9 Best Restaurants in Oslo, Norway

L'Ardoise

$$$$ | St. Hans Haugen Fodor's choice
This superb neighborhood brasserie was created by a French pastry chef who's become as revered for his easygoing lunches and elegant dinners as his impressive mille-feuille. The head waiter knows fine wines and pairings extremely well, and the service is warmly attentive. A seasonally changing menu doesn't stick to the French script, often featuring Norwegian delicacies.

Á L'aise

$$$$ | Frogner
This is the restaurant to visit on a dark, starry night when you need warming up with a candlelit dining room, five-star service, and fine French cuisine. Draped with heavy curtains, elegant linens, and buttery soft seating, it's a very fancy affair. It's famed for the confit du canard, prepared table-side with the utmost finesse. A passionate sommelier guides you through the Champagne region and beyond, while foie gras and oysters with gold caviar highlight this rich and decadent experience.
Dinner French $$$$
Essendrops gt. 6, Oslo, Oslo, 0368, Norway
21–05–57–00
www.alaise.no
Known For
  • resplendent sparkling wine trolley
  • meals finished with a flourish
  • vast cheese selection
Restaurants Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Mon.

Feinschmecker

$$$$ | Frogner
The name is German, but the food at this warm and stylish eatery spans the globe. Owners Lars Erik Underthun, one of Oslo’s foremost chefs, and Bengt Wilson, a leading food stylist, make sure each dish looks as good as it tastes. Feinschmecker is a haven for seafood lovers—especially those looking for something a little more interesting, like trout tartare—with three-course menus that change according to the season.
Dinner Fusion Prix-Fixe $$$$
Balchens gt. 5, Oslo, Oslo, 0265, Norway
22–12–93–80
www.feinschmecker.no
Known For
  • if you like the food you can buy the cookbook
  • particularly interesting wine list
  • elegant dining room
Restaurants Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun.

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Finstua

$$$$ | Holmenkollen

Above the Holmenkollen ski jump, Finstua is a great spot to take in sweeping mountain views. With chefs well versed in traditional Norwegian fare, this rustic and elegant spot serves salted and smoked fish, game, and more. Downstairs is the more casual Kafe Seterstua.

Norwegian Lunch Dinner $$$$
Holmenkollvn. 200, Oslo, Oslo, 0791, Norway
22–92–40–40
www.frognerseteren.no
Known For
  • luxurious dining room
  • views from every table
  • legendary apple cake
Restaurants Details
Rate Includes: No lunch weekdays July and Aug.

Kafe Villa Grand

$$$$ | Bygdøy

Hiking aficionados, history lovers, and garden fanatics rub elbows at this palatial villa for simple, traditional meals by day (think open-faced sandwiches) and more filling fare by night (whole grilled fish is a favorite). The garden is very pleasant on a warm day.

Katla

$$$$ | Sentrum
An interesting and unusual restaurant, this eatery named for an Icelandic volcano blends Nordic, Asian, Latin American, and other cuisines. The cooking is done over gas grills or—a nod to the name—on hot lava stones. Watch chefs from around the world battle it out in the open kitchen where they prepare anything from shawarma to takoyaki. The eight-course tasting menu is available exclusively in the restaurant, with à la carte options at the bar.
Dinner Eclectic $$$$
Universitetsgata 12, Oslo, Oslo, 0164, Norway
22–69–50–00
www.katlaoslo.no
Known For
  • small dishes perfect for sharing
  • seafood is always the standout
  • always busy, so book ahead
Restaurants Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Mon. No lunch weekdays

Kontrast

$$$$ | Grünerløkka
Swedish chef Mikael Svensson—recognized as one of the world's finest—is often spotted at this New Nordic restaurant offering two different tasting menus with excellent (and sommelier-curated) wine or juice pairings. Every dish stands up against the next, and all the ingredients are ethically sourced. The dining room is sleek and minimalist, with concrete floors, exposed ductwork, and a fascinating open kitchen.

Sentralen

$$$$ | Sentrum
This debonair dining room---a relatively new kid on the block---focuses on organic ingredients prepared with continental flair. Many dishes are presented in unusual new combinations, such as the whole-baked cauliflower in miso and red curry. The tasting menu is highly recommended, as the smaller dishes on the à la carte dinner menu seem inexpensive but can really add up. The lunch tasting menu is a great way to enjoy the same dishes with a more reasonable price tag.
Dinner Lunch Scandinavian Service $$$$
Upper Slottsgate 3, Oslo, Oslo, 0157, Norway
22–33–33–22
www.sentralenrestaurant.no
Known For
  • freshly baked croissants and great coffee in the attached café
  • the atmosphere is casual
  • the king crab is amazing
Restaurants Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun.

Statholdergaarden

$$$$ | Kvadraturen
More than 400 years old, the elegant rococo dining room at Statholdergaarden is one of the oldest and most impressive in Norway. Award-winning celebrity chef Bent Stiansen’s Asian-inspired French dishes have long been popular with locals. The six-course tasting menu changes daily, but often includes duck in a lightly smoked apple consomme. You'll also be treated to seafood sourced from around the country.