Bar
Tjoget
Hornstull restaurant and bar listed among The World's 50 Best Bars, with a cocktail bar, wine bodega, beer café and Mediterranean-inspired dining room.
Stampen
Gamla Stan music pub in a former pawnshop since 1968, with live American roots music every day, from traditional jazz to blues and soul.
At a glance
- Type
- Live jazz and blues pub
- Area
- Gamla Stan, Stockholm, Sweden
- Price
- $$ · Mid-range
- Opening
- Open 6 days a week (closed Monday)
- Official site
- stampen.se
Good to know
- Live music every day
- 17th-century cellar
- Drop-in only
- Bar menu
- Age limit 18
Why we recommend it
Stampen is a music pub in the lanes of Gamla Stan that has been serving drinks and live music since 1968. The building has an unusual past: it once housed the French Reformed Church, until 1880, and later a pawnshop, which gave the pub its name. Stampen refers to the stamps customers received for their payments on items they had pawned. The jazz enthusiast Sten Holmquist found the old pawnshop and turned it into a jazz pub, and the building still has a 17th-century cellar.
Live music is the reason to come, and Stampen puts on bands every day. Its focus, in its own words, is American roots music, with acts ranging from traditional jazz to modern blues and soul and R&B. The atmosphere is informal and social, and the room is small enough to feel close to the band. There is also a regular blues jam, which gives you the chance to hear local musicians playing together.
The bar serves cocktails, beer, spirits and non-alcoholic drinks, and a short bar menu of hearty bites keeps the evening going. There are no reservations; Stampen is drop-in only, and concerts are not sold in advance unless the event information says otherwise. On Saturdays the music starts in the afternoon, and there is a short break between 19:30 and 20:00 while the bands change over. The age limit is 18.
Stampen suits music lovers, groups of friends and solo travellers who want a relaxed, unpretentious night out in the old town. It is closed on Mondays and opens from 17:00 to midnight on Tuesdays to Thursdays and Sundays, and from 17:00 to 02:00 on Fridays; on Saturdays it opens at 13:00 and stays open until 02:00. Arrive early on Friday and Saturday nights if you want a seat, as the room fills quickly. The pub also closes over Midsummer.
Stora Gråmunkegränd is a narrow lane in the western part of Gamla Stan, a few minutes' walk from Gamla Stan metro station and close to Västerlånggatan. Riddarholmen and its church are just across the bridge, and the rest of the old town's bars and restaurants are within a short stroll, which makes Stampen an easy late stop after dinner.
Stampen FAQs
How long has Stampen been a music pub?
It became a jazz pub in 1968.
What music does Stampen play?
American roots music, from traditional jazz to modern blues, soul and R&B, live every day.
What are the opening hours?
Closed Monday; Tuesday to Thursday and Sunday 17:00 to 00:00, Friday 17:00 to 02:00 and Saturday 13:00 to 02:00.
Can I book a table?
No. Stampen is drop-in only and does not take reservations.
Is there an age limit?
Yes. The age limit is 18.
Where does the name Stampen come from?
From the stamps pawnshop customers received when they made payments on pawned items.
Is food served?
Yes. The bar has a menu of hearty bites alongside cocktails, beer and soft drinks.
Where is Stampen?
At Stora Gråmunkegränd 7 in Gamla Stan, a few minutes from Gamla Stan metro station.