The Bakken & Bæck Oslo Guide
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Not all who wander are lost. Luckily you can lose yourself to dance, gluttony and vinous vigour on the way.
Welcome to Oslo!
Breakfast
Wake up and smell the coffee, pancakes, bacon and eggs. You can also put together your own mix of fresh produce from our local vendors.
Start the day off with a sweet pancake and milkshake breakfast at The Nighthawk Diner or get your full English breakfast on at Cafe Laundromat. For those of you with crazy Italian cravings in the morning, Villa Paradiso and Cafe Vespa & Humla will sate your hankering. Want everything with a side of everything? Grilleriet offers a lavish homestyle breakfast buffet, complete with a barista ready to make the morning brew of your choice. For an actual homemade breakfast, buy groceries at delicacy grocer Gutta på Haugen and top it off with baked goods from sourdough bread extraordinaire Ille Brød.
Coffee
Need an extra pick-me-up or simply want a damn fine cup of coffee? Say no more. Oslo prides itself on its rich coffee culture, being the home of some of the best coffee roasters in the world. Seriously, we’ve got awards and everything.
Bakken & Bæck’s choice coffee supplier Supreme Roastworks is a micro roastery, coffee bean hunter, coffee shop and the 2015 World Brewers Cup Champion. For high-quality coffee in wood & bare-brick surroundings, multi-award winning Tim Wendelboe is your guy (try the Cappuccino Al Freddo!).
Throw some culture into the mix by visiting one of the Stockfleths coffee chains, a 120 year old Norwegian brand name focused on serving up an experience as well as a damn good cup of coffee. 1960’s furnished Fuglen is a must-visit, a coffee bar concept that has branched out to Tokyo. For locals brews, check out Java.
Brunch/lunch/second breakfast
Whatever you call it, make it a good one.
Want another round of everything? Visit the upscale, indoor food market Mathallen to catch up on current Norwegian and international food trends, or try GRÅDI’s sharing platter «Hyggefjøl» at Tøyen, only two metro stops from the city center. Wok away from Tunco wanting more, and dig into the fanciest sandwiches and pizzas in town at Lofthus Tranen and W. B Samson.
MELT will have you toasted in no time, and ordering only one dish at Gunnars Generasjonsbar is almost impossible (we can’t). Hrímnir Ramen and Sapporo Ramenbar will amp up your ramen game, and Munchies will satisfy any burger hunger (the «Munchie» burger with caramelized onions and blue cheese is an absolute must-try).
Dinner
You choose, you lose — out on something else. So choose wisely.
Still not done trying everything? At informal Japanese gastropub Izakaya (meaning just that) and — essentially, informal Scandinavian gastropub — Bass, you can have it all and eat it too. They both have short, but well-constructed menus, so you can mix and match small dishes to your current level of appetite. Have your dumplings handmade at The Golden Chimp, or enjoy a delicious meal in relaxed surroundings at Kolonialen. Need to stretch out those fancy pants of yours? Visit the modest Michelin-starred restaurant Galt on the westside.
For all you Spanish inquisitors, Txotx (pronounced[cho-ch])and Publiko are perfecto. Smalhans and Arakataka serve up authentic Scandinavian cuisine and then some. For all you tapas loving people, Delicatessen is top doggo, whereas french connoisseurs will appreciate dimly lit Le Benjamin. For something fishy, Alex Sushi and Fjord are the freshest of choices. Anyone up for some Asian (con)fusion? KAMAI and Restaurant Sawan will throw you in every direction. Trouble deciding? Have Dinner.
Desserts
Not full yet? Oslo will have you sugar-coated in no time.
Sweet tooths (teeth?) need not look further than French cakery Pascal or delicious Danish ice-cream franchise Paradis to satisfy their hankering. Donut go gently into that good night without stopping by Talor & Jørgen for a deep-fried delicacy with sprinkles or popcorn(!) on top. Oh yeah, and then there’s this guy who started selling waffles out of his kitchen window, now a franchise; Haralds Vaffel. Be sure to try the one with Nutella or blue cheese & bacon. Craving that perfect lemon meringue pie? The Cupcake & Pie Co batters up — even donuts.
