56 Best Restaurants in Oslo, Norway

Kulturhuset

$ | Sentrum

Priding itself on a casual "breakfast, brunch, lunch, and munch" menu, the restaurant at this cultural institution always seems to have a crowd. There's a fantastic array of delicious dishes that provide sustenance for the events that take place here day and night. The colorful rice bowls are filled with many healthy ingredients (for example, poké with pickled cauliflower and toasted sesame seeds) and some a little less healthy (fried chicken with crispy cabbage and pickled mushrooms).

Lanternen

$$ | Bygdøy

Located on a dock extending into the fjord, this eatery is tucked inside a 1920s building that once served as a waiting room for ferry passengers. Today, it's a popular summertime destination for locals who love the picture-perfect terrace. The wood-fired pizzas are a favorite, as are the fresh seafood and grilled meats.

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.

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Lofoten Fiskerestaurant

$$$ | Aker Brygge

Named for the remote Lofoten Islands, this Aker Brygge mainstay is considered one of Oslo’s best destinations for seafood, from Maine lobster to Greenland shrimp. It has a bright, minimalistic interior with harbor views and a sunny patio. Depending on the season, you can try the mellow cod served with its own liver and roe or the pungent lutefisk. There's an excellent three-course menu if you can't decide.

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.

Markveien Mat og Vinhus

$$$ | Grünerløkka

Looking for all the world like a Parisian bistro, this restaurant in the heart of Grünerløkka serves French-inspired cuisine to a bohemian crowd. It’s a relaxed, artsy place with paintings and prints covering the sunny walls, and candlelit tables. The menu lists delicacies such as Russian crab and Norwegian quail.

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.

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.

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.

New Anarkali

$$ | Grünerløkka

Serving mostly Punjabi cuisine, this extremely popular north Indian restaurant is known for its lamb curries and other authentic dishes. In a bright and airy space, there are rich fabrics and ornate furnishings.

Olivia Aker Brygge

$$ | Aker Brygge

You may not have set out on a trip to Italy, but you'll feel like that's where you ended up at this Naples-inspired eatery focusing on delicious dishes like fried mozzarella balls, seafood risotto, and wood-fired pizzas topped with imported ingredients. The dining room is elegant, but you'll want to talk your way into a table overlooking the boats in the harbor.

Olivia Hegdehaugsveien

$$ | Majorstuen

The menu at this Italian eatery is inspired by the cuisine of Rome, so the pastas and pizzas are made with fresh ingredients and are always delicious. There's a comfortable two-level dining room, but most people prefer the leafy courtyard where blankets and heaters ward off the chill. Desserts range from gelato to tiramisu to chocolate soufflé.

Olivia Tjuvholmen

$$ | Tjuvholmen

This much-adored family-friendly Italian chain always delivers with dazzling harbor views, comfy furnishings, and a friendly staff. You can dine outside under pretty parasols even if the weather is a bit chilly, thanks to blankets and heat lamps. The Venice-influenced menu includes tuna carpaccio and sausage risotto served with a deliciously oily and herby focaccia to mop up the sauce.

Oslo Street Food

$$ | Sentrum

If you're with a group that can't decide what to have for lunch or dinner, you can sample every cuisine from Nordic to Mexican to Indian to Japanese at this brightly lit, well-designed market a short walk from Central Station. With 16 food stands (Hungarian goulash, anyone?), several bars, and a huge seating area with picnic tables, it's a bustling place where everyone seems to be in great spirits.

Palmen Restaurant

$$$ | Sentrum

The Grand Cafe gets all the attention, but the Grand Hotel's more casual—but still quite beautiful—lobby restaurant is what Bohemian dreams are made of, with marble, gold, crystal, and velvet adding a luxurious touch. Underneath a spectacular glass ceiling, the dining room is a place where locals come to see and be seen. Steaks are among the favorites here, served with béarnaise sauce and platters of fries.

Pascal

$$ | Sentrum

This smart little brasserie serves French-influenced lunchtime fare like croque monsieur or quiche with broccoli or bacon. There's also an impressive array of freshly baked pastries and cakes. Get here early, as it closes its kitchen at 5:30.

Pink Fish Grensen

$ | Sentrum

Sustainability is at the heart of this creative and low-key eatery intent on persuading the world to eat more salmon. Favorites includes poké bowls, hot pots, and even fish-and-chips. The menu is healthier than any other chain restaurant you're likely to encounter anywhere.

Pizza da Mimmo

$$ | Frogner

Named for owner Domenico Giardina—known to everyone as Mimmo—this is Oslo’s best pizzeria. In 1993, the native of Calabria was the first to bring thin-crust Italian pizza to the city. Don't miss his perennially popular panna and prosciutto pizza. Look down to find the entrance, because this eatery is on the basement level.

Sentralen

$$$$ | Sentrum

This debonair dining room---a relatively new kid on the block---focuses on organic ingredients prepared with continental flair. Many dishes are presented in unusual new combinations, such as the whole-baked cauliflower in miso and red curry. The tasting menu is highly recommended, as the smaller dishes on the à la carte dinner menu seem inexpensive but can really add up. The lunch tasting menu is a great way to enjoy the same dishes with a more reasonable price tag.

Statholdergaarden

$$$$ | Kvadraturen

More than 400 years old, the elegant rococo dining room at Statholdergaarden is one of the oldest and most impressive in Norway. Award-winning celebrity chef Bent Stiansen’s Asian-inspired French dishes have long been popular with locals. The six-course tasting menu changes daily, but often includes duck in a lightly smoked apple consomme. You'll also be treated to seafood sourced from around the country.

The Top

$$$ | Sentrum

A speedy elevator takes you to the 34th floor of the Radisson Blu Plaza Hotel, where you'll have panoramic views of the city's unmistakable skyline. (Request a window seat if you can handle heights.) The sleek, modern dining room is all about raising Nordic cuisine to it highest level, and you can choose between à la carte offerings and three- or six-course tasting menus. There's no better way to celebrate than with one of the showy cocktails from the bar.

Tijuana

$$ | Grünerløkka

It turns out that tacos and margaritas are the perfect thing to warm up a chilly evening in Oslo. Opened by owners who have spent a lot of time in search of an authentic taqueria, this snug place serves all of Mexico's favorite types of taco—carnitas, barbacoa, al pastor—alongside a long list of punchy tequilas and mezcals.

Tullin's

$$ | Sentrum

A favorite with students, this eatery has mismatched chairs, artwork of dubious quality in gilt frames, and chandeliers that feel too fancy for the decor. In other words, it has an appealingly laid-back vibe. Grab one of the tables on the sidewalk and enjoy inexpensive burgers and other international fare.

Villa Paradiso

$$ | Grünerløkka

Run by a family who found themselves returning from a trip to Italy with a pizza oven, Villa Paradiso makes incredible Neopolitan pies. In an old building with vintage lamps and wood paneling, this trattoria is one of the very best in the neighborhood. The focaccia bruschetta is tasty, as are the adventurous antipasti.

Village Tandoori

$$ | Frogner

Walking through this restaurant feels like you're stepping back in time about a hundred years. Pakistani owner Mobashar Hussain collected the antique rugs, beaded textiles, and other authentic touches. The chicken and lamb curries are delicious.

Vippa

$$ | Sentrum

The name refers to its location at the tip of the Vippetangen, the peninsula that juts out into Oslofjord. This lively art, culture, and education center is also a destination for food lovers who want to sample dishes as diverse as poké bowls and halloumi wraps. Local brewers and distillers also showcase their delights. The place gets especially busy on Thursday, when the crowd competes in a pop quiz.

Oslo

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