11 Best Restaurants in Longyearbyen, Svalbard

Housed in a former dining hall for the town's coal mine managers, this high-end, modern restaurant marries international flavors with quality local ingredients; think king crab from the Barents Sea and chocolate desserts topped with the prized cloudberry. Dine à la carte or treat yourself to a set menu where the dishes go up a notch in composition and complexity.

Barentz Gastropub—which feels more like a French bistro than a pub—is located near the entrance to the Radisson Blu and welcomes patrons wearing even the most casual of clothing. The menu focuses on hearty pub food like burgers, wings, and what might very well be Longyearbyen’s best pizza. 

The star attraction at this café may be the two blue-eyed huskies that roam freely about the space, but Café Huskies isn't just a gimmick. The coffee, chai, and large tea selection are all decent, too. Order yourself a hot drink and, while you wait, pet the dogs (if they're willing, of course) and peruse the wall of quality local gifts. If the sun is out, take a seat on the deck where warm blankets are provided.

Known as "the northernmost chocolate factory in the world," Fruene sells its unique handmade chocolates—some shaped like polar bears and others inspired by the colors of the aurora—alongside more common café fare. There are cinnamon buns and hjertevaffle (heart-shaped waffles) lining the counter and a build-your-own sandwich bar to satisfy your lunchtime hunger. Linger a little longer and peruse the handmade soaps, or purchase some yarn, settle in, and knit a scarf over a coffee.

An homage to Spitsbergen's coal mining history, Gruvelageret ('the mining warehouse') is unapologetically rustic. Housed in an old mining store above Longyear Glacier and by the entrance of mine 1B, this set-menu restaurant—the space feels more like a cozy trapper's cabin than an eatery—focuses on serving real, honest, yet elegant Arctic food. 

There's more to Huset than just food, as the building's history is also quite impressive—it served as an airport terminal, a school, and a hospital—with stories of its past preserved on the walls and in the retained artifacts in the space. As far as dining, Huset houses three different spaces and concepts: a café that bakes all its bread and pastries; a less formal bistro serving "Lørdagsbiff," a local Saturday roast tradition; and a fine dining restaurant with an innovative, Spanish-tinged New Nordic tasting menu that's open only for dinner. Game from local hunters and trappers is front and center, with the likes of salt-cured seal, cod tongue, and ptarmigan (grouse) breast.

While the rough-hewn beams, stone fireplace, and driftwood-stump seating are reminiscent of a trapper’s cabin, the food at this casual and cozy eatery in downtown Longyearbyen is a far cry from what the hunters would have sustained themselves with. You can find very Norwegian-style pizzas (think beef and onion or chicken, corn, and pineapple) and burgers on the "pub favorites' menu," and also more traditional Norwegian specialties like moose burgers and klippfisk (salted cod).

Longyearbyen’s most unusual and eclectic restaurant is located at Mary-Ann's Polarigg hotel in a vintehage (greenhouse or winter garden) and is, by far, the greenest place in all of Svalbard. Try whale, seal, and reindeer—or beef and salmon if that's more your style—in the heated, glass-enclosed garden that lets the midnight sun in all summer long. 

Nordic cuisine meets classic comfort dishes at this inviting restaurant, where the approachable menu features burgers, steaks, stews, and the occasional less conventional dish, such as seal or reindeer. The velvet-and-timber-filled dining room is cozy and warm, with floor-to-ceiling windows that provide sweeping views of Adventfjorden and the snow-covered mountains. It's an easy way to try something so intrinsically Svalbard.

Honoring the young and ambitious Norwegian polar explorer Eivind Astrup—the restaurant's name means "Polar Explorer"—this eatery aims to be just as adventurous as Astrup was. Expect plenty of traditional ingredients such as reindeer and cod, prepared in a more modern Norwegian style, and served in a simple, tasteful setting. 

After cooking for many years in Thailand, Kesorn Saenphet moved to Svalbard, bringing the authentic taste of her home country to the Arctic. Located upstairs in Lompensenteret, the cozy restaurant has great views out onto the main street from the large windows at one end, and plenty of seating for couples, families, or larger groups. On a nice day, order your Panang curry or Tom Yum Kung takeaway to eat out in the sunshine.