200 Best Restaurants in Norway

If it's mushroom season, your plate will be awash with chanterelles and fresh herbs, there will always be something pickled, and, if you're lucky, some local wild salmon or roast pork or goat cheese. There are salads, savory pancakes, tarts, and open sandwiches that almost distract you from the on-site bookshop and library.

Just 10 minutes by boat from Kragerø, this charming café has the perfect island location with inviting outdoor seating, a friendly staff, and a warm atmosphere. The menu includes locally sourced ingredients in well-traveled dishes like pizza, mussels, and the popular shrimp sandwich. There's original art on the walls and live music, but no reservations. It's open daily during summer and on select days the rest of the year. 

Owner Lars Jon Amundsen converted an old soap factory into "the sunny side" back in 1993 after running award-winning shellfish festivals and sushi bars and being inspired by everywhere from Californian coastal gems to Parisian bistros. With its high ceiling and huge windows facing the sunny side of the capital, this summer-only seafood restaurant is housed in a former warehouse right by the harbor. Here, it's an open-to-all, smart-casual affair where you'll see families, dates, and celebrities tucking into shellfish side by side. Follow the lead of the many locals who call this their favorite spot and indulge yourself with a plateau de fruits de mer (seafood platter, the house specialty), or opt for one of the other longtime favorites like the turbot with horseradish puree. In typical Oslo fashion, the dining room isn't at all showy, allowing the seafood to shine. There are two sittings after 6:30, and the place is open only from May through September, making it all the more special.

For all the hyped natural wine bar–cum-bistros that now characterize casual-elegant, fun, modern, boozy dining in all major cities, Spontan sets the benchmark. With an open kitchen and visible wine cellar, this restaurant serves beguilingly fresh small plates—note the cute bric-a-brac, pantrylike glass, and earthenware—that burst with color and character like char, scallops, chicken liver mousse, and king crab; we'd be remiss if we didn't mention the meticulously paired pours that complement them. Summer-in-a-bowl raspberries with milk ice cream and Comtè-filled petit-fours will leave you sounding off to fellow wine-diners around the world about this spontaneous find on a cobbled old street near the water. A smaller, but just as robust and beautiful, menu is available Tuesday through Thursday, and there are bar snacks if you're just here for drinks.

This unique dining experience, only in the summer months, allows you to sample the freshest local fish and seafood at a real lighthouse—the famous Stangholmen bouillabaisse is a must-try. Built right on the rock, the small building is made of white clapboard and has shutters that can close during inclement weather. And there's seating in a glass building, which is perfect for enjoying a glass of wine no matter the weather. Reservations are taken only for the restaurant, and window seating isn't guaranteed.

An Oslo institution, Theatercafeen has been a meeting place for artists and intellectuals for more than a century. Today it still attracts Oslo's beau monde, and as it's right across the street from the National Theater, it's a good bet for celebrity spotting. The menu varies with the seasons; the oysters and caviar platters are impressive, as are the cheese and charcuterie boards. To have any chance of getting a table during the superbusy julebord (pre-Christmas) season, book well in advance.

In a 300-year-old building on the wharf, it's no surprise that the charming To Kokker has crooked floors and off-kilter molding. Ranked among Bergen's best restaurants, it serves excellent seafood and game prepared the traditional way with a contemporary twist. The menu—think fillet of venison with blackberry sauce—changes with the season and is always based on seasonal produce.

Europe's first underwater restaurant, Under is an architectural and engineering marvel as it sits well below sea level, with a massive wall of glass that looks upon the icy waters of the North Sea; it's connected to onshore rocks by a bridge. The seafood here is among the best that Norway has to offer. The price is for a 10- 12-course set dinner menu focusing on seafood. Lunch is available May through August on selected dates. 

You'll feel right at home in this lovely restaurant in an elegant 200-year-old log farmhouse three miles from Brønnøysund, and its equally beautiful garden. Along with the wood-paneled, tapestry covered dining room, the Angel Lounge's cozy chairs are perfect for enjoying coffee and dessert, and the Aquavit Bar invites you to sip a glass of wine at your leisure. Traditional gourmet fare is lovingly prepared with herbs and produce from a charming kitchen garden, which you are encouraged to enjoy while touring the beautifully landscaped grounds. In summer (mid-June to mid-August) you can enjoy lunch or teatime in the garden café. The restaurant encourages diners to call ahead with any special dietary requests and is especially welcoming to children.

A gorgeous glass ceiling covers the main dining room at this restaurant, one of the best in Bryggen, and there's a terrace if you're here on a warm evening. The kitchen hopes to bring "the fjord, the forest, and the farm" to your plate with a menu based on local ingredients, all of it elegantly presented. Look for dishes like sea urchin chowder or halibut with garlic cream.

