Sofienberg, Grønland & Tøyen
With some of the biggest names in wine involved in this casual Tøyen corner spot, you could easily call Brutus a wine bar and not be wrong. But that would…
Must-see restaurants in Norway
Bergen
Chef Christopher Haatuft is pioneering his own brand of Nordic cuisine at Lysverket, which he dubs 'neo-fjordic' – in other words, combining modern…
Oslo
One of Oslo's best dining experiences is also its most relaxed. A large dining room filled with old social-club chairs and painted in tones of deep,…
Longyearbyen
It's something of a walk up here but it's worth it. Dining in the bistro is casual, with well-priced dishes such as reindeer burgers or reindeer stew with…
Central Norway
This flashy establishment is the new home base for the town's top chef, Arne Brimi, and it's where everyone wants to eat when they pass through town. It's…
Stavanger
In a clapboard building off Steinkargata, this ramshackle, rough-and-ready eatery is small in size but strong on ambition: the food is modern, creative…
The Northern Fjords
This place is the model of what every small-town cafe should be like. Mix-and-match furniture, regular beer tastings and gigs, and a blackboard menu chock…
Bergen & the Southwestern Fjords
The Three Brothers is the heart of Voss's social scene, and rightly so – it's everything you want from a small-town cafe. There's super coffee from Oslo's…
Central Norway
This crimson-clad restaurant is just about as traditional as restaurants get in Norway, but it's been going strong for 25 years and seems as popular as…
Oslo
When a venture is led by the ex-Maaemo owner, you can guess the food will be extraordinary, and it is. The short menu is a mix of pan-European dishes done…
Austvågøy
This smart dockside restaurant – a favourite of the Norwegian royal family – is Henningsvær's culinary claim to fame. Try, in particular, the outstanding…
Lofoten
Part delicatessen and part waterside cafe, this fab place sells all sorts of stockfish snacks, Kong Oskar sardines and dishes such as uncommonly good fish…
Oslo
In what could be yet another Grünerløkka corner cafe, you'll find one of the city's best small-plate dining options, served beneath vintage seascapes on…
Lofoten
This glorious little cafe along the coast road is a treasure. A lovely wooden dining hall, terrific local cooking with an emphasis on home cooking (dishes…
Nordland
On a promontory overlooking the maelstrom, this warm and wonderful little cafe is gorgeous. Run by the same family since 1955, it does a simple menu that…
Central Norway
Lom's other culinary star is master baker Morten Schakenda, who makes all his breads using only natural ingredients and wood-fired ovens. You can buy…
The Western Fjords
One of the best addresses for fresh fish on the west coast. Scoff a plate of the freshest shrimps, split some crab or lobster claws, or tuck into a lavish…
Trondheim
Once in the heart of Trondheim, this historic (1739) tavern was lifted and transported, every last plank, to the Sverresborg Trøndelag Folkemuseum on the…
The Far North
The restaurant of the Sollia Gjestegård hotel is clad in wood and glass, and from its broad picture windows there's a grand panorama of the lake at its…
Longyearbyen
Opened in the winter of 2015, Gruvelageret occupies a stunningly converted wooden mining warehouse and serves up an exceptional set menu that begins with…
Trondheim
Relaxed, rustic-chic is the modus operandi at Folk & Fe. Lauded by the White Guide (Scandinavia's answer to the Michelin Guide), it's vintage New Nordic,…
Vesterålen
This is the best of Andenes' limited dining options. Ignore the casual cafe out the front – the restaurant proper serves Arctic specialities such as…
Tromsø
With its industrial styling, exposed pipes and open-fronted kitchen, this elegant restaurant wouldn't look out of place in Oslo or Stockholm. It serves…
Longyearbyen
A renovation of this former mining mess hall has transformed it into one of Longyearbyen's coolest venues. There's warming decor, fabulous charcoal…
Ålesund
In a nautical cellar space of the hip Hotel Brosundet, this first-rate seafooderie is Ålesund's most creative and interesting place for a fine-dining…
The Far North
It's reindeer or reindeer plus a couple of fish options at this summer-only rustic complex of four large interconnected Sami huts, run by the Scandic…
Arctic Highway
This excellent place near the northern end of Sjøgata serves up snacks such as scampi tempura, pizzas and more traditional mains – it does a great fish…
Lofoten
Under new management since 2015, this fabulous restaurant inhabits an 1882 building and Noemi and Mikael Björkman serve up a seasonal menu with the…
Bodø
High above the city on a 17th-floor perch in the Scandic Havet hotel, Roast is true to its name – you could play around with different tastes but you…
Lofoten
In a building that dates from 1844 and whose stone oven dates from the same year, this atmospheric bakery is the essence of Å. It turns out fresh bread…
Svolvær
Located at the Svinøya complex, this is one of the town's top tables. A former fish house, it still retains atmospheric beams and wooden floors in its…
Central Norway
The town's best food is served at the Vertshuset Inn, with a strong focus on local flavours: mountain trout, Arctic char, local beef, pork and a great…
Vesterålen
Sjøstua Restaurant, the home kitchen of Marit Asbjørnsen, serves a delightful range of à la carte dishes and is worth a visit in its own right. Intimate…
Bergen & the Southwestern Fjords
This fjordside diner is a real find, offering fresh, well-executed food in a light, bright space, filled with colourful furniture and an open-plan kitchen…
Tromsø
You'll find this popular coffee and lunch bar packed throughout most of the day: young trendies come in for their hand-brewed Chemex coffee, while local…
Lofoten
Ramberg Gjestegård's justifiably popular Arctic Menu restaurant does mainly fish dishes and, if you're lucky, its own splendid Flakstad Menu (cod, cured…
Western Finnmark
This quality restaurant within Thon Hotel Vica relies almost entirely upon local ingredients in the preparation of choice dishes such as reindeer steak,…
Arctic Highway
Ellenstuen, in Fru Haugans Hotel, is an intimate place that preserves many of the hotel's original fittings. It has a particularly creative menu (if you…
Longyearbyen
'The Missus' is a welcoming and popular cafe, serving decent coffee, baguettes, pizza, snacks and other light meals. There's free wi-fi, the walls are…
Nordland
This gem of a place is both grocery store and delicatessen selling locally produced food products (think cheeses, spices and craft beers), and a fine…
