Oslo City Guide - Restaurants

We have selected some of the best restaurants in Oslo, which we have listed under five categories: Gastronomic, Business, Trendy, Budget and Personal Recommendations. These restaurants are divided into four different pricing categories:
$$$$ (over NOK1,000)
$$$ (NOK750 to NOK1,000)
$$ (NOK500 to NOK750)
$ (up to NOK500)
The prices quoted above are for an average three-course meal and for half a bottle of house wine or cheapest equivalent per person; they do not include tax nor tip. Reservations are recommended wherever possible; in the case of upscale and popular restaurants, they are essential.

Annen Etage

Located in the Continental Hotel, this Michelin-starred restaurant is something of an Oslo institution. Offering what it describes as an 'international menu inspired by French cuisine', it is located centrally close to the National Theatre. It has capacity for 90, and there is also a bar attached that is popular with theatre-goers.

Stortingsgata 24-26
Tel: 2282 4070.
Website: www.hotel-continental.no
Price: $$$$

Bagatelle

Probably Norway's best-known restaurant, Bagatelle boasts two Michelin stars – and its prices reflect this. French style is very much the order of the day here. The menu contains a broad selection of set meals and à la carte dishes, and a choice of more than 400 wines is available. The interior is decorated with works by well-known artists.

Bygdøy Allé 3
Tel: 2212 1440.
Website: www.bagatelle.no
Price: $$$$

Spisestedet Feinschmecker

Also honoured with a Michelin star, Feinschmecker opened in 1990 and rapidly gained a top reputation. It is located in the Frogner district to the east of the city centre. In addition to its à la carte menu, it offers a fixed priced daily five-course meal. And extensive wine list, and a daily vegetarian alternative, are available.

Balchens Gate 5
Tel: 2212 9380.
Website: www.feinschmecker.no
Price: $$$$

Sydöst

Located, as the name indicates, in the south east of Oslo, and more precisely in the highly trendy Grünerløkka area, Sydöst opened in 2005 and is already one of the most popular restaurants in town. Housed in an old, spacious bank building, it is definitely one of the best-looking eateries in the country, with three big fireplaces and a rustic, but elegant atmosphere. The food, like the place, is hearty and wholesome, but with a sophisticated and elegant touch.

Trondheimsveien 5
Tel: 2335 3070.
Website: www.sydost.no
Price: $$

Angus Steakhouse

Attached to the Scotsman pub, the Angus Steakhouse has a straightforward menu of pizzas and steaks presented in a basic way at a basic price – cheap (by Oslo standards) and cheerful is the order of the day here. Reached through the bar upstairs, it offers differing fixed menus at various times of the day.

Karl Johans gate 17
Tel: 2247 4477.
Website: www.scotsman.no
Price: $

Restaurant Eik

This is the restaurant at the Quality Hotel Savoy, just a short walk from the National Gallery. The interior is modern with a charming touch of the 1970s, while the food is a tasty combination of classic and modern continental cuisine. The restaurant has been cited in the Guide Michelin's Bib Gourmand category for establishments with exceptional food at very reasonable prices.

Universitetsgata 11
Tel: 2335 4200.
Website: www.choicehotels.no/hotels/no060
Price: $

TGI Friday's

One step up from fast food, this chain has two outlets in Oslo, one of them in Karl Johans gate in the city centre. For those in search of the familiar at a reasonably low price, this is the place. American-style food in the burgers and steaks mould, and a wide choice of drinks and cocktails from the bar.

Karl Johan's Gate 35
Tel: 2233 3200.
Website: www.fridays.com
Price: $

Agra

Indian tandoori and balti restaurant at Aker Brygge, offering a reasonable range of dishes. However, Norwegians are not used to spicy food, so visitors are warned to ask for their food to be prepared with considerably more spice than is normal for Oslo customers. Situated at Aker Brygge near the castle.

Verkstedhallen 3
Tel: 2283 0712.
Website: www.agra.nu
Price: $$

Ekebergrestauranten

Housed in one of the finest examples of 1920s architectural functionalism in Europe, Ekebergrestauranten, on top of the hill to the east of Bjørvika, reopened in 2005 after languishing in a state of disrepair for many years. With wonderful views of the many islands, boats and ships in the Oslo Fjord, the restaurant is a landmark in the Norwegian capital, and the food on offer is superb, a tasty combination of modern and classical impulses.

Kongsveien 15
Tel: 2324 2300.
Website: www.ekebergrestauranten.com
Price: $$$

Engebret Café

This establishment was founded in 1857 as Oslo's first 'theatre café', serving both actors and spectators from the theatres nearby. The café and restaurant is located in an old building from the 18th century, and it provides an intimate and stylish atmosphere for its guests. It is particularly famous for its seafood and (at Christmas time) lutefisk, the traditional Norwegian cod dish.

Bankplassen 1
Tel: 2282 2525.
Website: www.engebretcafe.no
Price: $$$

Oro Restaurant

Located in the centre of town, just a stone's throw from the City Hall, Oro Restaurant is one of the best fine dining establishments in Oslo. The classy décor, which blends shades of white and off-white with opulent gold, is a combination of modern and classic elements. It perfectly complements the cuisine, which is rooted in Continental traditions but is resolutely contemporary, and with a strong emphasis on Norwegian ingredients. The wine pairing menu is a culinary tour de force in which predominantly Nordic flavours are enriched by wines from the rest of Europe and even further afield. For guests who prefer a smaller or quicker meal, there is Smak av Oro next door, a bar and restaurant with an exciting concept that is unique in Oslo: a menu featuring 20 individual taste experiences (rather than simply dishes) as well as wine recommendations to go with them.

Tordenskioldsgate 6a
Tel: 2301 0240.
Website: www.ororestaurant.no
Price: $$$$

Oslo Spiseforretning

Located by the Middelalderpark (Medieval Park) in the Gamle Byen area immediately south east of the central station, this is an unusual venue offering traditional Norwegian fare such as reindeer and various seasonal fish. The décor is in 1920s Norwegian style.

Oslogate 15
Tel: 2262 6210.
Website: www.oslo-spiseforretning.no
Price: $$$