Guide to Oslo
Coffee & Cafes
Supreme Roastwork
Everyone loves Supreme, an intimate and informal coffee bar. Visit Website
Fuglen
Coffee shop by day, cocktail bar by night and vintage design shop all the time. Fancy some oysters topped with ants with your cocktails? Fuglen is the place for that. Visit Website
Tim Wendelboe
Tim Wendelboe hardly needs an introduction. Tim Wendelboe, to quote Oliver Strand of The New York Times Magazine, “feels like a neighborhood shop, but it’s run like a Michelin-starred restaurant”. Visit Website
Java
One of the original coffee bars in Oslo. Serving KAFFA roasted coffee and just a few steps away from beautiful St. Hanshaugen park. An elegant space with welcoming baristas and great coffee. Visit Website
My Ugly Baby
Delicious hand-crafted doughnuts & coffee: arguably the coffee pairing of them all. Visit website
Tøyen Startup Village
Not only the venue for Nordic Roaster Forum 2018, but also a really cool coffee bar. Visit Website
Solberg og Hansen, Mathallen
Good coffee and tea! If you’re at Mathallen, a stop by S&H is a must. Visit Website
Naustet/SALT
Occasionally the weather can be sub-optimal here in Oslo. At these times, there’s no better place to hide out than in front of the fireplace at Naustet, or its temporary neighbour: art exhibition/sauna, SALT. Bring your favourite book and make sure to try the traditional Norwegian “svele” (pancake). Visit Website
Oslo K
A coffee bar and design bureau all in one. Also great for pastries and cake. Visit Website
Vingen bar
Coffee bar by day and cocktail bar by night. Beautiful views of Oslofjord and located inside the always well-curated contemporary art museum, Astrup Fearnley Museet. Visit Website
Kaffebrenneriet
Consistently good coffee, and with over 20 locations, always conveniently located. Visit Website
Food & Restaurants
Brutus
Natural wines and Icelandic-Norwegian food aplenty. The 6-course set menu is well worth a-go. Visit website
Vippa
A new food, culture and education centre located at the edge of Vippetangen, right by Oslofjord. There are about 10 street food vendors (with food from all over the world), and a bar. Vippa is also becoming well-known for putting up events like early morning discos and after-work happy-hour. Visit website
Izakaya
“Pub” in Japanese. Sake, shochu, beer, whiskey, umeshu and great food is on offer at this laid-back venue. Stop by for a snack or share several tapas-sized dishes with you friends if you’re looking for a dinner-sized portion. Visit website
Bon Lío
Tapas done right, served alongside great cocktails. Visit website
Bass Oslo
A casual neighbourhood restaurant in Grünerløkka serving up Nordic food, accompanied by great wines in a wholly unpretentious way. Visit website
Happolati
Upscale Asian-inspired cuisine. It’s been called an informal version of Maaemo. The name comes from the classic Norwegian novel “Sult” by Knut Hamsun, in which agent J. A. Happolati is the inventor of the electric hymnbook that inspired the menu. Visit website
Smallhans
A St. Hanshaugen neighbourhood restaurant with hearty Norwegian-style homemade food served at the right price. Visit website
Ett bord
“One table” in Norwegian; the restaurant is exactly that: one table with a simple and good menu (they offer 2-3 mains to choose from). Scandinavian food in a cosy space, offered at reasonable prices. Visit website
Le Benjamin
A casual bistro with interesting wines, many offered by the glass. Traditional French dishes & cheeses. Visit website
Der Peppern Gror
Tasty and modern Indian cuisine. Possibly the best in Oslo. Come for the inspired menu; stay for “koselig” atmosphere and great service. Visit website
Bars, Drinks & Cocktails
Torggata Botaniske
A great little cocktail bar that focuses on herbal drinks (the clue is in the name). There’s so many plants growing inside, it’s almost like being inside a greenhouse. Visit website
Andre til Høyre
Quickly becoming a “go-to” Oslo cocktail & wine bar. Like having a drink in your most stylish friend’s living room. Visit Facebook page
Gurken Gurken Gurken Gurken
Right next door to Brutus is the superb and kitsch mini-pub Gurken Gurken Gurken Gurken. Try the coffee stout or margarita slushie. There’s fur on the walls. You’ve been warned. Visit website
Oslo Mekaniske Verksted
The closest you’ll come to a British countryside pub in the middle of Oslo’s city-centre. There’s a roaring fireplace and Chesterfield armchairs, plus a great selection of beer. Visit website
Territoriet
A cosy wine bar with a great selection of both wine and spirits. If you’re a gin-drinker, you’ll be particularly delighted by their gin selection. Visit website
Nightlife
Syng (karaoke bar)
“Sing” in Norwegian. A fun bar in Grünerløkka with private karaoke rooms you can rent by the hour. Visit website
Tilt
This place is all about fun & play (“fun” is literally lighting up a wall). Whether you prefer shuffle board, pinball, or one of the arcade games in the basement, Tilt likely has something for you. While you’re at it, drink from a good selection of beer. Visit website
Angst
Divey with a diverse crowd, good dancing, and in close proximity to many other great night spots. Not your typical Oslo-haunt, in the best possible way. Visit Facebook page
The Villa
A true underground club with consistent bookings of renowned djs. A place where you can leave your inhibitions at the door and vibe out all night long. Visit website
Art & Architecture
Opera House roof
The Opera House is a beautiful piece of architecture on the harbour of Bjørvika. We recommend visiting, if only to take a stroll on the marble roof. It’s the perfect spot for a picnic and also a popular place to go swimming. There’s also a new “harbour promenade” you can walk along.
Skyspace
If you only visit one piece of art whilst in Oslo, make it the Skyspace by James Turrell. Ekerbergparken is full of sculptures and if you have time, go for a stroll to see them all. But if you’re in Oslo at 11 am on Sunday, Skyspace is the only place to be.
Vigeland Sculpture Park
Vigelandsparken, more commonly known as Frognerparken. In English, mostly referred to as “the naked statue park” by tourists. Visit website
Kunsternes hus
Kunstnernes Hus (The Artists’ House) is an artist-run exhibition hall for contemporary art. Visit website
Things to do
Losæter
Everyone’s favourite anarchist farm! On what used to be an unused piece of concrete next to a motorway, is now a green oasis. On Wednesdays everyone is welcome to harvest whatever is ripe and make dinner from it, which they either enjoy at a long table outside, if the weather permits, or inside the bakehouse, if it’s raining. The bakehouse specialises in ancient and rare grains. People can also grow their own allotments here. Visit website
Norsk Folkemuseum
One of the world’s oldest and largest open-air museums, with 155 traditional houses from all parts of Norway and a stave church from the year 1200. The museum also has indoor exhibits with traditional handicraft items, folk costumes, Sami culture, weapons, toys, pharmaceutical history and changing exhibitions. Visit website
Sørengas Badstu- og Helårsbadeanstalt
There are a few saunas around, but this one is by far the cutest. It fits 12 people, and the view of the Opera House is unbeatable. Book the whole thing in advance or drop in. Bring your own towel and flip flops.
Botanisk Hage
Large garden with ample botanical variety and diversity. Most of the area is designed as an Arboretum. The garden holds a large and varied collection of trees and shrubs planted in a systematic fashion after plant family. The greenhouses are open Tuesday-Sunday 11 am-4 pm. Visit website
Elvelangs
Celebrate Autumn Equinox with a walk along Akerselva during “Elvelangs”, an annual art and cultural performance event that replaces the typical electric lighting along the river with 4000 torches.