73 Best Nightlife in Norway

If you're more partial to lounging than drinking, Hotel Bristol's Library Bar and Winter Garden is a stylish hangout with old-fashioned leather armchairs, huge marble columns, and live piano music. Politicians, musicians, and journalists have come here for nearly 100 years for informal meetings, quiet chats, or just to enjoy the tempting afternoon tea.

Spanning two floors, this spacious establishment has a nook or cranny that will appeal to every type of customer. You can watch beer being brewed on the second floor, and even sample its four most popular. The bar also serves the most kinds of grappa in Norway---there are 250 currently available. There are sea views from the upper floor, making this the perfect place to watch the northern lights or the midnight sun.

Locals and visitors alike meet here for a pint of beer, occasional live music, and to watch soccer on TV. The laid-back atmosphere lets you relax after a long day outdoors, perhaps while enjoying a hearty burger or a brick-oven baked pizza of generous proportions. The place is open until 2 am—not that it will actually feel that late in the summer when the sun never sets. Cozy booths and killer cocktails---the list is long, inventive witty, and doesn't miss the classics.

Vines and other botanical wonders grow across the ceiling at this bar known for its creative cocktail selection. The nature-centric vibe is a welcome breath of fresh air as you step inside from one of the busiest downtown streets. The ingredients come from the bar's own greenhouse.

This Sentrale glitzy cocktail joint comes from those at The Thief---and despite its neon lights and prices, also has an inviting charm---and a Hidden Bar for those less showy.

For a quiet glass of wine in an intimate and historic setting, try award-winning Altona and its 400-year-old wine cellar. The vaulted ceilings and exposed brick add a lot of atmosphere. The food is good, too.

The name means "Second to the Right," and that's basically a roadmap to finding this bar up the stairs at Håndslag. It's a sumptuously decorated space, a self-confessed "mad house," designed like an elegant, living room fit for entertaining glamorous guests at all hours. Lavish seating and heavy curtains make for a wonderful setting to explore Burgundy and sparkling wines.

Surprisingly cozy yet lively, this bar has brightly colored walls, neon lights, and repurposed wood furniture, as well as a spacious backyard area for weekend parties. The quirky ambience and reliably good music mean there's a queue on weekends, so get here early if you're in the mood to party.

This pub and bar in the city center shows soccer matches and arranges concerts and events. 

This is one of the most happening clubs for jazz, electronica, hip-hop, and related sounds. The patio, along the Akerselva River, is popular in summer.

The city's largest selection of beers can be found at the Blå Rock Café, which has a popular jukebox, frequent live concerts, and DJs on weekends. It's also famous for its burgers.

At this café, and pub, there's funky artwork on the walls and a cozy garden in back, situated in the vibrant Fargegaten (Street of Colors). This pedestrian street with the official name Øvre Holmegate is the place to go for a coffee or a drink day and night. The street is one of the city's major attractions in general.

Diana Krall has played at this club, as have Angelique Kidjo, Cheb Khaled, Chick Corea, Bo Diddley, Mulatu Astatke, and many other beloved musicians. The calendar usually includes an eclectic mix of world music, jazz, and soul.