5 Best Restaurants in Central Norway, Norway

Traditional dishes such as reindeer and moose from local hunters and mountain trout from a nearby lake are among the signature dishes at the renowned Bessheim Restaurant. The restaurant is light and airy, adding to the relaxed atmosphere. An à la carte menu is offered during the day, while in the evening it serves a three-course dinner.

Considered by locals to be one of Lillehammer’s best restaurants, Hvelvet---Norwegian for "The Vault"---offers fine wining and dining inside the former location of the Norwegian Bank. The interiors are decorated in a modern yet classic style with handsome wood floors and crisp white tablecloths. The service is attentive and friendly as they offer you the choice between à la carte options and three- and four-course menus.

Using local produce as much as possible in its carefully curated menu, the mountainside Spiseriet Rondane lets you choose among such local delicacies as mouthwatering reindeer fillet with a red wine glaze or crispy fried mountain trout with a horseradish–sour cream sauce. Whatever you do, don't miss the selection of award-winning Norwegian cheeses. Although the dining room has traditional decor, it's bright and spacious and has a relaxed ambience.

At the top of Ringebufjellet, this scenically situated hotel is well known for its restaurant, offering a wide selection of Norwegian specialties such as mountain trout and moose burgers. The Norwegian buffet, served every Wednesday, provides an amazing range of dishes found in the region. Take tiny portions, as there are so many delicious dishes to sample. Ask for a table by the window so you can soak in the view.

Located in a historic wooden building, this restaurant lets you choose between a more formal dining room, with elegant decor and crisp linens, in the main building and a casual pub in the old servants´ quarters and coach house. The Vertshuset, to the left as you enter from the street, offers a four-course set menu focusing on local fish and game and à la carte, while the pub to the right has an array of burgers and Norwegian cured meat and cheeses.