Drinks
Is it noon yet? It must be somewhere.
For those of you wanting an exotic alternative for your late night escapades, you should visit tiki bar Aku Aku for long drinks, round drinks and altogether weird drinks, or quench your sake thirst at Izakaya. Want to test your Viking aptitude? Fuglen and Himkok are the go-to places for local aquavit and home brewed liquor, whereas Bettola is your safe, but awesome bet for cocktails. For atmospheric satisfaction, make sure to visit botanical-themed Torggata Botaniske and bar & bicycle shop Cafe Rouleur.
Catch Oslo from above with a cocktail in hand at the rooftop terraces of Bar Vulkan or The Thief. Knock back a drink or two in plush wall surroundings at tropical kitsch bar Gurken Gurken Gurken Gurken, or go next door and try the amazing biodynamic wines at low-key wine bar Brutus. For point deco and music, check out Merkur Bar. They also have a small menu with bread and sausages from Indre Oslo Matforedling, whereas the sommeliers at Territoriet will top you up with great wines and gins.
Nightlife
Bring your sexy back at one of Oslo’s many dance floors or nod your head all cool-like in the corner.
Bike shop and cafe by day/bar by night, Oslovelo, and the backyard at Justisen, are your chill late-night hangouts. At Angst Bar, you can enjoy a relaxed, but dance-friendly atmosphere with current DJs. If you’re in the business of murdering dance floors, then sexytimedance (their words, not ours) hot spot The Villa is the place for you. Other cool DJ venues to check out are Jaeger and Blå, but if you’re seeking to lose yourself in a flailing dance crowd, Ingensteds («nowhere») is where you need to be — or not be.
Syng is a popular karaoke bar where you and your friends can book private karaoke rooms and get those gullets going. Karusell will make your head spin right round. They call themselves a circus, and rightly so. Skippergata 22 is a chill cafe by day/club at night fully furnished by reused materials found in the neighbourhood. Neat!
Shopping
Shop around the clock. Or at least until 6–8 pm, that’s when most shops close.
Visit women’s wear shops Ensemble and Babel for brands like Carven, C.l.e.a.n by Christina Ledang, RebekkaRebekka and A.P.C, or Hunting Lodge for the latest in male fashion. YME carries a wide selection of sneakers, including brands like Adidas, Nike, New Balance, Norse Projects and Wood Wood. Kaibosh will keep you well shaded, and for all your biking, men’s clothes and barber equipment needs, Dapper is the store for you.
Don’t forget to check out the Grünerløkka vintage scene. Second-hand treasure hunters are bound to find those one-of-a-kind vintage items at Velouria Vintage and Frøken Dianas Salonger. On Sundays you can explore the second-hand markets at Birkelunden park and Blå for unique items. For more exclusive shopping, visit shopping street Nedre Slottsgate for high-end brands like Gucci, Hermès and Louis Vuitton.
Insta’s paradise
Get content for days with the click baits of Oslo
Walk up the roof of Oslo Opera House by the Oslo fjord and snap some shots before global warming swallows it. For a steeper challenge, walk up the stairway to heavenly Holmenkollen ski jump. For a full (work-out and) view of the city, plan a trip up to Grefsenkollen. Lazy bums can tram it. Recreate the freaky contortionist poses of the sculptures at Vigelandsparken sculpture park.
Stroll through Kampen, Telthusbakken and Rodeløkka for insta-friendly, traditional Norwegian wooden houses before dipping into Sørenga sjøbad (fjord pool). And while you are at it, head over to the botanical garden Botanisk hage to smell the roses. We’re almost certain there are roses.
If you find yourself wandering around the Bakken & Bæck HQ, stop by for a tour of the office and a cup of Supreme Roastworks’ finest, or a cup of tea with fresh honey from our buzzing bees.
