Gothenburg’s best beer bars

What is it? A pub with heart. Haket champions small breweries and has a wonderfully warm, welcoming atmosphere where everyone feels at home.

Why we love it? There’s a lot of love behind what Haket does. The pub serves nothing but craft beer and regularly hosts festivals, tap takeovers and other beer events supporting smaller breweries. Its 16 taps cover just about every beer style going, from Sweden and beyond, while the fridges are packed with cans and bottles. Every Wednesday, Haket also taps a cask ale, a live beer that undergoes a second fermentation in the cask it’s served from. The food is hearty, with dishes such as breaded cheese, fish ’n’ chips and sausage with sauerkraut. Children and dogs are both welcome.

Haket also collects beer can pull tabs, which are sent to Thailand to be melted down and turned into prostheses.

Time Out-tips: Besides its varied beer selection, Haket hosts Friday quizzes, as well as occasional synth nights and stand-up comedy.

Masthuggstorget 5, Masthugget. Open from 16:00 Monday to Thursday, from 15:00 Friday and 14:00 Saturday. Closed Sunday.

What is it? A cosy, welcoming basement bar with a real passion for craft beer.

Why we love it? Persian rugs, soft jazz and craft beer make this dimly lit basement feel instantly relaxed and inviting. Reza Ganon has been pouring drinks here since 1998, and Belgian beer is a particular favourite. There’s plenty to choose from in the four glass-fronted cabinets by the entrance, while the ten taps feature Belgian beers and plenty more besides, often in traditional styles. The world-famous Tripel Karmeliet, naturally, is always on tap.

There’s even a microbrewery in the kitchen. A handful of extra taps at the bar are reserved for the house brews, so beer doesn’t get much more local than this! Nearby, you’ll spot a couple of framed accolades, and with good reason. 3 små rum has been praised by the New York Times and named Sweden’s best beer bar by RateBeer.

Time Out-tips: Take a breather in nearby Vasaparken before heading downstairs for an afternoon of Belgian beer and jazz. Also don’t turn up hungry. There are only one or two dishes on the menu, plus a few snacks.

Kristinelundsgatan 4, Vasastaden. Open from 16:00 every day except Sunday.

What is it? Great beer, good food and a welcoming atmosphere, plus a seriously spacious terrace.

Why we love it? Finding a place that does great beer and great food equally well can be surprisingly tricky. Station Linné manages both. Open since 2019, it has a mostly modern selection across 16 taps, including one dedicated to cask ale, plus around 50 different cans and bottles in the fridges.

There’s plenty of variety, with at least a couple of pale lagers in the mix, so most beer drinkers should find something they like. The food is international comfort food, with dishes changing every other week and plenty of vegetarian and vegan options.The menu also clearly states whether dishes contain eggs or nuts, or are lactose- or gluten-free. The atmosphere is warm, the mood is lively and, quite simply, it’s a fun place to be.

Time Out-tips: Come in the warmer months, when the spacious terrace becomes a favourite local hangout.  

Linnéplatsen 9, Linnéstaden. Open from 15:00 Monday to Friday and from 12:00 Saturday and Sunday.

What is it? A classic beer bar with 33 taps in a grand, characterful setting.

Why we love it? Tucked away in Västra Nordstan, close to Packhusplatsen, Ölrepubliken is a little off the beaten track, but well worth seeking out. Inside, soaring ceilings and a cosy mezzanine set the scene for an impressive selection of draught beer, spanning everything from IPAs and pale lagers to imperial stouts and traditional British and Belgian styles. There are also more than 400 different cans and bottles in the fridges, while sought-after Cantillon regularly makes an appearance on tap.

Ölrepubliken has been going strong since 2009. Regular tastings are open to everyone, while groups can book private sessions dedicated to beer, cider or whisky. The menu covers pub classics such as burgers and fish ’n’ chips, alongside moules marinières, vegetarian steak tartare and veggie burgers.

Time Out-tips: With more than 400 different beers in the cold room, it pays to explore beyond the taps. There’s a separate menu listing the lot, perfect for anyone who wants to dive a little deeper.

