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Alex Sushi
With a discreet storefront, small dining room with minimal furnishings and a quiet atmosphere, Alex Sushi’s demure ambiance belies the restaurant’s stratospheric reputation. After the three-Michelin-stared Maaemo, Alex Sushi is often named Oslo’s best restaurant—but it comes with a price tag. The sophisticated interior features a boat-shaped sushi bar and just two small tables, where patrons can either order à la carte, or opt for the splurge-worthy omakase menu. The cuisine is simple—think spicy salmon and tuna rolls—but it is of the highest quality. The tempura salad starter—a toppling concoction with asparagus, radishes, cucumber, seaweed salad, spicy shrimp and several sauces—is one of the most popular dishes. There is a second outpost in the trendy Tjuvholmen neighborhood, but the original location is the place to go for the real experience.
Anno
Åpent Bakeri
An Oslo institution, this local chain has its most charming (albeit slightly off-the-beaten-path) outpost on a small street behind the Royal Palace. Mornings here are filled with locals stocking up on mueslibrød (a loaf studded with apples, raisins, sunflower seeds and more), students fueling up before class and neighborhood families enjoy the freshly baked goods on the al fresco patio. Don’t miss the rundstykke, a huge savory baked good that goes best with a heavy helping of jam from the help-yourself bar.
Apotekergata No. 5
Bula Bistro
Colonialen Litteraturhuset
Cornelius Seafood Restaurant
Credo
Engebret Café
Since opening in 1857, Engebret Café has been a gathering place for creatives including Henrik Ibsen and Edvard Munch. The iconic restaurant is located in a two-story building on a bucolic square near the entrance to the Akershus Fortress. The classic but entirely unstuffy establishment has a lovely terrace, but the dining rooms, each of which is individually appointed, are so beautiful that it’s worth eating inside to soak up the Old World atmosphere. Featuring dark wood furnishings, hunter green walls and intricate molding, Engebret is a favorite for Norwegian classics like reindeer with celeriac puree, fresh vegetables and a game sauce with berries, or a warm bowl of creamy fish and seafood soup.
Fagn
Festningen Restaurant
Boasting the best views of any restaurant in Oslo, Festningen is perched on the old ramparts of the Akershus Fortress and offers stunning views of Aker Brygge, the harbor and the Oslo fjords. A crowd of beautiful locals arrives in late afternoon for the extensive raw bar and rosé, when the setting sun projects a dazzling array of colors onto the waterfront (note, however, that cruise ships occasionally park in front of the fortress and can mar the views). The contemporary brasserie implements seasonal ingredients from all around Norway in its dishes, which might include asparagus with ramson mayonnaise, grilled pollock from Norway’s Møre coast and the Festningens cheeseburger (which comes in a miniaturized size for children).
Fuglen Café
There are few spots in the world that are as buzzing at 7am as they are at 1am, but Fuglen Café keeps patrons fueled around the clock with some of the city’s best coffee in the morning and expertly crafted cocktails in the evening. Meaning ‘the bird’ and opened in 1963, Fuglen is one of Norway’s most unique concept restaurants, but it also offers a slice of what Norwegian life was like in the 1950s-60s: the entire store is furnished with antique Scandinavian pieces, all of which are available for sale. Cocktail aficionados can enroll in one of their bartending classes.
Hallaisen Ice Cream Parlor & Cocktail Bar
Hanami
Oslo locals often debate whether Alex Sushi or Hanami serves better Japanese cuisine, but the thing to consider when picking between the two is whether you would like a simple culinary experience or a hip, stylish scene. Hanami provides the latter, with a sleek waterfront location in the trendy Tjuvholmen area, modern interior décor and a scene that includes some of Oslo’s most beautiful citizens lazily sipping wine on the alfresco terrace (the best spot to dine). Billed as a modern Japanese restaurant, Hanami offers the standard menu one might expect at a Nobu (with such items as miso black cod, et al.) alongside a series of more elevated choices including roasted sweet potatoes with yuzu-tofu dressing and lobster with sea urchin and foie gras butter. The safest bet is to ask your waiter to take the reins—while it is not listed, the tasting menu is the way to go at Hanami.
