Entertainment in Bergen & The Western Fjords
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Troldhaugen
Bergen has a busy programme of concerts throughout summer, many of them classical performances focusing on Bergen’s favourite son, composer Edvard Grieg. Most of the concerts take place at evocative open-air venues such as Troldhaugen and Siljustøl, atop Mt Fløyen and in the park adjacent to Håkonshallen. For details and schedules, contact the tourist office. Tickets are sold by the tourist office or at the venue. There are free buses to the concerts from outside the tourist office, leaving one hour before starting time. From mid-June until late August, Grieg concerts also take place in the Grand Hotel Terminus at 9pm.
reviewed
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Garage
Garage has taken on an almost mythical quality for music lovers across Europe. It does play live jazz and acoustic, but this is a rock venue at heart with well-known Norwegian and international acts drawn to the cavernous basement. If he’s around, ask for Dennis, who’s something of a local legend (he once played in the group Electric Rain) and he’ll set you straight on the local music scene.
reviewed
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Altona Vinbar
Possibly our favourite wine bar in town, Altona Vinbar is in an intimate warren of underground rooms that date from the 16th century. With a huge selection of international wines, soft lighting and music that ranges from jazz to rock but never drowns out conversation, it’s hard to find fault with this place. If you’ve had a few glasses, take care with the impossibly low connecting doors!
reviewed
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Fana Folklore
If you’re finding traditional Norwegian culture elusive, this folklore show in the Fana stave church may cut through the obscurity. Yes, it’s tourist-oriented, but it’s well done and a healthy proportion of the spectators is likely to be Norwegian. Fana Folklore buses pick up ticket holders at Festplassen at 7pm, returning at 10.30pm; tickets can be bought at the tourist office.
reviewed
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D
Calibar
Funky! Calibar is hip in all the right places with stunning lighting and décor that fuses chic modern style with retro flair (it claims to have the oldest floor in Bergen). Upstairs is café and conversation, but downstairs is a sweaty nightclub for a 30-something crowd drawn by ’80s music it can sing along to. You have to be 24 to get in and ready to pay Nkr96 for a cocktail.
reviewed
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Hulen
Hulen enjoys a legendary status. Going strong since 1968, it’s the oldest rock club in northern Europe and it’s one of the classic stages for indie rock. Hulen means ‘cave’ and the venue is actually a converted bomb shelter. Sadly, it closes during summer when many of Bergen’s students head off on holidays. It also hosts a heavy-metal festival in early November.
reviewed
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Kick Off
Kick Off is, as you’d expect, a sports bar that shows all major football matches. It’s also where the young folk of Florø head, drawn by its pool table, darts and massive music collection (make a request and test them out). It serves pizzas and snacks, there’s free wi-fi and every Friday and Saturday are disco nights.
reviewed
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Det Lille Kaffe Kompaniet
In the past few years, this place has twice won a nationwide competition for the country’s best coffee and two of its waiters are on Norway’s national coffee team (kind of like a football team but with espresso machines). It’s a lovely little place and it overflows onto the neighbouring stairs when the sun’s out.
reviewed
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Rick’s
There’s something for everyone at Rick’s. At street level, ‘Silver’ is a superstylish wine bar and café with occasionally outrageous décor, while Rick’s, downstairs and open from 10pm, is for live music, with an extra venue that serves as a popular disco. You have to be at least 24 to get in.
reviewed
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B.brormann B.bar
One of Stavanger’s coolest bars where you can actually hear the conversation and with contemporary artworks on the brick walls, this oddly named bar draws a discerning over-30s crowd and serves great-value half-litre beers (Nkr58) and spirits (Nkr76 to Nkr91). This is where we drink when we’re in town.
reviewed
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Bocca
Upstairs from the restaurant of the same name, Bocca draws a chic 30-something crowd who flock to the open balcony, or snuggle in the dimly lit retro salon. Music is usually lounge, with a DJ from Thursday to Saturday. A San Miguel will set you back Nkr54, martinis cost Nkr59, while most cocktails are Nkr93.
reviewed
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Capello
An engaging little café-bar that does smoothies, milkshakes, beer and pancakes, Capello is all about ’50s and ’60s décor and music downstairs (the juke box is filled with Elvis, the Monkeys, the Beatles and Bob Dylan). Upstairs the ’70s take over.
reviewed
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Transit Art Space
This sophisticated little café is an adjunct to a fine, small gallery of changing and often avant-garde exhibitions. It does good coffee and sells great art books. If you can’t find it, look for the Mona Lisa baring her bottom on the wall outside.
reviewed
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Vågen
This quiet café is where old Norwegian meets Bob Marley, with traditional Norwegian decoration, rustic wooden tables and a chilled vibe helped by occasional Reggae tunes. It’s a cool combination and provides a great backdrop to a lazy afternoon.
reviewed
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Café Sting
Just up the hill but a world away, Café Sting is at once a mellow café and a funky cultural space with exhibitions, live jazz whenever the mood takes it and a weekend nightclub where the DJs keep you on your toes, spinning house, hip-hop and soul.
reviewed
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Ta Det Piano
‘Take it Easy’ is just that – a laid-back bar with a steep rear garden (live bands sometimes use its flat roof as a stage). Now in its second decade, it’s the place to meet the town’s younger movers and shakers.
reviewed
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Café Opera
By day, Café Opera has a literary- café feel with artworks and good coffee that attracts artists and students. On weekends, the crowd gets dancing until late with jazz seguing into electronica or classic club hits.
reviewed
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Onkel Og Vennene
At 1st floor level it’s a popular place for an evening beer or snack. It has great harbour views, whether inside or from the small veranda, where smokers can puff away. There’s free internet for guests.
reviewed
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Lille Løvenvold
Here’s a Jekyll and Hyde of a place. By day an intimate place for a coffee in relaxing surroundings, it morphs each evening into a bar where canned rock is the accompaniment to your beer. Also has free wi-fi.
reviewed
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Legal
One of the best student bars in Bergen, this laid-back place does retro décor and music that could be rock, but is more likely to be electronica or soft funk. Upstairs is a fine place to keep the night moving.
reviewed
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Bergen Kino
First-run movies are shown in their original languages at this multiscreen complex. It’s also the base for the Bergen International Film Festival in October.
reviewed
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To Glass Vinbar
If you’re keen not to move too far from the centre, this trendy wine bar, next to the funicular station, gets a classier crowd than most bars on this street.
reviewed
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Bergen Folklore
A group performs traditional one-hour music and dance routines in the atmospheric Schøtstuene. Tickets are available from the tourist office or at the door.
reviewed
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Jacobs Café
Jacobs is a nice café with a beer garden and it draws a predominantly local crowd. There’s occasionally live music in the evenings on weekends.
reviewed
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Kontoret
‘The Office’, headquarters of the Ålesund chapter of Liverpool supporters club, packs ’em in with its hearty pub atmosphere.
reviewed
