Longyearbyen's bar scene is compact and sociable. The population is a mix of Norwegian researchers, international academics, miners, and seasonal workers — the bars reflect it. The Svalbard Bryggeri, the world's northernmost brewery, produces several Arctic-themed beers on site and sells them at the brewery tap and in the local shops. The Dark Season Blues festival in late October fills the bars with music during the gloomiest weeks of the year.
Kroa, the main pub in the town centre, is the place locals actually go. Barentz Gastropub doubles as a bar in the evenings. Coffee culture is modest but functional: the Fruene cafe near the centre handles daytime coffee and light meals.