HIMKOK
Illegal Burger
Opened in 2010 with the hopes of serving Oslo’s best burger, this fast-casual spot has had much success and now has several locations. The most convenient location for visitors is the outpost set on the main street in Grünerløkka, which features retro, cafeteria-style booth seating and an open kitchen. The lengthy menu boasts many varieties of burgers (all of which can be made with veggie, fish or beef patties) with statement-making names like the Hot Mama Deluxe, which comes topped with bacon, cheddar, BBQ sauce, guacamole and jalapenos. And while it is not on the menu, the foie gras burger is worth asking for.
Java Espresso Bar
Adored by locals, Java Espresso Bar is the perfect spot to grab a quick coffee or breakfast while meandering around the St. Hanshaugen neighborhood. Go for a latte and classic Norwegian breakfast of brown cheese on toast and relax like a local in the quiet café with light green–tiled walls.
Kontrast
One of just three Michelin-starred restaurants in Oslo, Kontrast was awarded a star in 2016, only a year after moving locations to the up-and-coming Vulcan neighborhood. Helmed by Swedish chef Mikael Svensson, Kontrast is an epicurean delight with a seasonal menu that might include grilled white asparagus glazed in juniper vinaigrette and King Crab from Finnmark with beer and flowering dill (most products are sourced from Norway). The cuisine can be enjoyed à la carte or as part of a six- or ten-course tasting menu, and is served in the sleek, minimalist dining room, featuring a concrete floor, exposed pipes and an open kitchen.
Le Benjamin
A perfect Parisian bistro in Oslo’s Grünerløkka neighborhood, Le Benjamin is the type of neighborhood spot worth visiting when you’ve tired of Norwegian cuisine. The atmospheric dining room, featuring a dark wood bar, lots of tables à duex and wine bottle–lined walls, invites patrons to relax and unwind with French classics like onion soup, tarte flambée and entrecôte steak.
Lysverket
Maaemo
Oslo’s most lauded restaurant, Maaemo is one of only two three-Michelin-starred restaurants in the Nordic countries (along with Copenhagen’s Geranuim), and an absolute must-visit for foodies. The tasting menu–only restaurant is a study in minimalism, with stark white walls, floor-to-ceiling glass windows, pastel ceramic plates and dishes that are simple, but innovative: think grilled spring onions served with a warm cream of pullet eggs or langoustines sautéed in pine butter and brushed with rapeseed oil. Of course, nearly all the produce is sourced from Norway, and all the ingredients are either organic, biodynamic or wild. Reservations should be made months ahead of time.
Mathallen
Modeled after great European food markets, Olso’s Mathallen opened in 2012 in the up-and-coming Vulkan, a small enclave that was built up in the mid-2010s along the Akerselva river and today is home to a few hotels and restaurants. But the development’s most enticing tenant is Mathallen, a soaring, two-story food hall with vendors hawking gourmet treats from small-scale Norwegian producers, casual restaurants serving everything from Spanish tapas to crêpes and a cooking school on the upper level. Visitors shopping in the nearby Grunneløkka should stop in for some culinary souvenirs or a meal at Hitchhiker (Vulkan 5; 47-954-51-466), the second-floor restaurant with a themed menu (Asian fusion, Jamaican) that changes weekly.
Mesh Food & Drink Bar
Part of Mesh, a members-only society that calls itself The Nordic Creaters’ Community, this café is the perfect spot to grab a bite or coffee—and observe the city’s hipster set. The café, which opened in 2015 and welcomes non members, is located in a two-story atrium that features a retractable roof (always open in nice weather), living wall in the shape of the letter M, industrial hanging lights and ample seating, which is often filled with chic locals, who make use of the free WiFi and abundant outlets. The small café sells a plethora of coffee drinks alongside freshly baked pastries, prepared sandwiches (think coppa ham and pesto on ciabatta), entrées like a chicken confit salad and an arctic char dish with bulger and capers, as well as cocktails in the evening.
MILK Bar & Lounge
Molo Brew
Olivia Tjuvholmen
The Norwegian capital is a culinary melting pot, and pizza is one of the most popular international dishes. Just down the street from the Thief Hotel, this outpost of the popular Olivia chain boasts al fresco seating that overlooks a charming canal. The spacious, relaxed dining room is perfect for families or weary travelers looking for an easy night out. The large menu offers something for everyone, with sections devoted to antipasti, pasta and risotto, grilled meats and pizza. There is an additional location a few blocks away in Aker Brygge, but this Tjuvholmen outpost is much more idyllic.
Oslo Street Food