Oslo, Norway — Food and Dining
Restaurants in Oslo, Norway
Restaurants
Gastronomic
Annen Etage
Located in the Continental Hotel, this Michelin-starred restaurant is something of an Oslo institution. Offering what it describes as an 'international menu inspired by French cuisine', it is located centrally close to the National Theater. It has capacity for 90, and there is also a bar attached that is popular with theater-goers.
Stortingsgata 24-26
Tel: 2282 4070.
Website: www.hotel-continental.no
Price: $$$$
Bagatelle
Probably Norway's best-known restaurant, Bagatelle boasts two Michelin stars – and its prices reflect this. French style is very much the order of the day here. The menu contains a broad selection of set meals and à la carte dishes, and a choice of more than 400 wines is available. The interior is decorated with works by well-known artists.
Bygdøy Allé 3
Tel: 2212 1440.
Website: www.bagatelle.no
Price: $$$$
Lofoten Fish Restaurant
This is a 400-seat seafood outlet situated on the quayside at Aker Brygge. In summer, a large open-air dining area is available. This restaurant specializes in seasonal local delicacies – such as cod served with liver and roe in winter, and a wide range of shellfish and crustaceans during the summer months. Set menus are offered in addition to the à la carte menu.
Stranden 75
Tel: 2283 0808.
Website: www.lofotenfiskerestaurant.com
Price: $$$
Spisestedet Feinschmecker
Honored with a Michelin star, Feinschmecker opened in 1990 and rapidly gained a reputation as one of the city's best restaurants. It is located in the Frogner district to the east of the city center. In addition to its à la carte menu, it offers a fixed priced daily five-course meal. An extensive wine list and a daily vegetarian alternative are available.
Balchens Gate 5
Tel: 2212 9380.
Website: www.feinschmecker.no
Price: $$$$
Business
The Mandarin
Located in the Majorstuen business district to the north of the Royal Palace, the Mandarin offers food based primarily on the Cantonese style, with a good range of familiar dishes. Informal atmosphere, but perfect for a business lunch or dinner.
Sørkedalsveien 5
Tel: 2260 2000.
Website: www.restaurantmandarin.no
Price: $$$
Trendy
Theatercafeen
A buzzing atmosphere combined with international cuisine of excellent standard continues to make this cafe and restaurant one of the most popular in Oslo. Theatercafeen is a legendary Viennese-style establishment with a unique ambience. Probably the best place in town for celebrity spotting, it has been listed by the New York Times as one of the 10 most popular cafes in the world. It is located next to the National Theater.
Stortingsgata 24-26
Tel: 2282 4050.
Website: www.hotel-continental.no
Price: $$$
Mona Lisa
Described as an 'adult' venue, Mona Lisa offers live music and a nightclub as well as its restaurants, not to mention belly dancers. The menu contains a selection of items in Norwegian, French and Italian styles. A fixed price three-course menu changes daily. Centrally located close to the cathedral.
Grensen 10
Tel: 2234 0230.
Website: www.monalisa.as
Price: $$
Pasta Basta
Pasta Basta restaurants are bright, breezy and with a fairly simple menu based on pizza and pasta main dishes, with a limited selection of starters and desserts. There are two outlets in Oslo, one at Aker Brygge and the other in Bogstadveien near Majorstua to the north of the Royal Palace.
Stranden 3
Tel: 2201 4850.
Website: www.pastabasta.no
Price: $$
Sydöst
Located, as the name indicates, in the south east of Oslo, and more precisely in the highly trendy Grünerløkka area, Sydöst opened in 2005 and is already one of the most popular restaurants in town. Housed in an old, spacious bank building, it is definitely one of the best-looking eateries in the country, with three big fireplaces and a rustic, but elegant atmosphere. The food, like the place, is hearty and wholesome, but with a sophisticated and elegant touch.
Trondheimsveien 5
Tel: 2335 3070.
Website: www.sydost.no
Price: $$
Budget
Angus Steakhouse
Attached to the Scotsman pub, the Angus Steakhouse has a straightforward menu of pizzas and steaks presented in a basic way at a basic price – cheap (by Oslo standards) and cheerful is the order of the day here. Reached through the bar upstairs, it offers differing fixed menus at various times of the day.
Karl Johans gate 17
Tel: 2247 4477.
Website: www.scotsman.no
Price: $
Lorry
With an eclectic mix of interior design fixtures, ranging from bicycles hanging from the ceiling to ceramic busts adorning the walls, plus comfy leather booths, Lorry's provides a warm and inviting atmosphere in which to enjoy its hearty fare. Simple yet honest grub is the main draw, with door-step sandwiches, quiche and burgers the popular choices with many punters.
Parkveien 12
Tel: 2269 6904.
Website: www.lorry.no
Price: $
Restaurant Eik
This is the restaurant at the Quality Hotel Savoy, just a short walk from the National Gallery. The interior is modern with a charming touch of the 1970s, while the food is a tasty combination of classic and modern continental cuisine. The restaurant has been cited in the Guide Michelin's Bib Gourmand category for establishments with exceptional food at very reasonable prices.
