Ålesund
The west coast's most highly respected coffee roastery is headquartered in this sensitively remodelled industrial space. Drop in for an espresso or a made…
Must-see nightlife in Scandinavia
Gamla Stan
If a microbrewery releases only a couple of kegs of a rare beer in Sweden, you'll probably find one of them here. A holy grail for beer buffs, Tritonia…
Tampere
Despite being the most caffeine-addicted nation on earth, Finland doesn't generally do coffee well. Fortunately this stylish cafe and roastery bucks the…
Karelia
Joensuu's best bar-club occupies its own island in the Pielisjoki, linked to the city centre by a bridge. DJs spin techno, trance and electronica on…
Åland Archipelago
Sample unique brews and delicious food at this fabulous brewery overlooking an idyllic lake and horse paddocks. Beers range from basic (pale ale or Baltic…
Oslo
The greenhouse effect done right, with a lush assortment of indoor plants (including a warm herb-growing area) as well as beautiful mid-century light…
Bornholm
This is one of the most popular year-round dining and drinking hotspots on the island, known throughout Denmark for its excellent beers brewed on the…
Kristiansand
Owner Steinar Svenning roasts coffee for Mean Bean and its sibling, Cuba Life, under the Mean Bean name. This wonderful high-ceilinged space has,…
Trøndelag
In the tiny hamlet of Skorovatn (population around 40), amid the forests west of the E6, beer-lover Inge Staldvik has created his own version of paradise…
Punavuori & Ullanlinna
Processing up to 4000kg of beans every week, this vast coffee roastery supplies cafes throughout Helsinki, Finland and beyond. You can watch the roasting…
Lappeenranta
Built in 1902, this tar steamship, which once transported timber to St Petersburg (and briefly served in the Russian Imperial Navy in 1914) has operated…
Vesterbro & Frederiksberg
It's right here that Copenhagen's coffee heavyweight roasts its prized, speciality beans, used for its espresso and third wave brews. On the first Friday…
Östersund
Jazzkoket wears many hats and changes them often: she can be a relaxed loosen-your-tie-after-work venue, and a sultry, stormy bacchanale on weekend nights…
Trondheim
Now this is our kind of place – craft beers on tap, shelves lined with books, lovely views over the water and regular live gigs to boot. Unsurprisingly it…
Southern Zealand
The coffee is excellent and the dreamily soft forest-fruit meringue cake floats on pillows of flavour. But the greatest attraction here is the time…
Trondheim
This splendid home-brew pub deserves a pilgrimage as reverential as anything accorded to St Olav from all committed øl (beer) quaffers. With up to eight…
Turku
This cool, contemporary Nordic–style space inhabits a gorgeous old wooden house that opens to a street-level terrace and fabulous roof terrace. Unique…
Bergen
Consistently voted one of the world's best whisky bars, this grand old bar in the Grand Hotel Terminus is the perfect place for a quiet dram. It promises…
Aarhus
First-rate bean sourcing and roasting combine with fine barista skills to make La Cabra the city's best coffee spot, and the queue for a takeaway brew…
Malmö
Smack bang in the middle of Folkets Park, Far i hatten is a popular summer hang-out that transforms from smart casual cafe by day into an illuminated…
Aarhus
This snug 'book and wine cafe' is full of book-lined shelves and old furniture, and reading/laptopping regulars. Occasional poetry readings and live music…
Akureyri
The place in town for draught and local beers, this convivial spot has recently partnered with local (and well-loved) brewery Einstök to create a brewer's…
Aarhus
Copenhagen's renowned nomad brewer has a popular outpost in Frederiksbjerg, and it's a bright, Scandi-streamlined place in which to sample one (or many)…
Trondheim
Jacobsen og Svart manages to be unassuming yet achingly hip, and does what many claim to be the city's best coffee. Throw in a very cool soundtrack and…
The Westfjords
This wonderful small cafe serves delicious cake and coffee or beer and wine (1300kr) on a farm called Kirkjuhvammur, just back from Rauðasandur. At low…
Turku & Finland's South Coast
On the main bridge, this atmospheric red-brick former storehouse is an ideal spot for drinks of any kind, whether house-roasted coffee or beers on tap…
The Bothnian Coast
The hottest watering hole in town with retro decor triples as a sophisticated bistro and a nightclub where you can knock back Tom Collinses while checking…
Zealand
This marvellous coffee shop looks tiny from the outside but actually links together a series of bare-brick, walled corners full of relaxed, junk-shop…
Laugavegur & Skólavörðustígur
Locals love this hostel bar-restaurant (mains 2000kr to 2500kr) in an old cookie factory (kex means 'biscuit') for its broad sea-view windows, inner…
Odense
This friendly, utterly offbeat place uses old radios, caged lamps, yellowing newspaper and junk-shop furniture to create an eccentric atmosphere. But it's…
Laugavegur & Skólavörðustígur
Port 9 sauntered onto Reykjavík's drinking scene supremely confident in the quality of its wines and the knowledge of its staff – offerings here range…
East Iceland
Maybe every tiny town should have a microbrewery. Especially when it's as genial as this one. Opened in 2016, this brewery and bar has free samples of its…
Oslo
The Norwegian notion of culture being an interactive, collective enterprise combines here with their exceptional ability to have a good time. The city's …
The Finnish Lakeland
Sitting across the harbour, Huvila is operated by the Waahto brewery and is a delightful destination in warm weather, when its lakeside deck is full of…
Reykjavík
Jet-setters unite at this buzzy bar at the Old Harbour's Icelandair Hotel Reykjavík Marina. It's bedecked with vintage record players and cool locals…
Oslo
An elegant Francophile of a bar that happens also to be part of a bike-repair workshop? Hello St Hanshaugen. Come here for daytime coffees (and bike…
Central Norway
This is a cracking spot to down beers with the locals – an enthusiast-run brewery with an ale-making history dating back to 1847, bar a few closures here…
Stockholm
East is a bar, restaurant and club rolled into one. Great cocktails make it a bartender hang-out. Dishes have a predominantly modern Asian twist (locals…
Reykjavík
Cavernous, dimly lit and dotted with vintage pub paraphernalia, harbourside Bryggjan Brugghús is a roomy microbrewery where 12 taps dispense its own fresh…
The Coast
What looks like traditional seaside wooden shop has been given a complete makeover inside, with a dark and urban look. Come and lounge by the fire with a…
