OsloTraveller.info

Oslo City Guide

admin — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 08:18:41 +0000

Oslo, the capital, largest city and heart of Norway, has a small-town charm like few other metropolitan cities. This could have something to do with the fact that it is still somewhat small. Norway in its entirety has just over four million people, less than many American cities.

The Norwegian people are very outgoing and friendly and will be sure to show you a good time, they really know how to party and they love it. If you go outside the city, gorgeous nature awaits you. The famous fjords are just as amazing as their reputation, and there is one just outside Oslo.

The best way to get around the countryside is by foot, and you will surely not be alone, a lot of tourists and locals enjoy hiking as a recreational and explorational activity.

Oslo lies by the coast in a fjord called the Oslofjord, where the city sprawls out both to the north and to the south on both sides of the fjord giving the city area more or less the shape of a “U”.

If you arriving Oslo by sea, be sure to spot Oscarsborg (Oscarsborg Fortress) which sunk the German heavy cruiser “Blucher” in the 2.nd World War, which again made the parliament and royal Family to flee to safety in London.

Oslo is the home to the famous late 1800’s modern artist, Edvard Munch. Today you can visit the Munch Museum. This is home to the famous painting, “The Scream” which was stolen in August 22, 2004, then recovered.

Oslo’s land is vast, including mountains and public beaches. Winters are chilly, and can drop down to -20 C. Summers are mild at about 20 C.

Other great sights include; Akershus Fortress built around 1300 and used to protect Norway. And the grand Royal Palace, built in the 19th century.

Blomqvist Kunsthandel

admin — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 13:11:39 +0000

Built as an auction house by its original owners in 1870, this place is full of history and style. Its two large rooms have glass ceilings creating tons of natural light. Inside you’ll find either one of their six annual auctions or one of their many Norwegian art exhibitions. In 1918 a gallery show released the full collection of an artist by the name of Edvard Munch. His prints and canvasses can still be seen here during temporary exhibitions. While this venue acts as an auction house, items up for bid include antiquities ranging from fine jewelry and paintings to furniture and sculpture.

Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.

Bjorn Ringstrøms Antikvariat

admin — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 13:10:23 +0000

Baerum Verk

admin — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 13:08:50 +0000

For a unique adventure, head outside of town to a restored ironworks site dating from 1610. Here you’ll find more than 65 different shops selling handicrafts and other items, including jewelry and woolens, plus exhibitions and six restaurants. If time remains, visit the ironworks museum on-site and see a smelting production dating from the 17th century.

Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.

ARK Qvist

admin — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 13:07:04 +0000

This light, airy, and welcoming bookshop specializes in English and Norwegian titles. There is a large focus on fiction from both countries as well as extensive biography, history, and true-crime sections. Its convenient location places it just next door to the American embassy.

A Taste of Norway

admin — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 13:05:36 +0000

This place is the most famous deli in Oslo. Quality, not quantity, is their self-described motto, and they do live up to their words. You’ll find everything you need to create the perfect outdoor meal. Cured and smoked meats from all over Europe hang on its walls, along with homemade jams and jellies on their shelves, a wide array of sharp and mild cheeses, and, as they claim, the best smoked salmon in the world. Although we don’t agree with Sean Lennon, who claimed that it “is better than world peace.” A specialty of the house is Fenalnlaar, cured and seasoned sheep’s meat. The only beverage is beer, which is supplied by a local brewery. For your actual picnic, we suggest you take your food to one of the beaches, either Huk on the Bygdøy peninsula or Hovedøya.

Bagatelle

admin — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 12:59:35 +0000

Though seasons come and go, this longtime favorite is still the best restaurant in Oslo. For years we have been won over by the light, modern cuisine, using market-fresh ingredients, that comes from the imaginative mind of that culinary whiz, Eyvind Hellstrom. The quality of service ensures that there are no distractions from the serious business of enjoying the food. Wonderfully aromatic seafood is the star of the menu, including the catch of the day, which the chefs often smoke to perfection. Our divine sole arrived steamed in seaweed, giving a tangy aroma of the sea. A voluptuous steamed halibut reached celestial levels when it was accompanied by a caviar cream sauce. Meat eaters are catered to with such offerings as a saddle of reindeer graced with fresh pears and a tangy pepper sauce. Richly flavored was the slow-cooked veal with a sage so fresh you’d think it was just plucked from the bush. The chef’s finely honed classic technique is showcased in a delectable herb-roasted Norwegian rack of lamb.

Babette’s Gjestehus

admin — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 12:58:30 +0000

Visiting Babettes is not the cheapest thing you can do in Oslo, but we never came away regretting the kroner dumped here. First, you’ve got to find it. The tiny premises are hidden away in a shopping arcade by City Hall. Named for the heroine of the film Babette’s Feast — which almost every Scandinavian has seen at least once — this restaurant is decorated in the style of a turn-of-the-20th-century Norwegian home. The walls are blue, the antiques are genuine, the curtains are lace, and there’s a scattering of old paintings dotting the walls. The masterful chefs use seasonal ingredients to produce reliable, superb-tasting food all year. Menu items are such time-tested favorites as filets of reindeer with lingonberries, steamed brill with mustard sauce and stewed tomatoes, an elegant breast of pheasant with mushroom sauce, and pan-fried breast of duck with creamed cabbage.

Bølgen & Moi Briskeby

admin — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 12:57:46 +0000

It hardly knocks Bagatelle out of the running; but when this kitchen is firing on all cylinders, it can turn out cooking to match the best you’ll find in Oslo. This is a showcase branch of a chain that’s now scattered throughout the urban centers of Norway. Backed by the creative zest of two Norway-born chefs and entrepreneurs (Mr. Bølgen and Mr. Moi), the chain is known for being creative and stylish, and as a haven for the discreetly rich and the sometimes famous denizens of Norway. It’s set in the Oslovian suburb of Briskeby, within a redesigned industrial building whose premises are lined with original paintings and photographs by avant-garde artists, most of them Norwegian. The fussiest, most prestigious, and most experimental venue here is the gourmet restaurant, one floor above street level, where only about seven tables accommodate diners for elaborate, drawn-out meals. Frankly, we prefer the street-level brasserie; it’s a wee bit less self-consciously grand, and the food is good enough to satisfy all but the most jaded palates. Well-flavored examples include a version of bouillabaisse made with Nordic sea fish; oven-baked free-range chicken with lemon-flavored couscous; pot-au-feu of breast of veal; and breast of duck with wild-mushroom-covered bruschetta.

A Touch of France

admin — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 12:54:51 +0000

One of our favorite restaurants in town is this most typical of all French bistros with its Art Nouveau decor, French posters, and waiters in long white aprons. The decor is that of a typical French brasserie, the kind you’d find alongside the road in Alsace, complete with tables spilling out onto the sidewalk during the summer months. A Touch of France is known for serving the freshest oysters in town. Bouillabaisse is also a specialty here, but that grand dish loses something in translation this far north. We often opt for the traditional salt-baked leg of duck, which is served in a savory garlic sauce. On other occasions we’ve enjoyed a classic calves’ liver with mushrooms, spinach, and bacon. After your main course, a dessert cart is wheeled around, loaded with such temptations as crème brûlée or a delectable chocolate-and-almond cake.