Universitetsgata 11
Tel: 2335 4200.
Website: www.choicehotels.no/hotels/no060
Price: $
TGI Friday's
One step up from fast food, this chain has two outlets in Oslo, one of them in Karl Johans gate in the city center. For those in search of the familiar at a reasonably low price, this is the place. American-style food in the burgers and steaks mould, and a wide choice of drinks and cocktails from the bar.
Karl Johan's Gate 35
Tel: 2233 3200.
Website: www.fridays.com
Price: $
Personal Recommendations
Oslo Spiseforretning
Located by the Middelalderpark (Medieval Park) in the Gamle Byen area immediately southeast of the central station, this is an unusual venue offering traditional Norwegian fare such as reindeer and various seasonal fish. The décor is in 1920s Norwegian style.
Oslogate 15
Tel: 2262 6210.
Website: www.oslo-spiseforretning.no
Price: $$$
Nightlife
Nightlife, in the sense that most people understand the term, arrived comparatively late in Norway. For centuries, family life was the lynchpin of Norwegian society, and people tended to socialize at home. Draconian alcohol controls, including a form of prohibition in the early 20th century, did not encourage going out. Since the late 1980s though, with relaxation of drinking laws, it became possible to drink until 0200. Many pubs and clubs opened to take advantage of the change in legislation.
A publication called What’s On in Oslo has the most comprehensive venue listings and is free from hotel foyers and tourist offices, but a good first port of call is Rosenkrantz gate, a street teeming with bars, music pubs and other nightspots. Many nightclubs are located on and around Karl Johans gate. Oslo nightlife is generally relaxed, with neat smart-casual clothing good for everywhere but the most expensive restaurants.
Drinking alcohol in Norway is still, however, a prohibitively expensive business. The minimum drinking age is 18 years for beer and wine and 20 years for spirits. The national drink is akevitt, a fiery spirit flavored with herbs. Many Norwegians go out late on Fridays and Saturdays after a vorspiel (pre-party) involving drinks at home, so the street atmosphere from 2200 on the weekends can be lively, to say the least.
Bars: The Dubliner, Rådhusgata 28, is a typical ’Irish’ themed bar, as is the Kilkenny Inn, Øvre Slottsgate. Similarly, the Scotsman, Karl Johans gate, is popular with expats and visitors and also offers the adjacent Angus Steakhouse. English is more often spoken than Norwegian at The Belfry, Lille Grensen 7. A recent arrival in town is an Australian theme pub, Down Under, in Fridtjof Nansens plass. In summer, there is a choice of open-air bar/restaurants along the quaysides of Aker Brygge, in front of Akershus Festning. But again these tend to stretch the traveler’s budget somewhat. Stravinsky, Rosenkrantzgate 17, is a swanky venue for those who don’t mind a bit of ’clubbing’ thrown in - there is a disco night every Wednesday. The Kristiania Bar and Café, right by the central station in Jernbanetorget, is a cavernous and rather elegant venue that gets absolutely packed on Friday and Saturday evenings. For a more relaxed evening head to the 21st floor Summit Bar in the Radisson SAS Scandinavia Hotel, where you can sup on a cocktail while taking in the panoramic views of the fjords and city.
Clubs: Skansen, Rådhusgate 25 (website: www.skansen.no), is known as a ’real’ house venue, and although relatively small, hosts international DJs on a regular basis. Sikamikanico, in Møllergate, offers a choice of house, techno and similar music genres. Pure Liquid, Christian IVs gate 12, reopened in June 2006 after a costly refurbishment and offers two and a half floors of extremely trendy nightclub action with sophisticated DJs and bartenders. Tiger Tiger, Torggata 5, has become rapidly popular with the mainstream clubbing crowd. Also worth seeking out is Stratos, on the 11th floor of Folketeaterbygningen, Youngstorget 2 (website: www.stratos.as), a club and restaurant with great views of all parts of Oslo.
Live Music: Stortorvets Gjæstgiveri, Grensen 1, is a lively traditional jazz joint featuring ragtime and New Orleans-style bands. Blå, Brenneriveien 9 (website: www.blx.no), down by the river Akerselva, is by many considered the best jazz club in Oslo. Herr Nilsen Jazzklubb, CJ Hambros plass 5 (website: www.herrnilsen.no) is also very good. One of the best venues for blues music in Europe is located in the very heart of Oslo and is appropriately called Muddy Waters, Grensen 13 (website: www.muddywaters.no). Those who prefer rock music can head downstairs to the rock club Rock Bottom. Oslo Spektrum, Sonia Henies Plass 2 (website: www.oslospektrum.no), is where all the visiting international big names play. Skuret Kulturpub, Christian Krohgs gate 2 (website: www.skuret.no), offers a regular program of rock bands and music-related quiz nights. Smuget, Rosenkranzgate 22, is one of the most active music clubs in Europe.
