They call it "After Work". It starts on Fridays between 16 and 17 and goes on into the night. What is it? It’s free food and cheap drinks! It’s a chance to come together after work at the nearest pub, have some snacks and chill out after a busy work week. There’s a free buffé and usually some offer at the bar. Here are few of the spots in town which offer "After Work".

Babar

This a good spot to kick off a Friday night if you can get there before 17.00. After 17.30, the noise and crowd is pushing the limit for even those who love to be packed in like sardines. Buy one and get two for 49 SEK all night. Food is good, usually greasy, but sometimes offers a good vegetarian selection.
Resturang Babar
Kungsportsavenyen 29
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Brasserie Lipp

This is where the older crowd usually hangs out. Here, buy beer, wine or a cider for 33 SEK from 16 to 19 and indulge in a tapas buffet that sometimes includes shrimp, pizza, mussels and olive paste on bread.
Brasserie Lipp
Kungsportsavenyen 8
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Johnny Foxes

They have a buffet on Fridays from 16-20, though it’s not always so friendly on the vegetarian side (pyttipanna and chicken wings are regular choices). Beer costs 30 SEK; wine 35.
Johnny Foxes
Gibraltargatan 8
41132 Göteborg
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La Sombrita

This Spanish resturant offer a tapas buffet from 16-18. Beer costs 25 SEK, wine 35, and drinks 49.
La Sombrita
Linnégatan 23
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Talang

Has a fabulous buffet that includes dessert from 17-21. Buy a half liter of beer for 42 SEK. Get there early…it tends to become densely packed as the night progresses
Talang
Karl Gustavsgatan 5
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The Lounge

Offers a wok buffet and 2 for 1 at the bar from 17-22. The place boasts a hip atmosphere, though sometimes gets too loud to chat.
The Lounge
Kungsportsavenyen 5
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The Oak

This is a new pub across from Sjofartsmuseet that offers a decent variety of beers with different specials each week. The buffet includes meatballs, lamb, chicken wings, salad, beans, and other vegetarian choices.
The Oak,
Karl Johansgatan 6
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Wasa Allé

This is a classy place to experience afterwork if you actually want to have a conversation without yelling. Drinks are two for one, and the food changes week to week with a different theme.
Wasa Allé
Vasagatan 24
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Stars & Bars

Jarntorget. Tel: 031 14 77 74
Afterwork buffet on Friday evenings from 17pm.

Large-ish and loud sports bar in one of the funkier parts of town - appealing to a younger and less achingly hip crowd than many of the surrounding bars and eateries. Gorge yourself on spicy, greasy food - chicken wings, pasta salad, tortilla chips and chilli con carne - and drink stor stark before hitting another, quieter place. Tends to get pretty rowdy later on. Food is OK, but nothing to write home about.

Smaka

Vasaplatsen 3. Tel: 031 13 22 47
Afterwork buffet on Friday evenings from 17-20pm

Nice, minimally-designed and quintessentially Swedish bar/restaurant in a convenient area of the city - with an afterwork buffet which matches the high standard of the restaurant food. Think meatballs, eggs and kaviar, tortilla wraps, radish salads, dark bread goodies and herring, and you're on the right track. The food is replenished frequently and the beer and wine is cheap. Our only minor gripe is that it can get a bit packed, with not a lot of room to sit down - so get there early to avoid the crowds and bag a seat.

Bazar

Haga Kyrkogatan 14. 031 701 71 43
Afterwork buffet Friday nights from 23pm

What a good idea! This tiny bar and restaurant has an afterwork buffet - consisting of good couscous and grain dishes, pasta salads and more veggie delights - at 11pm, drawing in the post-pub crowd who want to quell their hunger but can't be bothered with finding a decent falafel in the gatukök. A wide range of beers complements the free food, and while it's not cheap, it makes a change from the usual after-hours eateries. Worth a visit.

By: Anne Arnold and Matt O'leary