15 Best Restaurants in Trondheim to the Lofoten Islands, Norway

Ask for a window seat at this centrally located eatery---you'll marvel at the fantastic views over the harbor and the mountains beyond. The restaurant's Scandinavian design is worked into both the decor and the aesthetically pleasing way each dish is presented. The kitchen highlights the Vesterålen Islands' amazing fresh fish, although the menu includes everything from local lamb to vegetarian dishes that take full advantage of the freshest local produce.

For all the hyped natural wine bar-cum-bistros that now characterize casual-elegant, fun modern boozy dining in all major cities, there's one that sets the benchmark. In Trondheim (world-class chefs now flock/return to set up kitchens that feast on the land's fruits), Spontan is that one. Now in a much larger space, housing provocative art, open kitchen and visible wine cellar, this restaurant serves beguilingly fresh small plates that burst with color and character: char, scallop, chicken liver mousse, king crab.

Most dishes (note the cute, bric-a-brac pantry-like glass and earthenware) are served as melt-in-the-mouth bites, with radical accents and meticulously paired pours to compliment. Summer-in-a-bowl raspberries with milk ice cream and Comtè-filled petit-fours will leave you sounding off to fellow winer-diners around the world about this spontaneous find on a cobbled old street near the water.

A significant but worth it NKr 1,100 for the full tasting menu, NKr 875 for the generous wine pairing---with a smaller but just as robust and beautiful menu available for NKr 600/NKr 585 and bar snacks if you're just here for drinks.

If you're a meat lover, there's no place better to sample a perfectly grilled steak in Trondheim. The three-course tasting menus let you start with inventive seafood dishes (smoked halibut tartare, perhaps, or black pepper crab) before moving onto the main event. Vegetarians can choose among a variety of expertly prepared side dishes. With long banquettes lining the wall, the interior has an old New York vibe.

If you're feeling competitive, this American-style steak house hosts a steak-eating contest featuring a 45-ounce cut. It specializes in beef but has an extensive menu with something to appeal to everyone, even vegetarians. The atmosphere is relaxed and laid-back, perfect for groups of all sizes. The eatery is in the center of Harstad, meaning it's probably a short walk from your hotel.

One of the most sustainable restaurants in Scandinavia, indeed in the world, with its no-waste policy and creative fervor. Credo serves Noma-level brilliance in its glass and iron structured dining room, on ceramics and with glassware from Røros studio Wathne. The Michelin-starred menu is super pricey, great for a one-off special occasion.

One of the most famous restaurants in Trondheim, Fagn has won international awards for its inventive cuisine that harks back to the dishes that many Norwegians ate during their childhoods, then takes them in new and unexpected directions. No need to decide among the many interesting flavor combinations: you'll have a front-row seat as the chefs in the open kitchen prepare 10- or 20-course tasting menus. No one will rush you through your meal---in fact, they urge you to spend the whole evening in the ground-floor dining room. There's also a more casual bistro on the second floor, also offering multicourse curated menus.

This restaurant in one of the region's most beautiful villages takes you back in time and serves superb local dishes. From the cozy and rustic dining room you have views of the ocean and mountains beyond. The building itself dates back to the 1700s and has a warm fireplace for cold, wintery days.

An award-winning eatery in the heart of Bodø, LystPå takes pride in presenting beautifully prepared dishes in an atmosphere that feels anything but pretentious. The signature dish is stockfish, but the wide-ranging menu features everything from scallops to monkfish. They are renowned for having one of Norway's best wine lists, and the staff is extremely knowledgeable about pairings. There is a large terrace out front, and cooking classes if you want to eat this food for the rest of your life.

Special in-house all-day dining at a high level, and attached to a known guesthouse on the island Manhausen, you can expect copious shellfish, lamb, reindeer, and moose. It's a 1½-hour express ferry ride from Bodø. If you're taking the trip out here for lunch or dinner, take the full menu and enjoy the stunning display of the landscape around you, and on your plate.

The menu at this eatery focuses on the flavors of the Lofoten Islands, which, of course, means lots of seafood, wild game, and local meats and cheeses. The staff is laid-back, encouraging you to relax and enjoy the view of the harbor. When the weather warms up, the outdoor terrace opens and there are barbecues right on the wharf.

The decor of this extremely popular restaurant is minimalist, allowing the impressive dishes to take center stage. To add to the drama of the restaurant, the chef cooks and plates the food in full view of patrons, making for an interesting dining experience. The food itself is locally sourced and highlights the best of northern Norway's finest ingredients, from the sea to the land. The menu rotates with the seasons, but usually includes reindeer prepared in various ways.