Kronhusgatan 2B, Inom Vallgraven. Open from 15:00 Monday to Thursday, from 11:00 Friday and from 13:00 Saturday. Closed Sunday.

What is it? Modern beer styles and sourdough pizza near Gothenburg Cathedral.

Why we love it? This place is run by people who really know their beer. Brewers Beer Bar opened in 2018, founded by the team behind All In Brewing and Dugges brewery, who already had a sister bar of the same name in Linnéstaden. While that one feels a little like stepping into an old apartment, the large, dimly lit space on Magasinsgatan has a more modern feel, exposed brick walls and all. Grab a seat inside or head for the terrace overlooking the lively street.

Behind the long bar, 14 taps pour mostly modern beer styles, from hazy IPAs and pale lagers to imperial stouts and the occasional fruity sour. The line-up changes frequently, and there’s also beer by the can and bottle, plus cider, wine and alcohol-free drinks. Sourdough pizzas are the main event on the food menu, alongside vegan options, kebabs, salads and fish ’n’ chips.

Time Out-tips: All In Brewing has plenty of other things brewing, too. As well as releasing its own beers, it puts on the summer festival All In Beerfest.

Magasinsgatan 3, Inom Vallgraven. Open from 16:00 Monday to Friday and from 13:00 Saturday. Closed Sunday.

What is it? A laid-back neighbourhood pub with beer for every taste.

Why we love it? Welcome to Blöta lövet, or ‘the wet leaf’! That’s the affectionate nickname locals have given Red Lion. Apparently, it all started when a regular got the name wrong some 20 years ago, and it kind of stuck. 

Regulars are still very much part of the furniture here, and the bright space has the feel of a modern British pub, with plenty of wood, wall panelling and a chequerboard floor. The walls also play host to changing art exhibitions. It’s an easy-going local favourite that brings together Majorna residents of all ages.

At the handsome dark-wood bar, there are 18 taps dedicated to beer and another pouring cider. Local craft breweries get top billing, but San Miguel, Budvar and Konrad are also on offer, while the fridges are stocked with around 60 different cans and bottles. Food ranges from burgers with meat, halloumi or vegan patties to more ambitious dishes such as veal fillet and cured ling. And this being a British-style pub, there’s fish ’n’ chips too.

Time Out-tips: Fancy another? Tullen is just down the road if you want to keep the beer crawl going.

Mariagatan 11, Majorna. Open from 16:00 Monday to Thursday, from 15:00 Friday and from 13:00 Saturday and Sunday.

What is it? A lively neighbourhood pub that’s British at heart.

Why we love it? An entrance designed to look like a British telephone box might sound a little gimmicky. But don’t be fooled. Unlike plenty of themed pubs, Old Beefeater Inn, or ‘Beefan’ as the regulars call it, is the real deal. This is a pub with atmosphere in spades, all cosy corners, the smell of beer and old wood.

The bar is a jumble of bottles, taps and bags of crisps, while the ceiling is a glorious mess of road signs, stickers and assorted memorabilia. Beefan is almost always busy, with a packed, lively and good-natured crowd. And it’s been that way since the pub opened 35 years ago.

Its 18 taps cover plenty of beer styles from both big-name producers and craft breweries, including one dedicated to cask ale. There’s a broad whisky selection too. Food is hearty pub fare served in generous portions, think fish ’n’ chips and juicy burgers.

Time Out-tips: For the full British pub experience, order a cask ale and a plate of fish ’n’ chips, then settle in among the regulars.

Plantagegatan 1, Linnéstaden. Open Sunday to Thursday 11:00-00:00, Friday and Saturday 11:00-01:00.

What is it? A well-stocked hotel pub with Gothenburg’s biggest selection of cask ale, beer brewed in the traditional British way, naturally conditioned in the cask without added carbon dioxide and served by hand pump or straight from the cask.

Why we love it? The Bishops Arms has actually played a part in transforming Sweden’s beer scene. The first pub in the chain opened back in 1993, and today there are nearly 40 of them, stretching from Kiruna in the north to Malmö in the south. In many smaller towns, it’s the only pub where beer drinkers can venture beyond standard pale lager.

