Before I present you this rather magnificent list of food destinations in Norway for you to visit in 2025, I'd like to immediately dispel the notion that I will NOT only be mentioning restaurants with one or more Michelin stars dangling from the facade. The aim of this article is to articulate my enthusiasm for the creativity and diversity of the Norwegian food scene, which is expressed in an incredibly varied manner.
Certainly, a few Michelin restaurants will be mentioned, but I'll also tell you where to find the most delectable cinnamon bun, fish soup, or pizza. In short, this is a treasure trove of splendid insider tips that will elevate your stay in Norway to a higher plane. The primary criterion I used is the certainty that the chance of discovering one of these places by accident is absolutely minimal. To make it easier for you, I've added a link to TripAdvisor for each of the 15 destinations, allowing you to easily compile a food destination list for your visit to Norway and potentially save them in your Google Maps. Let's begin!
One of Norway's Finest Restaurants: Mirabelle on Austevoll
I dare say you've never heard of Austevoll. It's a small municipality consisting of a group of islands more or less off the coast of Bergen. Here, fishing has been the primary means of livelihood for ages. Not only is the coastal landscape stunningly beautiful, but a marvellous restaurant has recently opened its doors. Restaurant Mirabelle is the brainchild of top chef Ørjan Johannessen, winner of numerous prestigious awards. This well-kept secret among Norwegians promises a sequence of beautifully presented haute-cuisine dishes. It may be too early to say, but it could well become a world-renowned restaurant. But you didn't hear that from me.
Crab in Pepper Sauce at Sjøbua in Sponvika
This tiny neighbourhood restaurant is practically glued to the Swedish border. Now, you shouldn't expect lofty gastronomy at Sjøbua. But if you're travelling from Sweden to Norway and the weather is pleasant, I can heartily recommend this picturesque spot, particularly for their crab in Asian pepper sauce. Good heavens, it was delicious. Moreover, it's a rather unlikely place where tourists would never end up. The terrace is right by the water front, and in the summer months, there's a constant coming and going of pleasure yachts. Quite charming!
Freshly Baked While You Wait: The Most Delicious Buns in the Heart of Telemark
I try to explain to everyone that Telemark is a somewhat mysterious and underappreciated province. The nature is breathtaking, and it's full of hidden gems that make you wonder how they can possibly exist. Take Mjonøy, for instance. I won't give too much away by describing the location. Simply put, during the warmer months, they continuously bake wonderful breads, buns, and pastries, which are sold while still warm. I ate the best cinnamon bun ever here, and their breads are exquisite. And then there's the fairy-tale location! Alongside a river, in the middle of the woods...
The Most Delicious Fish Soup in the Far North
While hordes of people trample the hiking trails of Lofoten, you'll find a remarkable island called Senja just north of that world-famous archipelago. Not only is the natural beauty here breathtaking, but you'll also find a fish restaurant with a concise menu. Picture this: it's a sun-drenched day, and because it's high summer, the sun doesn't really set, so you have all the time in the world. After a long day in the great outdoors, you stroll across a snow-white sandy beach towards the Fat Cod restaurant, where you can enjoy the most delicious fish soup on the terrace, while you could practically catch that same fish from where you're sitting. For Senja boasts the best fishing waters in the world. Not only is the location, an old fish factory, captivating, but the Swedes who run the place are also in excellent spirits.
Gastronomy Below Sea Level: Dining on the Seabed
In the far south of Norway, you'll find a rather legendary restaurant on the seabed: Under. Since its opening, it has become a destination in itself, putting the somewhat insignificant coastal village of Spangereid on the international map. This once-in-a-lifetime culinary destination promises a culinary journey through all the goodness the sea has to offer. They've managed to secure a Michelin star, which means you'll need to book even earlier to secure a table. But even if you're in the area, it's worth visiting outside restaurant hours to just check out the building itself. It's an architectural marvel of engineering.
Trondheim in Its Entirety
Do please go to Trondheim. For the concentration of excellent restaurants is highest here. Especially if you're considering a city trip, leave Oslo be and opt for a less obvious, but much cosier and more convivial city. Consider booking a table at Fagn or Tollbua. If you want to do some real culinary groundwork, you might want to consider Speilsalen.
The Best Beef Tartare in Oslo (After Geita) at Bukken Wine Bar
Do you like rap? Perhaps 2Pac? Or Method Man? The undersigned grew up in the 90s and 00s and has a soft spot for a few bars of gangster rap. The chef who is the driving force behind the fantastic restaurant Geita can appreciate it too and has continued his triumphal march through the Oslo food-scene by opening a wonderful wine bar called Bukken. The joke with a wine bar is that you come to drink wine and possibly order a few small dishes to avoid getting tipsy too quickly. I ordered the entire menu... that was a bit too much, but it was mainly because I wanted to taste everything. It was truly all exquisite. Particularly a dark green ceviche and an insanely delicious beef tartare. And yes, the beef tartare at Geita with black umami-like jelly, the grown-up mothership restaurant owned by the same chef, is also quite legendary.
Forget Trolltunga, You're Coming to Odda to Dine at Buer
In the middle of a valley, between green mountain ridges, glaciers, and a wild-flowing river, the improbable fact impresses upon you that a Michelin-starred restaurant is located here. I haven't checked the figures, but I guess this might be one of the more remote Michelin restaurants. In any case, it's far from any city. Odda is the nearest town, a somewhat peculiar place with a few smoking chimneys, a Ford Focus RS rally car as a taxi, and quite a number of brightly coloured houses built in the 1950s. As such, it's all the more extraordinary that Buer restaurant has established itself here, or close to Odda at least. Beautifully presented dishes in the spirit of New Nordic cuisine make your dinner a special occasion. The ingredients used are without exception Norwegian and more often than not local and based on the current season. What I appreciated about this place is how relaxed it is. It doesn't matter much whether you're wearing a blazer or have just come down the mountain in your hiking clothes. Everyone is welcome. And then there is that fantastic scenery of wild-flowing rivers, an imposing glacier, and green fields.
