Oslo Food
For those who enjoy fine dining, Oslo has four Michelin-starred restaurants. Feinschmecker, Le Canard and Stadtholdergaarden all have single Michelin stars for their efforts, while Bagatelle has two stars. Unsurprisingly, such quality does not come cheap, but Oslo does have much more to offer those preferring to spend a little less. One find is the Restaurant Eik, which is listed as Bib Gourmand, meaning it has outstanding food but is priced moderately.
Rustic is the word which most comes to mind when considering traditional food served in Oslo. While the city has a host of international restaurants, visitors looking to sample a typical taste of Norway will find seafood is particularly high on the menu. With the bottomless Oslo fjord to trawl, as well as the nearby North Sea, the range of fresh fish on offer in most restaurants and markets means there is always plenty of choice. The specialities of Norway include steamed or smoked salmon, sea trout, halibut and cod and will often be served fairly plainly, with melted butter and potatoes.
Fish is not the only locally-sourced food in Oslo, however. There are many meats in this region which are hunted and brought from the great expanse of forestry which surrounds the city. Game is regularly on the menus of the restaurants and rather than being the preserve of the rich, it can often be found relatively cheaply because of the fact it has been brought straight from the nearby forests. More unusual sights on the menu include moose and reindeer, which again have come straight from the forested areas near the city and as such as fresh and natural, having grown up in the wilds surrounding Oslo.
For those who would like to sample something new every evening, Oslo has a restaurant for everyone. Thanks to the immigrants who have made the city so vibrant over the years, there is a wide variety of international cuisine on offer. It is mostly top quality food and ranges from Italian and Spanish to Indian and Thai. Many of these restaurants can be cheaper than those serving traditional Norwegian fare, particularly near the centre, where the tourist trade can have an appreciable impact on prices.
One of the favourite pastimes of Oslo's citizens during the summer is to enjoy a barbeque. As such, there are many cheap barbeques available in the shops for visitors who want to have their own, while many places will often hold barbeque nights during the nice weather.
Drinking in Oslo can be a tricky experience. While the bars and clubs are open late and always serving, the country has some unusual laws relating to buying alcohol in shops. Although you are able to buy beer in supermarkets, anything stronger must be bought from a state liquor store, or Vinmonopolet. Therefore, those looking for anything stronger than beer will need to head to one such store. However, there are many bars in Oslo and while some near the centre can prove quite expensive as they cash in on the visitors staying in nearby hotels and relaxing after a hard day of sightseeing, a little more innovation from the traveller can find them a cheap and enjoyable alternative.
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Eating & Drinking