The classic afternoon tea is the star of the menu—think big, buttery scones, tasty finger sandwiches, and tea that's always brewed just right. The staff know their tea and are happy to help you find your perfect cup among the 150 different teas on the menu, but we suggest the “Bhakanje” from Nepal—a special tea from a plantation started by Perch’s to support jobs and growth in a remote mountain region. The tearoom has a classic British feel, plus a shop where you can grab something to take home. Don’t miss the first flush Darjeeling in April and May—it’s a big deal! On Saturdays, and from October to December, it’s a good idea to book a table.

If you're a fan of bold flavors and open-flame cooking, Aisuma is a solid bet in Trondheim. This sleek brasserie serves a refined mix of grilled meats, fresh seafood, and creative vegetarian dishes. Think reindeer tartare, snow crab with Szechuan pepper sauce, or miso-roasted cauliflower. The long banquettes and dim lighting add a touch of New York flair to the Nordic menu.

This Latin American--flavored waterfront restaurant comes alive on the weekend, when fashion-conscious locals compete for the best seats on the terrace. The hip dining room is almost as popular, with long wooden tables emphasizing that meals here are a communal experience. If you can't snag a table, wait at the leather-fronted bar with a strong and sweet signature martini. Choose a selection of seafood dishes to share with your posse.

In the center of town, Apotekergaarden offers seating in a charmingly old-fashioned dining room or outside on a terrace. The Italian menu offers something for everyone, including pizza topped with fresh mozzarella and baked in a stone oven. There are also concerts, quiz nights, and live shows.

Close to the harbor in Honnigsvåg, this innovative eatery serves dishes that blend Norwegian recipes with Asian touches. The menu changes frequently, with weekly specials highlighting seasonal produce. Order your food and drinks at the bar, and the accommodating staff will make sure they're delivered to your table. They'll also cater to any special dietary needs.

A bit east of Sentrum, this popular pub serves homemade traditional Norwegian food in an atmospheric setting—the building, which dates from the 1730s, was once an orphanage—under the slightly facetious motto "nice place, bad service." The big lunch menu features a good selection of smørbrød (open-faced sandwiches) as well as herring and the traditional karbonade (a sort of open-faced hamburger, served with fried onions).

In the former headquarters of the Norwegian America cruise line, this well-heeled eatery capitalizes on a New York–meets–Oslo vibe. Stop by for an excellent cup of coffee in the plant-filled courtyard, or head to the all-day brasserie for the dazzling seafood platter or steak big enough to share with several friends. The ambience is lively and bustling, particularly during the jazz brunch Sunday. If you can't get enough of the music, there's a jazz club in the basement that attracts music lovers.

In the old Basarhall near Oslo Cathedral, tiny Bacchus serves excellent organic French bistro food in a rustic atmosphere, or outdoors in a lovely garden in summer.

The elegant but sparse mirrored dining room at this local favorite puts the spotlight where it belongs: on the exceptional wine selection and its innovative bar snack menu. Drop in for Bergen’s best cocktails, or book a table and enjoy expert wine pairings from the in-house sommelier. For a more exclusive experience, gather your group for a private chef’s table dinner, featuring a tailor-made menu served in a dedicated room.

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. 

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.

If you're feeling competitive, this American-style steak house hosts a steak-eating contest featuring a 45-ounce cut. It specializes in beef but has an extensive menu with something to appeal to everyone, even vegetarians. The atmosphere is relaxed and laid-back, perfect for groups of all sizes. The eatery is in the center of Harstad, meaning it's probably a short walk from your hotel.

Toralf Bølgen and Trond Moi, two of Norway's most celebrated restaurateurs, run what's the southernmost addition to their chain of high-profile restaurants. Near the old fishing pier, the scene is more chic than rustic, with artwork and dinnerware designed by local artist Kjell Nupen. Norwegian game and fish are cooked in an international style.

This local eatery serves some of the region's best seafood, keeping the menu short and always changing depending on what's available in the market. You are almost always going to find some traditional stockfish, served in a variety of ways, as well as local specialties like reindeer.

Today's catch is all over the menu—crayfish, klippfisk (fish salted and dried in the sun on slabs of rock), and grilled monkfish, to name a few—at this casual eatery. The seemingly mismatched, umbrella-shape roof atop this rectangular blue waterfront restaurant offers a lesson in Norwegian history, culture, and cuisine: it's where locals of yesteryear dried fish by night. It's the modern-day preparation, though, that's earned the restaurant a status as one of the best in town. There’s a brasserie on the second floor, featuring a bar and a DJ on weekends.

Given Bryggekanten’s close proximity to the ocean, it's no surprise that it's decorated in a maritime style. Naturally it has lovely views from the dozens of windows, the fish dishes are superb, and the soup is a local favorite.

Hearty Norwegian country fare suits the cozy dining room, which has a handsome fireplace, oil paintings depicting the city's maritime past, and wooden display cases filled with model ships and other artifacts. A reindeer fillet in a cream sauce comes highly recommended, as do the monkfish and the venison. Dining here on lutefisk or pinnekjøtt in the holiday season (mid-November to Christmas) is a time-honored tradition for many Bergensers, and tables for this time period are booked as early as the January before.