The selection is just as broad at the branch in the basement of Hotel Plaza in Gothenburg, ranging from craft beer to more traditional styles. There are around 110 different cans and bottles in the fridges, while three of the 30 taps are dedicated to cask ale. It’s also the only place in the city to hold the Cask Marque accreditation, a mark of quality showing that its fresh cask ale is properly kept and served.

Time Out-tips: Can’t make it here? There are two more Bishops Arms pubs in Gothenburg, one on Avenyn and another by Järntorget.

Västra Hamngatan 3, Inom Vallgraven. Open from 16:00 Monday to Thursday, from 14:00 Friday and Sunday and from 13:00 Saturday.

What is it? A vegetarian bistro where craft beer meets record-shop cool.

Why we love it? For decades, Dirty Records was a Gothenburg institution for second-hand vinyl. Then, after more than 40 years in business, the owner retired and the crew from Stigbergets Bryggeri moved in. The records haven’t disappeared, but these days beer, wine and vegetarian food share the spotlight.

The menu might bring baked pointed cabbage, Turkish chickpea stew or pappardelle with sage butter, while the beers come courtesy of local craft breweries. Wine gets plenty of attention too, with a strong selection that includes three varieties on tap.

Outside, Andra Långgatan is famous for cheap pints and late-night revelry. Dirty Records offers a rather different proposition: good beer, thoughtful vegetarian cooking and vinyl, all under one roof. It’s a welcome change of pace on one of Gothenburg’s rowdiest drinking streets.

Time Out-tips: Fresh, hop-forward beers are the main draw here, but there are also classics like lager and bitter.

Andra Långgatan 4A, Linnéstaden. Open Monday to Thursday 09:30-23:00, Friday 09:30-00:00 and Saturday 11:00-00:00. Closed Sunday.

What is it? A lively neighbourhood pub for all ages, and the 2026 Swedish Burger Championships winner. 

Why we love it? The best of both worlds? At Ostindiska Ölkompaniet, regulars, families with kids, after-work crowds and beer enthusiasts all rub shoulders. No one bats an eyelid if you order a straightforward lager, and no one minds the beer geeks rating their latest craft brew either. There are 28 taps plus one for cask ale, with plenty of variety to choose from. Food ranges from pizzas on naan bread and classic pub dishes to burgers with meat, halloumi or soya mince.

The place has the lived-in feel of a proper British pub and, fittingly, has become something of a living room for Olskroken locals.

Time Out-tips: Seriously, try the burger! 

Redbergsvägen 8, Olskroken. Open Monday to Thursday 16:00-23:00, Friday 15:00-01:00, Saturday 13:00-01:00 and Sunday 14:00-22:00.

What is it? An unassuming little dive with prices that are hard to beat.

Why we love it? There are plenty of trendy bars and restaurants around, but few completely unpretentious places where time seems to have stood still. Silverkällan is one of them. The occasionally stern owner Ada Axelsson presides over the cluttered interior, with its worn tablecloths and guitars on the walls. Neon signs hang above the bar, along with one that reads: ‘Credit is like sex. Some get it, others don’t.’

The food is about as no-frills as the decor. The menu includes falukorv sausage sandwiches, beef in curry sauce and eggs and bacon, all at very low prices. The beer is among the cheapest in town: SEK 30 for 40cl of Falcon, or SEK 38 for a 500ml bottle of Falcon or Eriksberg.

The crowd is largely made up of regulars, and the atmosphere can shift from quiet to rowdy. These days, the odd curious newcomer finds their way here too, as so-called dive bars have enjoyed something of a revival and gained cult status.

Time Out-tips: There’s a 25-year age limit. Give artist Arvid Nero’s tribute song ‘Silverkällan’ a listen before you go.

Älvsborgsgatan 31, Majorna. Open Monday to Friday 15:00-22:00, Saturday 16:00-22:00 and Sunday 11:30-22:00.