49 Best Restaurants in Norway

Bjørk

$$$ Fodor's choice

This chic, modern café-restaurant is popular for its sunny terrace and straightforward food that always hits the mark—think juicy marinated jumbo shrimp, lobster soup, and a large selection of pizzas served hot from a wood-fired oven. It's an equally good stop for lunch, dinner, or an afternoon coffee with a delicious dessert.

Hildurs Urterarium

$$ Fodor's choice

You'll feel right at home in this lovely restaurant in an elegant 200-year-old log farmhouse three miles from Brønnøysund, and its equally beautiful garden. Along with the wood-paneled, tapestry covered dining room, the Angel Lounge's cozy chairs are perfect for enjoying coffee and dessert, and the Aquavit Bar invites you to sip a glass of wine at your leisure. Traditional gourmet fare is lovingly prepared with herbs and produce from a charming kitchen garden, which you are encouraged to enjoy while touring the beautifully landscaped grounds. In summer (mid-June to mid-August) you can enjoy lunch or teatime in the garden café. The restaurant encourages diners to call ahead with any special dietary requests and is especially welcoming to children.

Honni Bakes

$ Fodor's choice
One of the top spots for coffee in Honningsvåg, this French-inspired bakery is known far and wide for its freshly baked pastries. Honni Bakes is located very close to the harbor, making it a good place to stock up on supplies. It also stocks an array of gourmet goods, so you can take home everything from locally caught crab to bags of coffee.
Storgata 1B, Honningsvåg, Finnmark Fylke, 9750, Norway
Known For
  • French-style baking
  • excellent pastries
  • mouthwatering cakes
Restaurants Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun.

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Indian Tandoori

$$$ Fodor's choice

A Trondheim institution and award-winning gastronomic dining room near the water, where you'll find all the best organic produce from farms around Trondelag in traditional Indian dishes, from tandoori to masalas to biryanis and dopiazas. As a nod to Northern Norway and Sámi culture, there's the notorious jahangiri with Røros reindeer.

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.

Lille Herbern

$$ | Bygdøy Fodor's choice
Family-run since 1929, this eatery sits on a tiny island of its own just off the Bygdøy Peninsula and is reached by boat. The prime seating is on the breezy terrace, which is shaded from the summer sun by oversized umbrellas and heated to keep out the chill the rest of the year. The prices are reasonable considering the fact that you're getting superbly fresh seafood topped with buttery sauces or creamy aioli (as well as sourdough bread for sopping up what's left over). Other dishes range from the grilled portobello burger with pineapple glaze to the garlicky clams served over tagliatelle.

Arctic Sans

$$$$
Close to the harbor in Honnigsvåg, this innovative eatery serves dishes that blend Norwegian recipes with Asian touches. The menu changes frequently, with weekly specials highlighting seasonal produce. Order at your food and drinks at the bar and the accommodating staff will make sure it's delivered to your table. They'll also cater to any special dietary needs.
Storgata 22, Honningsvåg, Finnmark Fylke, 9750, Norway
952--28--821
Known For
  • local king crab
  • fried cod tongues
  • rotating menu highlighting seasonal ingredients

Bryggerikaia

$$$

A spacious outdoor terrace and seafront location with unparalleled views over the harbor and distant mountains assure Bryggerikaia a steady clientele. But it's the menu of fresh seafood—local mussels, shrimp, and salmon, for starters—and market-fresh produce, as well as hearty meat dishes, that keep diners coming back. There's live entertainment in the bar on weekends.

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.

Den Glade Kalori

$

At "the happy calorie," you'll find a luscious selection of cakes, tarts, cookies, ice cream, freshly baked bread, and other treats along with a nice hot cup of coffee. There's also a tempting array of savory sandwiches to pack up for an excursion or a picnic on the beach.

Egon Ålesund

$$

The atmosphere is casual and relaxed, and perhaps a little loud at peak hours, but you won't find a better spot for a quick meal. There are wood beams, exposed brick walls, and cozy booths with rough-hewn furnishings. The food is family friendly, including generous salads and sandwiches and pizzas.

Løvenvoldgt. 8, Ålesund, Møre og Romsdal, 6002, Norway
70--15--78--15
Known For
  • ordering at the bar
  • great selection of starters
  • several vegetarian options

Fjell og Fjord Kafè

$

Centrally located in Eidfjord, this charming café with a handful of tables outside bakes some of the best pastries around---make sure to to get some cinnamon rolls to take along on your adventures. This is the perfect place for a light lunch—with the best local produce—a filling snack, or a great cup of coffee.

Fjellstua

$$$$

This mountaintop restaurant covered with a dramatic glass canopy has tremendous views over the surrounding peaks, islands, and fjords. It serves a mix of national and international dishes, and on the menu might be Norwegian salt cod or baked salmon. A wraparound terrace opens when the weather allows, and it's a popular spot for lunch after climbing the steps to the Kniven scenic overlook.

Flåm Bakeri

$
This bakery serves up some of the best cinnamon rolls you have ever tasted, and of course the famous Norwegian skolebolle (buns with custard and coconut). In the summer, they move the chairs and tables outside so you can enjoy the sunshine. In cooler weather the space is limited, so you might want to take your treats with you.

Fru Hagen

$$ | Grünerløkka

The glittering chandeliers and velvet sofas here make it look like a vintage neighborhood hangout. Locals gather here for fresh, well-executed comfort food—especially the spicy chicken salad, a house specialty. On weekends Fru Hagen lets its hair down, becoming a bar that's open until the wee hours.

