Many of the pubs in Göteborg are great, but maybe you’re not sure which might be your perfect hangout. Some are nicer than others, some are older than others and some have a better selection of alcoholic beverages than others. And if you don’t have the time to check out each pub, you may find it difficult knowing which are the most interesting. Monthly is aware of this problem, therefore we s et out to visit some of Göteborg’s pubs in hopes of helping you pick your personal favourite.

The Flying Scotsman

As you could guess, The Flying Scotsman is in the style of old British pubs. It has as cozy dark wooden interior but lacks the smell of old beer in the air you often link with a beer bar. You mainly smell the burgers and steaks the waiters are busy serving. It’s a small, but not too small, basement with a nice ambience. Here you can watch the game, have a beer and a burger for only 99 kr. This summer they organized a whisky testing. And on Fridays there’s happy hour in the bar (in this town it’s called “After Work”).

The Flying Scotsman - Storgatan 47
Beers on tap include: Pripps, 1795 Budweis Bohemia, Kilkenny, Newcastle Brown Ale, Guinnes.
Food: Variety of snacks, tapas, light meals and heavy steaks. Really nice whisky selection!

Ölhallen 7:an

Welcome to the oldest pub in town. And the oldest Ölhall (Beer Hall) in the whole of Sweden! So what’s the difference between a pub and an Ölhall? Well we don’t know, but there must be something. Apparently, over 100 years ago the country was swarming with beer halls, but now Ölhallen 7an is the only one left worth mentioning. It was established in 1900 by August and Alida Andersson from Mölnlycke. Now, how do we describe the ambiance of 7an? It is actually just what you would except from an Ölhall: what-seem-to-be original tiles on the floor and a cozy, dark wooden interior with an old beer smell in the air. The pub even has its own beers: Ölhallen 7an Mörkare än det andra, a dark lager and Ölhallen 7an Ljusare än det ena, a blond lager. Sipping these might, just for a minute, take you 107 years back in time. The crowd can be mixed; regulars from way back and those more recent.

Ölhallen 7:an - Kungstorget 7
Beers on tap include: Can’t remember, I was sipping their own brew from a bottle.
Food: Chips

Delirium

Delirium Café brags about having over two thousand bottled beers, most of which are Belgian. But then again Delirium, like the name suggests (Delirium is actually the name of a famous Belgian beer), is a Belgian (influenced) bar. Stepping into this place you might feel there is something a bit off. Why? Well the place doesn’t have the feel of a beer bar: a cozy dark wooden interior with an old beer smell in the air. The interior is new, fresh and cool, reminding one of a university canteen. And the second floor (which is more like an inside-balcony) seems to draw its influence from the passenger area in Stena Line. But hey! We are here to drink, not to admire the interior design, right!? Right...So, the first thing to do is going to the bar and pick up the menu, which is the size of a phone book, listing all those beers from all countries possible (except Iceland... Does Iceland have beers?). On the first page you are warned that they only keep six beers of each kind in the cooler so it is quite likely the one you where going to order is out of stock - but it doesn’t really matter, you’ve still got at least about 1500 others to choose from. But beware, since most of the beers are specially imported, the Delirium experience might turn out to be an expensive night out.

Delirium Café - Kronhusgatan 2
Beers on tap include: Many, many different kinds!!!
Food: Belgian-influenced snack Nice selection of single malt whisky and jenever

The Rover

If you are looking for that “old beer smell” this is most likely the place for you. The Rover currently offers twentytwo different beers on tap and around one hundred beers in bottles (“two refrigerators plus some more”). Behind the bar, Pelle proudly talks about the beer they offer from different microbreweries throughout Sweden. For a journey through the Swedish beer landscape, this is definitely your start. In the mixed crowd you can find some regulars who might guide you through the assortment. If not, the friendly staff sure will. “This is a place for true beer nerds as well as for the beginner,” says Pelle. Some regulars are sitting in the window by the entrance. They come here few times a week and can’t give Rover enough compliments. On our way out they call: “Don’t forget to write that this place is görtrevligt!”

The Rover - Andra Långgatan 12
Food: The regulars assure us it’s great!
Beers on tap include: Good selection of Swedish micros on tap

Old Beefeater Inn

I have a somewhat romanticized picture of the Old Beefeater Inn. Throughout the years I have had many heartto- heart conversations with close friends and family over a few ale beers in this pub. It is something about the atmosphere that makes you feel at home. Lasse, one of the founders of Beefeater, also describes it as a living room. He says: “People can stop by in dungarees or dressed in suits. It doesn’t matter. It should be simple and fun to go out for a beer.” Guests have passed through the traditional red British phone both, which makes up the entrance, for over fifteen years now. Even though the pub feels rather small, you get fourteen different beers on tap and about forty different bottled beers to choose from. A number of these are Swedish brands well worth checking out!

Old Beefeater Inn - Plantagegatan 1
Food:This place is not just a beer chap; the food alone is worth the visit In the winter time it is customary for the staff to wear kilts. A decent selection of single malt whisky

Skål

“Where everybody knows your name...” You start humming it when you walk through the door. It’s friendly and relatively small which makes it often packed, especially on weekends, of course. Maybe the best things about this place are the prizes. You’ll get a killer strawberry daiquiri for only 42 kr. Not bad. Music: blasts from the past, we didn’t hear a single song made after 1975. “I could see myself as a regular here…,” I heard someone say on the way out the door. Well, that about sums it up, I believe.

Skål - Storgatan 16
Beers on tap include: Hoegaarden, Carslberg Cheap cocktails!