Bergen Restaurants

"Bergen is the city with the ocean and sea completely in its stomach," someone once said. Bergensers love their seafood dishes: Fiskepudding (fish pudding), fiskekaker (fish cakes), fiskeboller (fish balls), and Bergensk fiskesuppe (Bergen fish soup)—delicious renditions of such classic dishes show up on local menus with great regularity.

Any Bergen dining experience should start at Fisketorget, the fish market. Rain or shine, fresh catches go on sale here in shiny, stainless-steel stalls. The fishmongers dole out shrimp, salmon, monkfish, and friendly advice. Usually, they have steamed reker (shrimp), or smoked laks (salmon), served on a baguette with mayonnaise and cucumber—a perfect quick lunch. As for desserts, skillingsbolle, a big cinnamon roll, or sommerbolle, the same with a custard center, are both popular. Lefse is a round flat cake of oatmeal or barley that has a sugar or cream filling. Like other major Norwegian cities, Bergen has international cuisines from Tex-Mex, tapas, and Mediterranean to Japanese sushi restaurants. Some Oslo celebrity chefs—for example Blgen & Moi—have also opened restaurants here.

As for desserts, skillingsbolle, a big cinnamon roll that often has a custard center, is popular. Lefse is a round flat cake made from oatmeal or barley that has a sugar or cream filling. As in other major Norwegian cities, Bergen's local chefs have introduced the town to international cuisine through crossover dishes. The popularity of Tex-Mex, tapas, Mediterranean dishes, sushi, and cafés are all signs of a changing Bergen restaurant scene.

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