Fruene

$

Called the "northernmost chocolate factory of the world," this café offers unusual handmade chocolates shaped like snowballs, ice crystals, and polar bears that you can take home (or, more likely, eat right away). It’s a family-run business that focuses on creating a welcoming atmosphere for locals and visitors alike, which is why it draws in the crowd for its lunchtime soups and salads.

Furukroa Kafé

$$
Occupying a traditional Nordic structure, this casual eatery is the kind of place where families head to the picnic tables on the terrace in warmer months and booths in the homey interior when it's cooler. It serves a variety of dishes, most of which are pictured on the wall. The location puts you close to the cruise port.

Glacier Restaurant

$$
In the center of Odda, the Glacier Restaurant couldn't be more relaxed: there are picnic tables outside, a casual eatery on the main level, and a slightly more formal dining room downstairs. With Asian, European, and even Middle Eastern dishes on the menu, everyone in the family will find something they like.

Il Forno

$$

Italy meets Norway at this cozy dockside eatery, a standout among the other casual restaurants on this popular restaurant row, specializing in a large selection of fresh pasta (many dishes capitalize on the local seafood), crostini, and a superb oven-fired pizza. The restaurant takes reservations, but walk-ins are welcome and food can be taken out. There's also a cozy bar area for drinks and a snack.

Indian Curry & Nepali Restaurant

$

Nice departure from the seafood and dairy overload of other local restaurants. An extensive menu of Indian and Nepalese curries---plus Himalayan momo dumplings and lighter soups, fresh lassis, desserts, and snacks. Super affordable dinner and mammoth-size meal deals with various curries, rice, and fresh naan are available. Longtime dining spot loved by locals and travelers alike, headed by the cheery and talented Nabin Kumar Thakur.

Kai & Mattis Café

$$
The first thing that catches your eye in Kai & Mattis Café is the bright red interior, the opposite of sedate Scandinavian design. The second thing most likely will be the sweet scent of delicious cakes. Enjoy a cup of coffee or a glass of Champagne, preferably accompanied with one of the mouthwatering desserts.

Konoji

$$ | Sentrum

Not far out of Sentrum in the tiny Sofienberg district is this riveting sake bar and izakaya from those behind the original Izakaya. Slip through the doors into moody lighting and real Tokyo backstreet feels. Great records being spun, friendly staff, excellent sake imports and affordable Japanese fare. No website, classic vibes.

Lobbybar

$$$ | Sentrum

Despite being located on the ground floor of a chain hotel, this unexpectedly creative bistro satisfies hungry foodies with its incredible fjord-, farm-, and forest-inspired smorgasbord of dishes ranging from pine-smoked scallops to venison with sweet sausage. "Boards from the Fjords" is what it calls its small plates combining several different dishes meant to share. There are plenty of local cheeses, craft beers, and other happy-making fare.

Holbergsplass 30, Oslo, Oslo, 0166, Norway
23–29–34–25
Known For
  • warm welcome from the staff
  • well-traveled wine list
  • casual dining room
Restaurants Details
Rate Includes: No dinner Sun.

Løvolds Kafeteria

$$

If you want to eat like a local, this bustling cafeteria is the place to be. Having had plenty of time to perfect its craft, Løvolds has been serving generous helpings of homemade Norwegian food for more than 75 years. Some of the more popular choices include reindeer cutlets with pureed veggies, smoked sausage with red cabbage, and salmon and cucumber salad.

Mamma Pizza

$$ | Sentrum
Featuring famous sourdough pizzas, this tiny osteria has the traditional checkered tablecloths and striped awning that call to mind the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy. Serving the city's most authentic pie—head and shoulders above its overpriced competitors—the eatery takes things one step further with refreshing yet strong cocktails or classic aperitifs served while you wait.

Mathallen

$$ | Sentrum
This indoor market is where everyday shoppers, famous chefs, and tourists come to browse the stalls of more than 30 different vendors selling everything from Portuguese desserts to Hungarian wines to Norwegian cheeses and jams. Drop by for a snack or a whole meal.

Moskusgrillen

$$

In the middle of Dombås, Moskusgrillen serves traditional Norwegian dishes ranging from potetball (potato dumplings often served with meat) to elgkarbonader (elk in a cream sauce). If you're looking for something more familiar for the kids, there are a dozen or more kinds of pizza that you can enjoy on the outside terrace. The atmosphere is casual and informal, making it perfect for a quick meal.

Mucho Mas

$$ | Grünerløkka
The name says it all: massive portions are the order of the day at this tiny taqueria, but a table may be hard to find because the place is so darn popular. Burritos, nachos, and quesadillas are served as spicy as you like in a dining room done up in cool pastel colors.
Thorvald Meyers gt. 36, Oslo, Oslo, 0555, Norway
22–37–16–09
Known For
  • wash everything down with a margarita
  • surprisingly authentic flavors
  • a few outdoor tables

Munchies

$ | Grünerløkka
This hipster hood’s premier burger joint offers 100% organic burgers, served with generous portions of fries and sweet potato fries. The plastic bottles of ketchup and mustard might say fast food, but the local and imported beers insist you slow things down.

Munkekroen

$$
At the Valdres Folk Museum, this restaurant uses fresh local ingredients in such dishes as reindeer, trout, and rakfisk (fish that has been salted and fermented for months). It has a modern Scandinavian feel thanks to the sleek furnishings and the wall of windows overlooking the fjord, but the wood beams and peaked ceiling evoke the more traditional structures nearby.