11 Best Restaurants in Trondheim to the Lofoten Islands, Norway

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.

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.

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.

A spacious outdoor terrace and seafront location with unparalleled views over the harbor and distant mountains assure Bryggerikaia a steady clientele. But it's the menu of fresh seafood—local mussels, shrimp, and salmon, for starters—and market-fresh produce, as well as hearty meat dishes, that keep diners coming back. There's live entertainment in the bar on weekends.

This restaurant in one of the region's most beautiful villages takes you back in time and serves superb local dishes. From the cozy and rustic dining room you have views of the ocean and mountains beyond. The building itself dates back to the 1700s and has a warm fireplace for cold, wintery days.

The expression was introduced by the legendary Norwegian television chef Ingrid Espelid Hovig: find out its meaning when you visit.

Attached to the art museum is this café-bistro darling from chef Lars Laurentius who founded famed restaurant Troll. Catch the seasonal herbs and garden finds with the reddest local salmon on your plates here, plus perhaps a mushroom and chilli soup garnished with parsley. Open-faced sandwiches and fresh local juices also apply. You're surrounded with imposing, dramatic wall sculptures from famed artists.

As the name translates, "Heaven and Harbor" play lead roles in the spirit of this restaurant in the village of Ballstad. Sitting on a dock moored with fishing boats, the harbor is right outside, and as picturesque as they come. Heaven attempts to shine through the bright, impressionistic artwork on the walls, the charmingly worn wood tables and floors, and a menu inspired by grandma's recipes. As good as the carrot cake and apple pie are, the highlight is the house bacalao, a spicy stew made with salted cod. In summer, the dining area expands onto the dock itself.

Lokalmatbutikken means "the local food shop" and is the place in Brønnøysund to sample the true local fare, with top-quality artisanal specialties from throughout the region. The café serves lunch and dessert with hot beverages, or you can choose from a wide variety of prepared foods to eat in or take out.

An award-winning eatery in the heart of Bodø, LystPå takes pride in presenting beautifully prepared dishes in an atmosphere that feels anything but pretentious. The signature dish is stockfish, but the wide-ranging menu features everything from scallops to monkfish. They are renowned for having one of Norway's best wine lists, and the staff is extremely knowledgeable about pairings. There is a large terrace out front, and cooking classes if you want to eat this food for the rest of your life.

If you want to eat like a local, this bustling cafeteria is the place to be. Having had plenty of time to perfect its craft, Løvolds has been serving generous helpings of homemade Norwegian food for more than 75 years. Some of the more popular choices include reindeer cutlets with pureed veggies, smoked sausage with red cabbage, and salmon and cucumber salad.