Oslo says

We’ve got a bike for you!

admin — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 06:30:41 +0000

Oslo is a rather small capital, but you would need a few hours to get around. So getting a bike could be a good idea. You will need a smart card that you can rent at the tourist information office.

The city bikes are available from a large number of bike stations around the city. You are only allowed to use a bike for maximum 3 hours – then you have to return it to a station (any one of them), and you can immediately loan a new bike if you wish.

Most of the stations are in the city centre, but you can also find bikes at Bislett, Grünerløkka, Gamlebyen (the old town) and at Bygdøy, and new stations are being built continuously. The bike stations are open 6 am – midnight. The bikes are not available in the winter.
For an updated list of bike stations, visit the website http://www.oslobysykkel.no, and you will find a map and a complete list of stations.

Tourists and others who don’t need a season card can rent a smartcard at the Tourist Information. This costs NOK 80 for one day. In addition to that, you have to have a credit card as a deposit.

Farmers’ market in Oslo

admin — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 10:30:28 +0000

Now it is season for Farmers’ market in Oslo. Last weekend a big fair was taking place at the Karl Johan. In October you will find new fairs in Vibes gate and in Birkelunden. More info here.

A toast to classical music

admin — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 17:53:07 +0000

Some people are unstoppable when something have gotten into their heads. Aksel Kolstad are one of them; he has worked for years to establish a permanent restaurant concert scene for classical music in Oslo. At Cafe de Concert you can enjoy classical music every night at 20.00, and the repertoire covers the lot.

Dinner and smaller dishes are served on request, or you can stick to a beer or a glass of wine at the bar.

Click for map

”Informal” meets ”gourmet” in Oslo

admin — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 11:53:33 +0000

Ooooh, it’s gonna cost you! But if you can afford it, you won’t regret your meal at the Palace Grill just below Solli plass. The concept is like ”informal” meets ”gourmet” – and these ambitions are both fulfilled – hopefully to your pleasure.

To start with: You can’t book a table. You will have to show up at the door. But it is not like the soup nazi, though – if it is crowded, you will in a friendly way be asked to wait in the bar at the other side of the entrance. When there is a free table, they will pick you up. It may take some time, they’ve only got 23 chairs. It is worth waiting.

There is no menu. Or, there is in fact a list of ten dishes. Start at the top and work your way through. The whole lot will cost you 850 Norwegian kroner, a little more than 100 Euro, or you can make a deal with the waiter which ones to skip. All ten is a quite a challenge, believe me, but the food is delicious. And then there is the wine. Just bring it on.

Service is indeed informal. Don’t shout at the waitress, she would probably shout back. Don’t be shy if she cuddles your hair, or if the chef comes along and asks you to taste something new he has created, right out of the casserole. To put it simple: Do exactly as you are told.

The Palace Grill is one of the three elements in the same house. There is also the bar which I’ve mentioned already, a little rough. Live music on Mondays. And then you have got ”Skaugum”, an outdoors bar in the backyard, open during a long summer.

There is a certain danger that the two bars are crowded with young aspiring people at the end of the week. Monday to Wednesday is recommended.
Click for map

Thank you, Sweden!

admin — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 06:07:10 +0000

Tourists in Oslo may think: Oh, the Norwegian waiters – they are so friendly!

Well, they would probably be Swedish (if they are friendly). Service isn’t in the genes of Norwegians, and young Norwegians tend to go for other opportunities. Lucky then, that many young Swedes, having trouble finding work back home, come to Oslo to work in restaurants, bars and shops.

I wouldn’t dare to give an explanation, but the fact is that Swedish waiters tend to be more friendly and clever, working with a smile on their face, and that they have become so popular among Norwegian employers that they are by far outnumbering Norwegians working in restaurants in Oslo these days.

Oslo’s secret of bread

admin — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 12:19:58 +0000

To be honest, tourists haven’t come rushing to Norway for the bread. Norwegians turned their back to old fashioned bakeries many years ago, preferring to buy their bread in industrialized grocery stores on-the-run from work to home.

Lately, we have seen a few signs of recovery for the very idea of a bakery. You can even find bakeries that could be mistaken for at french boulangerie. Not many of them, of course – but have a try at Åpent Bakeri (yes, you are right, it means Open Bakery). You will find the original one behind the Royal castle, in Incognito terrasse. They also have a few stores around the city, but this is the place to be for a pain-au-chocolat and a nice cup of coffee, and for the bread to bring home afterwards.

And, yes – the people in charge are French, of course.

Show map

Opera at the Underwater Pub

admin — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 12:55:23 +0000

You’re a fan of dramatic opera arias, but you can’t stand the stiff atmosphere among the public? In Oslo you can have your beer as you listen to a great soprano voice. At the Underwater Pub, professional singers is on stage every Tuesday and Thursday.

The entrance is free, but you are of course expected to buy a drink or two. And don’t talk when they sing! Wait till they have finished singing…
Click for map

Culture night Friday!

admin — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 18:07:38 +0000

If you are so lucky to be in Oslo on Friday 18th, don’t hesitate to join in with the crowd for the Culture Night, an annual festival comprising theatres, galleries, libraries, music pubs and street art. Even the ministry of culture opens up its doors for guests.
The general idea is that all kinds of cultural activitities are open for public until midnight, and its free for all. The programme is very impressing, indeed.

Fancy a glass of wine?

admin — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 18:47:01 +0000

A good wine bar is hard to come by in Oslo, but you will find one at Grunerløkka, which for some years have stood out as the hippest area of the city. Dr. Kneipp is the corner affiliate of the more prominent restaurant Markveien Mat & Vinhus, reknown for good service and sublimation of Norwegian food.

Although Dr. Kneipp is as informal as you can wish, they stick to old fashioned service, and their list of wines are probably the largest in town. They have focused on Italy as the corner stone, but you will also have a decent choice of especially French and Spanish wines. Many wines are served by the glass, and they’ve got weekly offers. Prices are probably as low as they can afford – still, I have to warn you once again on Norwegian prices. It is, simply put, expensive to enter a restaurant. In this case, do it anyway.

Dr. Kneipp also provides you with what goes along with the wine; cheese, antipasti, and even a larger menu if you are in the mood. But remember that you are there for the wine.

Click for map

The ferry to nowhere

admin — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 10:59:32 +0000

Among dozens of chic, posh and fancy places to have a drink in the city of Oslo and at the waterfront, you will find a floating pub where you don’t have to bother too much about the dress code. Ferja (the ferry) is a great little boat which used to be the ferry at Tjeldsund up north at the city of Harstad. The last 25 years or so, it has been a very low-key place to meet for a beer during summer.

One of the few places that serve the original bayer on a tap, they will also provide you with some other bottled sorts, and you can have a hot dog. That’s about it. And of course the friendly service.

Cash is king at Ferja – they don’t accept credit cards. That’s about all you have to remember.