thatsup
Home, away
Rag rugs on the floor and portraits of the staff on the walls give this place an inviting, homely feel. The bar serves cocktails with Swedish flavours and names inspired by forests and nature. The restaurant has won prizes and awards from the Michelin Guide and White Guide, among others.
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Arkivgatan 7, Centrum
- Website • 031-20 79 79
- Read more on Thatsup
Latin American vibes
With a large dose of creativity and inspiration from the vibrant cities of Latin America, the team behind Buteco has created Gothenburg's first Latino gastro bar. The bar shakes up complex cocktails to sip on in relaxed surroundings. Drop by for post-work drinks or take a seat and fill the table with delicious grilled dishes, stews, and small plates.
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Odinsgatan 11, Centrum
- Website • 031-15 55 62
- Read more on Thatsup
Rich tones and abundance
What could be more delightfully decadent than champagne and cocktails? This luxurious, colourful hotel happily combines both components, resulting in a drinks list filled with bubbly cocktails. During the warmer months, head out to the roof terrace to drink cocktails under the city's summer skies.
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Trädgårdsgatan 6, Centrum
- Website • 031-790 10 00
- Read more on Thatsup
Continental cocktail experience
You'll find Rollin Bistros Backyard in a former industrial space in Gamlestaden. If you enjoy the feeling of being at a food hall, where you choose between heading to a bar for a cocktail, eating a burger or sitting down for an omakase, this is the place for you. The cocktail bar shakes up cocktails to order, or choose from the cocktail menu which includes cocktails with names like Messy Margarita and Cosmo but better.
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Gamlestadsvägen 4
- Website • 031-13 40 89
- Read more on Thatsup
Cocktails with Mexican influences
Mercado is the Spanish word for market and Mercado Mexico's light, lively surroundings feel just like being in a busy, colourful marketplace. As well as Mexican food with a twist, the team here are experts in creating well-balanced cocktails. Unsurprisingly, many of them have Mexican flavours and are made with a base of tequila or mezcal. Why not cool off with a refreshing Frozen Margarita?
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Södra Vägen 18, Centrum
- Website • 031-318 69 99
- Read more on Thatsup
Asian fusion
Kaifo is the Orrmyr family's fusion restaurant on Södra Vägen, but it's not all about the Asian dishes here. The glassed-in bar on the ground floor also serves cocktails and mocktails with Asian flavours. Try one of their gin & tonics with various flavourings. On Fridays and Saturdays DJs spin tunes in the bar.
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Södra Vägen 24, Centrum
- Website • 031-320 45 06
- Read more on Thatsup
Cuckoo's Nest
SponsoredOne of Europe's best-designed bars
This bar hasn't just won the prestigious "European Hotel Design Awards 2013", it can also boast several skilled bartenders who compete on the international stage. Their primary passion is gin-based cocktails, but their drinks list is long and includes many mixologically exciting creations.
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Lindholmspiren 4, Hisingen
- Website • 031-383 40 30
- Read more on Thatsup
A colourful stop
At Tant Anton i Stan they aim to be flexible and give guests exactly what they want. For example a great cocktail in your hand when it's time for a post-work drink with colleagues on a Friday, or when you and a group of friends want to get together for a good gossip over a glass of wine. The cosy, colourful bar shakes up similarly colourful cocktails. Stay put here, or take a seat in the glassed-in outdoor dining area.
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Linnégatan 52, Linné
- Website • 031-13 22 16
- Read more on Thatsup
Classic elegance
In surroundings reminiscent of an English gentlemen's club, this stylish cocktail bar is next to the hotel restaurant, Swea Hof. Sink into a comfy armchair and order something from the bar's own Martini menu, or choose a refreshing long drink. Drop by and relax for a while in the warm, classic setting.
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Västra Hamngatan 3, Centrum
- Website • 031-720 40 00
- Read more on Thatsup
Speakeasy style
A "secret" bar which you can only get into by ringing the doorball. A place for real dyed-in-the-wool barflies. The concept is influenced by the USA's Prohibition era and the emphasis is on both classic cocktails and their own creations.
