Entertainment in Norway
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Verdensteatret
Norway’s oldest film house will satisfy both cinephiles and thirsters after great cafés. The bar is a hip place with free wi-fi, occasional live music and weekend DJs. At other times, the barperson spins from its huge collection of vinyl records, so expect anything from classical to deepest underground. Peek into the magnificent cinema, its walls painted roof to ceiling with early 20th-century murals. It shows art house and independent films on an ad hoc basis.
reviewed
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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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Agder Theater
One of the more unusual cultural experiences in Grimstad is run by Kristiansand-based Agder Theater, which performs in an old quarry up to six days a week in summer. After a hiatus in 2007 the troupe was due to return to performing in 2008; the tourist office has a programme of upcoming performances. The quarry, 4km north of town, became infamous during WWII when red granite blocks for Hitler’s ‘Victory Monument’ were taken from here; the monument was, of course, never built.
reviewed
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Lille Torget
With its pub interior (admire the gorgeous Art Nouveau maiden bearing a lamp at her heart) and a terrace giving onto the main square, this one-time bank, then clothing store, now pub has seen lots of action over the years. You’re guaranteed an excellent brew; one of its staff reached the 2007 finals of Norway’s annual coffee-making championship (this said, the early shift staff were languid to the point of inertia the last time we blew the froth off a cappuccino here).
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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Rick’s Café
The original Rick’s burnt down (at least one major conflagration over the years is almost a rite of passage in Norway) and this slick reconstruction is all edgy stainless steel on the ground floor while upstairs, more for quiet cocktails and lingering wines, it has sink-down-deep leatherette sofas and armchairs. The weekend nightclub in the basement has two zones – one for rock, the other playing house.
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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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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Den Norske Opera
Den Norske Opera is Oslo’s opera company and stages opera, ballet and classical concerts every month, except for July. It performs in the city’s new Opera House at Bjørvika, complete with humidified air for resonance and screens with subtitles in eight different languages on the back of each seat. More casual concerts in the public roof garden are also planned.
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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Macbeth
Homesick Scots will feel at home, Geordies with nostalgia can weep into their draught Newcastle Brown, and the rest of us can watch big-screen football or car racing (don’t get yourself into the corner where the committed race-goers sit, though, or you’ll be persona-really-non-grata). Absolutely everyone can enjoy a dram or two of its more than a dozen single malt whiskies…
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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Dokkhuset
In an artistically converted former pumping station (look through the glass beneath your feet at the old engines), the Dock House is at once an auditorium (where if it’s the right night you’ll hear experimental jazz or chamber music), restaurant and café-bar. Sip a drink on the jetty or survey the Trondheim scene from its roof terrace.
reviewed
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Abboteke
At this retro cocktail bar (the music’s bebop, big band or bland Ray Connif), upstairs from Le Mirage, the barman shakes a selection of award-winning cocktails. Behind him shimmer over 40 brands of single malt whisky and an equally impressive range of rums and brandies. There’s also a reputable restaurant open for dinner Monday to Saturday.
reviewed
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Kaos
A cool basement hangout with low beams and bare brick walls, Kaos engages arthouse and underground DJs (Friday and Saturday) and bands (up to three times weekly). Carrying UK and Norwegian football, it also has a faithful following of armchair sporting regulars. Capacity is 90, squeezed close, so show up early for big games and band 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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Blå
It would be a pity to leave Oslo without checking out Blå, which features on a global list of 100 great jazz clubs compiled by the savvy editors at the US jazz magazine Down Beat. As one editor put it, ‘to get in this list means that it’s quite the club’.
reviewed
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Trondheim Microbryggeri
This splendid home-brew pub deserves a pilgrimage as reverential as anything accorded to St Olav from all committed øl (beer) quaffers. With up to eight of its own brews on tap and good light meals (around Nkr150) coming from the kitchen, it’s a place to linger, nibble and tipple.
reviewed
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As Norsk Jernverk
As Norsk Jernverk carries, not without irony, the name of Mo’s long defunct steel-works. On the same premises as Big Horn Steakhouse, its narrow door is easy to miss. Not so for locals in the know, who congregate here to drink, chat and, if the mood takes them, dance.
reviewed
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Olympen
A freakish, century-old workers' beer hall, populated by students, artists and drunks, featuring awesomely cheesy cover bands (Bob Jovi) and cheap beer (around NOK33) in a cavernous space full of elaborate wooden booths and huge oil paintings of faded, unrecognisable cityscapes.
reviewed
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Spasibar
West of the centre, the Russian, cowboy-themed and just plain bizarre Spasibar has live music, food, beer, art and a garden overlooking the Slottsparken. To get there go through the Kunstacademe on Wergelandsveien and go towards the back of the yellow building.
reviewed