Riche
Riche has operated at Birger Jarlsgatan 4 since 1893, making it one of Stockholm's oldest continuously running bar and restaurant establishments. The venue occupies a corner building directly adjacent to the Stureplan square, with a restaurant section facing the street and a separate bar space accessed through a side entrance. The bar is the nightlife draw: a long, narrow room with dark wood paneling, leather seating, and a marble-topped bar that has served drinks to Stockholm's media, publishing, and cultural elite for over a century. The crowd skews 30s to 50s, wealthier and more professionally established than the club-going set at Sturecompagniet. Riche functions as Stockholm's living room for its creative and business establishment. After-work drinks from 5 PM transition into late-night socializing, and the bar stays busy until closing on Thursdays through Saturdays. No dance floor, no DJ, no cover charge. Just excellent drinks, a historic setting, and a crowd that has been coming here since before Stureplan was a brand.
What to Expect
Enter through the side door on Birger Jarlsgatan and you're in a narrow room that looks like it hasn't changed much since the 1950s. Dark wood everywhere. The bar runs along one wall, stools and tables along the other. The noise level rises steadily through the evening as the crowd builds. By 10 PM on a Friday, you're standing shoulder to shoulder with people who look like they run things.
Sophisticated, warm, and social. The kind of bar where regulars know the bartenders by name and strangers get drawn into conversations after the second drink. Old Stockholm money mixed with new creative industry energy.
Background jazz, classic rock, and Scandinavian selections at low volume. This is a conversation venue, not a music venue.
Smart casual. The Riche crowd dresses well but without the performative excess of the club scene. Clean jeans, a good shirt, and proper shoes are the baseline. Nobody's checking at the door because there's no formal door policy.
Professionals and visitors who want Stockholm's after-work and late-night bar culture without the club experience. Solo travelers who want a social bar where conversation is possible. Anyone who appreciates a genuinely historic venue.
Cards and contactless everywhere. The restaurant takes full credit cards. Swish available at the bar.
Price Range
No entry fee, beer SEK 95-130, cocktails SEK 160-220, wine SEK 120-180, restaurant mains SEK 250-400
Beer ~EUR 8-12/~USD 10-13, cocktails ~EUR 14-19/~USD 16-22, wine ~EUR 11-16/~USD 12-18, restaurant mains ~EUR 22-35/~USD 25-40
Hours
Bar: Mon-Sat 11:30-01:00. Restaurant: Mon-Sat 11:30-23:00
Insider Tip
The bar fills fast on Thursday and Friday after-work hours (17:00-19:00). Arrive early for a seat. The restaurant is excellent for Swedish classics like beef Rydberg. Bar seating is first-come, first-served with no reservations.
Full Review
Riche is the venue that Stureplan regulars graduate to. When you've outgrown the 2 AM dance floor but still want to be in the center of Stockholm's social life, you end up at Riche's bar on a Thursday evening. The room has the worn-in comfort of a place that has been doing the same thing well for 130 years. The bar surface shows its age in the best way. The leather on the stools is cracked where thousands of people have sat. The wall behind the bar holds bottles that feel like they've been there since the venue opened.
The crowd is Riche's defining feature. On any given evening, you might find yourself next to a newspaper editor, a gallery owner, a retired diplomat, and a startup founder. The common thread is that everyone is a regular, or acts like one. First-time visitors can feel like they've walked into someone else's living room, but the atmosphere is inclusive once you settle in. Order a drink, take a seat if one opens up, and the conversation will find you.
The restaurant section deserves mention because it's genuinely good, not just a nightlife afterthought. Beef Rydberg (a traditional Swedish dish of diced beef, potatoes, and egg yolk) is Riche's signature, and they've been making it for decades. Dinner at 8 PM followed by drinks at the bar until closing is a perfect Riche evening.
The main limitation is space. Riche is small, and on popular nights (Thursday and Friday), getting a seat is difficult after 7 PM. Standing at the bar or along the wall is normal and nobody minds, but if you want comfort, arrive early. The bar closes at 1 AM, which is early by Stureplan standards. Riche is where the night begins or where it winds down, not the 3 AM destination.
The Neighborhood
Riche sits on the corner of Birger Jarlsgatan and Stureplan, the most central possible position in Stockholm's upscale nightlife zone. Spy Bar is across the street. Sturecompagniet is 50 meters away. The venue works as a starting point before moving to clubs or as a civilized nightcap after the dance floors close.
Getting There
Östermalmstorg Tunnelbana station (red line) is a 2-minute walk. The entrance is on Birger Jarlsgatan at the corner of the Stureplan square. You can't miss it if you're in the area.
Address
Birger Jarlsgatan 4
Other Venues in Stureplan
Sturecompagniet
Stockholm's largest and most famous nightclub, occupying a multi-level space with ornate 19th-century interiors, multiple bars, and a capacity of over 1,200 people.
Café Opera
Grand nightclub inside the Royal Opera House building. Crystal chandeliers, gilded ceilings, and a dance floor that fills with Stockholm's well-dressed nightlife crowd every weekend.
Berns
Historic entertainment venue since 1863, hosting club nights, live concerts, and events across multiple ornate rooms including the legendary Berns Salonger ballroom.
Spy Bar
Intimate, exclusive cocktail lounge and late-night spot with a carefully curated crowd. One of Stureplan's most selective doors and a favorite of Stockholm's media and fashion crowd.
Solidaritet
Underground electronic music club below Stureplan with a raw, industrial feel that contrasts sharply with the polished venues above ground. Focuses on house and techno.
East
Asian-influenced restaurant and bar near Stureplan that transforms into a late-night lounge on weekends. Known for its cocktail program and stylish interior with dark woods and warm lighting.