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Kungstorget 14, Centrum
- Website • 031-13 45 55
- Read more on Thatsup
Big city vibes with New York influences
This bar, in the corner of the restaurant, is large and roomy with plenty of space to hang out. They're passionate about skilfully mixed cocktails, both popular classics and innovative creations. Craftsmanship is the name of the game. There's also a bar menu that follows the restaurant's rustic North and South American style.
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Rosenlundsgatan 4, Centrum
- Website • 031-13 58 00
- Read more on Thatsup
Bar Palavas
SponsoredGreetings from the Riviera
This French bistro takes its inspiration from the French Riviera, its lapping waves and sunny beaches. A large library of exciting wines is served with the food, which follows a French-Swedish theme, but they're no slouches when it comes to cocktails either, happily mixing up whatever you fancy.
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Teatergatan 30, Centrum
- Website • 072-156 33 87
- Read more on Thatsup
Classic and modern
Mixologists get busy shaking up fabulous cocktails in Brasserie Lavette's spacious bar. Drop in for a post-work drink or take a seat in the open-all-year outdoor dining area and enjoy classic and modern cocktails, all with a signature Lavette twist.
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Södra Vägen 30, Centrum
- Website • 031-320 43 63
- Read more on Thatsup
Mexican bordello style
Hidden behind the doors of Puta Madre is an entire world from a bygone age. The decor oozes early 1900s vibes and culinary and cultural influences come from Mexico. The bar shelves house Gothenburg's largest selection of tequila and many of their cocktails are built around this agave-based spirit.
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Magasinsgatan 3, Centrum
- Website • 031-711 88 38
- Read more on Thatsup
Bistro with a cocktail corner
In addition to grilled dishes with Mediterranean influences, Papa Mastani is also passionate about cocktails. Their cocktail bar in the corner of the restaurant shakes up ambitious drinks. Choose from classics or one of their signature cocktails. Perfect for a post-work drink with colleagues or an evening out with friends.
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Linnégatan 5, Linné
- Website • 031-18 78 02
- Read more on Thatsup
Far from a sinking ship
The bar concept at this modern restaurant has been given the name Sinking Saigon, as a homage to the time when the boat wasn't quite as modern and it capsized. The drinks menu includes Asian cocktails with clean flavours, alongside traditional cocktails such as whiskey sours, piña coladas and mojitos. Don't miss their signature cocktail, Saigon Special, made with orange juice, Roses lime cordial, grenadine and 7Up.
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Basargatan 1, Centrum
- Website • 072-368 68 68
- Read more on Thatsup
High up in the skies
Right at the top of this building you'll find a bar with one of the best views in the city. Every imaginable cocktail is mixed here and at the weekend prices are particularly reasonable during cocktail hour. Guest DJs pop up several evenings a week to create nice vibes.
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Mässans gata 22, Centrum
- Website • 031-750 88 05
- Read more on Thatsup
Raw and elegant
With a menu full of dim sum, dumplings and other Chinese dishes, it's not surprising the cocktail list follows the same lines. The bar takes the restaurant's flavours and runs with them, resulting in some really fantastic flavour experiences. You may even get your cocktail served in a Chinese takeaway box, complete with chopsticks.
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Tredje Långgatan 9, Linné
- Website • 031-309 52 10
- Read more on Thatsup
Cocktails and snacks
Stack two containers on top of each other, put in large glass windows and decorate with colourful art and a bar that focuses on cocktails and you have Pixbar. A top spot for anyone who wants to meet over cocktails and snacks in the afternoon or evening.
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Västra Hamngatan 24, Centrum
- Website
- Read more on Thatsup
Cocktail bar with a view
Right at the top of the Scandic Rubinen in the middle of Avenyn, this rooftop bar serves up cocktails and a great view over the rooftops of Gothenburg. A central oasis for thirsty guests keen to admire the view with a clinking glass in their hand. The restaurant on the hotel's second floor also has an elegant bar.
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Kungsportsavenyn 24, Centrum/Avenyn
- Website • 031-751 54 17
- Read more on Thatsup
Ping pong pause
The team at Zamenhof have started a new place with everything they like - including cocktails. You'll find the fabulous creations in the area called The Silver Lining, where they also bbq food with strong influences from classic smokehouses. You can also have fun with arcade games and table tennis.
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Esperantoplatsen 5, Centrum
- Website • 031-797 87 50
- Read more on Thatsup