At the Foot of Rondane: A Shop Full of Delicacies that Make Your Mouth Water
When you're on your way from Oslo to Trondheim or vice versa, I can heartily recommend making a short stop in Ringebu. Here you'll find Annis Pølsemakeri. They specialise particularly in sausages and other meat products, but the shop is full of numerous (Norwegian) delicacies. This is an excellent place to stock up for a cheese platter, a barbecue, and whatnot. All products come from the area and are absolutely delish. I came here for the first time last summer when I was driving out of Rondane and was completely surprised! You can also treat yourself to an excellent lunch at the adjacent small restaurant.
Local Fish Delicacies by the Roadside
When you're on your way from Oslo to the imposing mountains of Jotunheimen, you'll drive along an elongated lake. This lake is called Sperillen. The water is of excellent quality and is full of trout, pike, perch and char. The wonder is that along the main road by the lake, there's a small shop called Villfisken selling wonderful delicacies. Of course, the fish products are particularly worth stopping for, but the jams, cheeses, dried herb blends, and mushroom products are of excellent quality. It has become a regular stop for me when I drive from Oslo to Fagernes.
The Taste of the West Coast, on a Beautiful Island close to Ålesund
Ålesund is a beautiful town on the west side of the spectacular fjord landscape. Not only will you find a noteworthy number of beautiful hotels here, but you can also eat fantastically. But what few visitors to the beautiful Art Nouveau city know is that restaurant Kami Skotholmen is a wonderful surprise for anyone who sets foot here. Especially if you want to surprise your loved one, I can't think of a better opportunity. If you indicate this in advance, you can be picked up by speedboat in Ålesund. This way, you reach the restaurant, beautifully located on an island off within 40 minutes of sailing. Kami Skotholmen is an acclaimed restaurant on a small island near Ålesund, Norway. It's known for its unique dining experience and high-quality seafood. The restaurant serves fresh, local fish in a Scandinavian style with Asian influences, beautifully presented. The atmosphere is laid-back, and the service is truly excellent. Perfect for a date night, or for a group of friends. It's somewhat on the expensive side, but believe me, it's worth every krone. If only for the exclusive location.
Always Fully Booked, and Thus the Best Restaurant in Helgeland?
If you browse this blog occasionally, you'll know by now that I've fallen a bit in love with Helgeland. This illustrious coastal area, with its unique flora and fauna and spectacular landscape, is a serene antidote to the tourist-flooded Lofoten. If you're planning a trip to Norway, I'd like to heartily recommend considering this area. Moreover, you can eat wonderfully here. Restaurant Svang is a hidden gem in a tiny place you've probably never heard of: Brønnøysund. Although it has been inhabited since the Stone Age, it never became more than a small trading post. But anyway, back to Svang. It's not easy to secure a table, and that's undoubtedly due to the excellent fish dishes served there and the North Norwegian flair with which they're presented and served. Not yet convinced to set course for Brønnøysund? Then read my article about the Vega Islands and the Helgeland coast.
The Best (and only) Restaurant at the End of the World
Finnmark is an illustrious region. In winter, the sun doesn't rise, while in summer it doesn't set. These extremes and the sparsely populated landscape have had their effect on the population of this province. I have a soft spot for the people in the far north. They are open, cordial, and always up for a chat. Moreover, the natural beauty of this region is breathtaking. If you're here, skip the North Cape, but drive via one of the national scenic routes towards Havøysund. In this tiny place, where the roughly 900 residents mainly depend on fishing, stands a fantastic restaurant: Havets Smak. I dare say this is the best restaurant in Finnmark. And the fact that this very restaurant is in Havøysund is a wonder in itself. They serve all kinds of dishes with purely local ingredients. Of course, fish is on the menu, as fresh as you can get it. It's virtually impossible to dine more northerly than this!
Farm Shops: Food Treasures by the Roadside
When you see the sign of a brown rooster on the side of the road, it's almost without exception worth taking the turn and seeing what's being sold. Are you in Hardanger? Then there's a good chance you can buy wonderful apple juice or apple cider. More inland? Then you have a chance of getting a taste of great bread, pastries, meat, or cheese products. And so it goes on. That's why I'd like to heartily recommend keeping an eye on this map during your journey through Norway, as well as the brown signs along the road with the logo of a rooster. For there's nothing better than being able to buy directly from the farmer. Because farmers have had a damned hard time in the last few decades, and that needs to change.
Southern Charm: A Small Island in Sørlandet That Only Locals Know About
Whether this is a foodie destination, I'll leave up to you. But sometimes it's also about the context to make something ordinary into an experience. In short: go to Sandøya when you're in Sørlandet. Not just because of Linn's sausage-makery, but also because of many other things. Brød og Vind is an absolute must. In the summer, the most delicious bread in all of Sørlandet is baked here. Do also visit restaurant Basthaven. The amount of idyll is almost incomprehensible. In fact, Sandøya is one of those places you can hardly believe exists, and with a bit of bad luck, you'll never want to leave. If you decide to go here, I can recommend a few excellent places to stay.