The Nordics
All Nordic winners in the World’s 50 Best Bars 2024
The top 4 Nordic cocktail bars in 2024
The World’s 50 Best Bars 2024 list reveals shifts in the Nordic cocktail scene, with only four bars featured, down from five last year. Oslo’s Himkok leads at 11th, despite a slight drop, while Stockholm’s Röda Huset also fell to 45th. Svanen in Oslo climbed to 72nd, and Bird in Copenhagen debuted at 77th. However, Stockholm’s Tjoget and Copenhagen’s Ruby – both featured last year – are notably absent, reflecting increased global competition. This year’s results suggest the Nordic scene may be losing some momentum, underscoring the need for continued innovation if it’s to hold its place among the world’s top cocktail destinations.
Top photography courtesy of Himkok
11
Himkok [↓]
Himkok, the bar that formed Scandinavian cocktail culture when Erk Potur opened it in 2015, is hidden behind an inconspicuous façade. Himkok, the Norwegian word for moonshine, attempts to embody Norwegian culture through cocktails and spirits distilled while remaining true to its surrounding nature. With a fully operational distillery producing aquavit, gin, and vodka, Himkok is able to create drinks and products with a true Nordic flavour via sustainable and empirical production. Signature drinks like the Birch, a Martini-style cocktail served with a blue cheese-stuffed olive, are served in a rustic 1930s-inspired space with dark wood, gilded mirrors and low lighting.
Himkok
Storgata 27
Oslo
Norway
Photography courtesy of Himkok
45
Röda Huset [↓]
The red house, or Röda Huset, is a restaurant and bar owned by bartender Hampus Thunholm. He hopes to develop the Scandinavian cocktail style here. Instead of building the drink with alcohol as a starting point, his philosophy is first to mix a good drink and then add spirits. He employs traditional techniques, but also has molecular elements and resorts to snazzy machines and liquid nitrogen when he feels it adds something to the drink.
Röda Huset
Malmskillnadsgatan 9
Stockholm
Sweden
Photography courtesy of Johan Fowelin and Marge Arkitekter
72
Svanen [↑]
Svanen Cocktaibar in Oslo, housed in the historic Svaneapoteket, is a masterpiece of cocktail craftsmanship. Owned by Yunus Yildiz, famed for the internationally renowned Himkok, Svanen is a blend of history and innovation. Housed in a neoclassical building dating back to 1896 and listed as a cultural heritage, the bar maintains its original marble columns and dark-wood panelling, with swans adorning the decor in homage to its name. The contrast between the historical surroundings and the contemporary cocktail creations is striking. Signature drinks like the Nordic Tiki and the Tyttebær, a unique take on the margarita, showcase a fusion of classic and modern flavours, making Svanen a standout in the world’s cocktail scene. Here, tradition meets modernity in a setting where history is preserved and the future of mixology is crafted, securing its place among the top cocktail bars globally.
Svanen
Karl Johans Gate 13
Oslo
Sweden
Photography courtesy of Svanen
77
Bird [new]
In Copenhagen neighbourhood Frederiksberg, Bird offers a relaxed, local vibe where music and cocktails come together seamlessly. Vinyl fills the space, from jazz-inspired classics to playful electro beats, all served through hand-built speakers that lend warmth to the experience. Cocktails are equally crafted with care, blending tradition with a modern twist. Expect a rotating menu that keeps things fresh, with drinks like the Drenched Se7entifive – a gin and jasmine concoction with lemon vermouth and cremant. Highballs, Lo Balls and Negronis each have their own sections, making Bird a neighbourhood gem that delivers inventive, flavour-forward drinks without pretense. Plus, some favourites come bottled to enjoy at home.
Bird
Gammel Kongevej 102
Frederiksberg
Denmark
Photography courtesy of Bird
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