165 Best Restaurants in Norway

This family-run bistro and brewery sits right by the water, about a 35-minute drive from downtown. It’s a favorite with locals, summer regulars, and first-time visitors alike, serving the usual fish-and-chips and seafood platters, but nothing is greasy, slapdash, or standard. The decor is more New England than Østfold, with louvered windows and slowly turning ceiling fans. It’s a real delight by the water and gets very busy, so book ahead.

This chic, modern café--restaurant is popular for its sunny terrace and straightforward food that always hits the mark—think juicy marinated jumbo shrimp, lobster soup, and a large selection of pizzas served hot from a wood-fired oven. It's an equally good stop for lunch, dinner, or an afternoon coffee with a delicious dessert.

As its name suggests, this wine bar is straight out of Paris: the long white aprons on the waiters, the art nouveau flourishes in the dining room, the old French posters on the walls, and the closely packed tables all add to the illusion. The sumptuous menu includes the classics: steak tartare, entrecôte, and duck confit. There is also, in true Gallic style, a strong wine list. Built on levels, from the cellar to the third floor, each section has a distinctive ambience. Popular with the after-theater crowd, the restaurant's kitchen offers a full menu until 10:30 pm on weekdays. Reservations are a good idea.

Being one of the best restaurants in Geiranger may not seem such a feat (there's only a handful), but this place distinguishes itself with a stunning fjordside setting and excellent no-nonsense cuisine that capitalizes on the area's abundant and fresh local seafood, artisanal cheeses, wild game, and produce. It also has a huge selection of local beers.

The catch of the day often dictates the menu here, but crispy cod tongue is always available. For less adventurous eaters, there's also a variety of pasta dishes. The homemade waffles with chocolate have been made from the same recipe since 1959. There's an amazing patio where you can look out over the water.

Emma's Dream Kitchen specializes in the freshest seafood imaginable, attracting both locals and travelers who have heard about it from fellow foodies. In the restaurant, they offer two tasting menus with six or nine dishes based on local seasonal ingredients with a wine pairing option. At the bar, you can enjoy smaller bites and dishes. The dining room has plenty of Scandinavian charm, with sunlight passing through large windows.

This restaurant, one of the best seafood restaurants in town, is named after the unicorn that adorns the doorway of the old wooden building in which it is housed. It may look old-fashioned, but there's nothing medieval about Enhjørningen's menu—it's contemporary Norwegian, and it changes according to the day's catch.

With an ideal location on the harbor, this well-regarded eatery offers some of the freshest seafood in Tromsø. The menu is always changing, offering the sea's bounty in everything from hearty soups to tasty fillets. The interior is bright and modern, with many windows allowing sunlight to filter in during the summer months.

Located in the heart of the harbor, this is the best place to enjoy fresh seafood with an atmosphere that strikes the perfect balance between elegance and informality. For lunch, consider their renowned fish soup, available in appetizer, small, or large portions, or in the evening, indulge in a full seven-course tasting menu. The restaurant also features its own fish market within the same building, ensuring unmatched freshness. 

Looking for all the world like a traditional chalet, thanks to the massive beams and honey-color wood floors, you'll feel the Scandinavian hygge (coziness) as soon as you walk inside. The restaurant focuses on fresh local ingredients while encouraging creativity among its chefs. This makes for an exciting menu where traditional flavors meet unusual cooking techniques.

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.

If you're in Oslo for just one night and want an authentic dining experience, head to the city's oldest restaurant—housed in Oslo's first town hall, a building that dates from 1641. It is known for its traditional fish and game dishes that take full advantage of the city's access to the best seasonal produce. An absolute must, if you're lucky enough to be visiting in December, is the house specialty, the lutefisk. Reserve well in advance for the julebord (pre-Christmas) season.

At the top of Loen Skylift, this strikingly modern restaurant is perched off the edge of a cliff. On one side of the dining room is an entire wall of glass, so every table has spectacular views while guests dine on Nordic dishes with the freshest local ingredients.

A Trondheim institution and award-winning gastronomic dining room near the water, where you'll find all the best organic produce from farms around Trondelag in traditional Indian dishes, from tandoori to masalas to biryanis and dopiazas. As a nod to northern Norway and Sámi culture, there's the notorious jahangiri with Røros reindeer.

With a resident chef who authored an exquisitely illustrated book on foraging, this leafy courtyard restaurant offers an ever-changing menu of unpretentious organic comfort food with a Nordic twist. It also has plenty of indoor seating for cozy evenings dining by candlelight. The staff know the menu inside out, and the owners are often on hand to explain the hearty roster of meat, fish, and vegetarian options.

This eatery doesn't just put you close to the water---it's actually floating just off the dock, providing views in nearly every direction. Decorated in maritime style, it has windows that can be rolled up to let you enjoy the summer breezes. The food is Italian, but with a definitely Norwegian touch. Some days they light up the grill and treat you to an open-air barbecue.

Family-run since 1929, this eatery sits on a tiny island just off the Bygdøy Peninsula and is reached by a small boat departing every 15 minutes during the day until 11:30 pm. The prices are reasonable considering the fact that you're getting superbly fresh seafood topped with buttery sauces or creamy aioli (as well as sourdough bread for sopping up what's left over); other dishes range from a grilled portobello mushroom burger with pineapple glaze to the garlicky clams served over tagliatelle. The main seating is on the breezy terrace, which is shaded from the summer sun by oversized umbrellas and heated to keep out the chill on colder days.

Located in a pretty, white-clapboard house, this waterfront restaurant is a good bet for consistently well-prepared dishes and high-quality dining. The menu focuses on more sophisticated cuisine, and the offerings may include crayfish gazpacho and veal entrecôte on its prix-fixe menu. The café on the lower level, Dattera til Lothe (Lothe's Daughter) is great for food that is less formal but equally good; it's open seven days a week. A waterfront view can be had from the lovely outdoor terrace.

With an artful location in the KODE 4 museum and next to the Grieghallen concert hall, Lysverket offers New Nordic cuisine that makes clever use of seasonal local ingredients in dishes like roasted redfish with grilled lettuce or king crab with nasturtium puree. The restaurant offers only a 10-course tasting menu and has one Michelin star. The spare dining room is the best of Scandinavian design, making a meal here a pleasure for both the eyes and the mouth.

The plant-based and sustainable menu that's sure to satisfy any appetite changes every other month at this all-are-welcome space. Build your own meal by picking from the delicious and mouthwatering options at the salad and warm dish bars, try one of the main dishes, or just swing by for a slice of delicious cake (gluten-free options available) and a cup of coffee or tea. 

In a picturesque white clapboard house that was Geiranger's first grocery store, this restaurant is a popular choice for sophisticated, modern fare. A bright, cozy dining room on the second floor focuses on small plates with an emphasis on local veggies, seafood, and meats: wild poached salmon with parsley butter, scallops, and cauliflower purée; venison medallions with bacon and buttered beets. In mild weather the terrace is a lovely place to dine, and there's live music on weekends.

Don’t let the “grill” in the name fool you—this eight-table restaurant near the Royal Palace is one of Oslo's most fashionable spots. The atmosphere may be relaxed, but the French-inspired cuisine is taken very seriously and the set menu changes daily according to the whims of the chef, so it's always a surprise.

You'll be impressed by the attention to detail shown by the chefs at this elegant dining room, with well-composed dishes that blend exciting and unexpected flavors. The menu changes with the season and takes advantage of the freshest ingredients available, with meats and cheeses from nearby farms. The wine selections—chosen to complement your meal—are interesting and varied.

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.