60 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Even the name—which translates as the Old Bakery, Cheese and Wine Room—has plenty of charm at this eatery in an 18th-century wooden house painted an earthy red. Drop by early for salads and sandwiches, or later in the day for such hearty fare as salmon in a mouthwatering sweet-mustard sauce. Classical music concerts are held on weekends.

The atmosphere is casual and relaxed, and perhaps a little loud at peak hours, but you won't find a better spot for a quick meal. There are wood beams, exposed brick walls, and cozy booths with rough-hewn furnishings. The food is family-friendly, including generous salads and sandwiches and pizzas.

You wouldn't know it from the Scandinavian facade, but Harry Pepper combines Tex-Mex cuisine with Norwegian tastes. Prickly cacti and tacky souvenirs make for a lighthearted and fun interior. Try the traditional dishes with tequila pairing recommendations or opt for a shot or two at the lively Tequila Saloon. The bar is open late on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday night.

A cozy, rustic restaurant with a casual atmosphere focusing on homemade burgers and fish-and-chips, but also offering some Norwegian specialties such as cured meat, salad, and local cheeses in addition to an impressive range of beers. Gets extra lively on the weekends.

If you're seeking creamed mussel soup or a range of other tasty local specialties paired with the perfect beer, Heim Gastropub is the place to be. It's also the right place for a burger and other pub grub. The atmosphere is relaxed, and the interiors are rustic with a modern, colorful twist. You can even pour your own beer with an ingenious system that locals seem to love.

Fiskebrygga literally means "the fishing dock," and the name sets the tone for this restaurant on the waterfront in Lillesand. The menu consists mostly of fresh seafood, and throughout the summer they host live concerts on the dock.

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.

In a former sardine factory, Kafe Kippers specializes in seafood dishes like arctic char with artichoke, radish, and dill, and steamed mussels with herbs and garlic. This large outdoor café on the waterfront is a pleasant stop for lunch or at sunset when you can warm up with a cozy wool blanket and enjoy a spectacular view of the North Sea.

An interesting and unusual restaurant, this eatery named for an Icelandic volcano blends Nordic, Asian, Latin American, and other cuisines. The cooking is done over gas grills or—a nod to the name—on hot lava stones. Watch chefs from around the world battle it out in the open kitchen where they prepare anything from shawarma to takoyaki. The seven-course tasting menu is available exclusively in the restaurant, with à la carte options at the bar.