7 Best Restaurants in Oslo, Norway

Kolonihagen Frogner

$$$ | Frogner Fodor's choice
With a resident chef who authored an exquisitely illustrated book on foraging, this leafy courtyard restaurant offers an ever-changing menu of unpretentious comfort food with a Nordic twist. It also has plenty of indoor seating for cozy evenings dining by candlelight. The staff knows the menu inside out, and the owners are often on hand to explain the hearty roster of meat, fish, and vegetarian options.

Amazonia by BAR

$$ | Tjuvholmen

Previously known under a different name, this Latin-American flavored waterfront restaurant comes alive on the weekend, when fashion-conscious locals compete for the best seats on the terrace. The hip dining room with long wooden tables emphasizing that meals here are a communal experience is almost as popular. The Cuban bands that perform on weekends make sure that brunch is always packed. If you can't snag a table, wait at the leather-fronted bar with a strong and sweet signature martini. Choose a selection of seafood dishes to share with your posse.

Atlas Brasserie

$$ | Sentrum

In the former headquarters of the Norwegian America cruise line, this well-heeled eatery capitalizes on a New York–meets–Oslo vibe. Stop by for an excellent cup of coffee in the plant-filled courtyard, or head to the all-day brasserie for the dazzling seafood platter or steak big enough to share with several friends. The ambience is lively and bustling, particularly during the jazz brunch Sunday. If you can't get enough of the music, there's a jazz club in the basement that attracts music lovers.

Recommended Fodor's Video

Bølgen & Moi Gimle

$$$ | Frogner

Restaurateurs Toralf Bølgen and Trond Moi have a winner in this minimalist restaurant. If you're tired of eating breakfast in your hotel, rise and shine here instead. Well-known Norwegian artists such as photographer Knut Bry showcase their work in the restaurant's bar, brasserie, and formal dining room. Try the oversize Thorenfeldt burger, or the three-course set menu, which changes daily. Most dishes are cooked in the wood-burning oven in the corner.

Kulturhuset

$ | Sentrum
Priding itself on a casual "breakfast, brunch, lunch, and munch" menu, the restaurant at this cultural institution always seems to have a crowd. There's a fantastic array of delicious dishes that provide sustenance for the events that take place here day and night. The colorful rice bowls are filled with many healthy ingredients (for example, poké with pickled cauliflower and toasted sesame seeds) and some a little less healthy (fried chicken with crispy cabbage and pickled mushrooms).

Palmen Restaurant

$$$ | Sentrum

The Grand Cafe gets all the attention, but the Grand Hotel's more casual—but still quite beautiful—lobby restaurant is what Bohemian dreams are made of, with marble, gold, crystal, and velvet adding a luxurious touch. Underneath a spectacular glass ceiling, the dining room is a place where locals come to see and be seen. Steaks are among the favorites here, served with béarnaise sauce and platters of fries.

Bistro Brunch Dinner Lunch $$$
Karl Johans gt. 31, Oslo, Oslo, 0159, Norway
23–21–20–00
www.grand.no
Known For
  • afternoon tea is a tradition here
  • dry martinis at the bar
  • a more relaxed affair

Vippa

$$ | Sentrum

The name refers to its location at the tip of the Vippetangen, the peninsula that juts out into Oslofjord. This lively art, culture, and education center is also a destination for food lovers who want to sample dishes as diverse as poké bowls and halloumi wraps. Local brewers and distillers also showcase their delights. The place gets especially busy on Thursday, when the crowd competes in a pop quiz.