Difficult to know where to party when visiting a new city. In this post I suggest 4 places frequented by locals to enjoy Stockholm night life. Pick the place depending on your mood, and dress accordingly!
Debaser – pop/rock club in Sodermalm, live music for hipsters
Debaser is the rock club of Stockholm. Every weekend the place hosts concerts of international rock/pop groups such as FUN or Imagine dragons as well as local groups such as Panda da panda, First Aid Kit or Urban Cone. After the performance, the club plays top hits until 3am. Debaser is the perfect to dive into the Swedish pop scene and discover upraising international stars.
You can actually party in 2 Debaser clubs in Stockholm, both offering the same experience.
Where: subway Medborgarplatsen / subway Hornstull
Good to know: Opens until 3.00am. Admission fee varies depending on the performances, check the website.
Dress like a local: jean, pop or vintage tee-shirt, sneakers/ flat shoes accepted.
Berns – vibrant nightclub on Ostermalm
Unsure where to go? Berns might be your best bet, the night club is a great party spot and its different rooms give you the possibility to choose between different ambiances. In Stora Salongen it’s a huge dance floor, with high ceiling and crystal chandeliers and a balcony where you can spot people in the crowds. The Terrace plays house music at a lower volume, perfect to engage conversation with your new flirt and your friends. On the lower level, the Gallery focusses on dance music -house and techno. The all place is huge! The nightclub is quite fancy but here you still get a good chance to get in. The main downside of the place: its expensive entrance fee.
Where: Berzelii Park, Ostermlamstorg subway
Good to know: admission fee of 220SEK. Minimum age: 23 years old. The club closes at 3pm but the Gallery at 5pm. Visit the website.
Dress like a local: Smart casual (shirt and nice shoes)
Sturecompaniet – Upper Stockholm at its best
With its up beat ambiance, its house and techno sound and its beautiful people, Sturecompaniet is representative of Östermalm nightlife. This complex includes some of the most hyped clubs of Stockholm: Sturecompaniet itself, hell’s kitchen and heaven’s gate (until 5pm), intimate club “V”. Some of them are so select that you will have to queue a second time inside to see if you can join the VIPs. The only trick is to arrive really early around 10pm if you want to be (almost) sure to get in.
Where: Stureplan, subway Östermalmstorg
Good to know: Got rejected? Head up to Ambassador, similar ambiance with upbeat sounds but slightly less selective
Dress like a local: To have a chance to get in, dress to impress. Mini dress and high heels for girls, suit up for guys
Fashing – the hidden retreat of jazz and nostalgics
This is the place to be if you want to dance like “back in the days” in an in time ambiance. Fashing is the club for live jazz, folk, groove, world music. After live sessions the place turn out to a night club for 60-70s music where even the shy swedes dance until early morning (until 04.00am on weekends).
Where: T-centralen subway.
Good to know: Check the website for concerts, entrance fee after concerts 100SEK
Dress like a local: Drop the too fancy outfit.
General tips for partying in Stockhom
- Go early. Most of clubs close at 03am and by 01.00am the lines are huge (it’s the time where bars closes). Aim for 12.30am if you don’t like to queue too much.
- Pack light. In most places you have to pay for the cloakroom have to pay, some even charge extra for handbags.
- Keep an eye on your budget: on top of the entrance fee, a beer at 55-70SEK, a glass of wine at 60-90SEK and a drink for 110 – 140SEK, you can spend a lot during the evening.
