There has been a post-pandemic boom of restaurant openings in Oslo. The lockdowns didn’t seem to set the industry back; rather, they seemed to spark new ideas and additions to the rapidly developing food scene. It’s an exciting time for restaurants in Oslo, so even though we are now based in Copenhagen, we still travel back to Norway’s capital frequently, with food as the main focus of our visit. Therefore, we are constantly updating our Oslo map, and making sure it’s relevant and up-to-date with the city’s best new culinary addresses. On our most recent visit last month, we checked out the most exciting openings in town and updated our list of favorites. (Read our full Oslo guide here!) Without further ado, here are five restaurants in Oslo you should visit in 2022.
Looking for more great spots for food and drinks in Norway’s capital? Check out our city map of Oslo!
Bar Amour
In the tiny space above the Tranen/Lofthus Samvirkelag pizza restaurant (in the former venue of the legendary cocktail bar Morgenstierne) is Bar Amour, a new bar and eatery. Chef Halaigh Whelan-McManus (formerly of Maaemo and Hot Shop) has taken over the kitchen here; although, the term “kitchen” is a bit of a stretch. It’s incredibly impressive the high level of cooking coming out of this bar counter – Halaigh is a one-man-show, wielding only a binchotan grill and a waffle iron as his culinary weapons while he whips out a six-course menu. In the front of house, he has Jonas Faye-Schjøll Thommessen as his right hand man and restaurant manager. To go with the food, you’ll find lots of juicy wines from Magic’s magical cellar downstairs at Tranen. We enjoyed wines from L’Octavin in France and Serragghia in Italy.
BAR AMOUR Address & Contact Information Waldemar Thranes gate 70, Oslo, Norway Website Instagram
The Little Pickle
Inspired by popular London restaurants like St. John and The Laughing Heart, The Little Pickle is a relaxed restaurant with large sharing plates and small dishes from the team formerly of Imperial and The Tea Room. The concept is simple – focused on good, honest cooking and local, organic produce. On Sundays, they serve a roast dinner, with all of the hearty British fare you can dream of, like roasted meat, potatoes, cabbage, gravy, stuffing, and, of course, Yorkshire pudding. Of course, you’ll also find loads of pickles, from picklebacks to pickle plates. The wine list is small but mighty, featuring lots of our favorite natural producers, like Heinrich, La Sorga, and Ganevat.
THE LITTLE PICKLE Address & Contact Information Jens Bjelkes gate 9a, Oslo, Norway Website Instagram
Kafeteria August
Kafeteria August is a casual restaurant and wine bar from Esben Holmboe Bang and the Maaemo team, with Petter Rolund Antonsen as head chef and Joanne Sørheim as general manager. The beautifully-designed space is open all-day, serving minimalistic breakfast platters, pastries, and coffee in the morning, as well as simple vegetable dishes and small plates like potato salad and beef tartare alongside wine in the afternoon and evening. At the end of April, Holmboe Bang and team will also open another restaurant next door to Kafeteria August. Mon Oncle will be a French restaurant with high ambitions. We can’t wait to check out this restaurant on our next visit to Oslo!
KAFETERIA AUGUST Address & Contact Information Universitetsgata 9, Oslo, Norway Website Instagram
Schlägergården
The newest restaurant from Björn Svensson is Schlägergården, located just a short drive outside of the Oslo city center in Lilleaker. Svensson has taken over and renovated an old farm house from the 1700’s; the vibe is so cozy it almost feels as if you’re dining in Svensson’s home. His tasting menu showcases top Norwegian ingredients like scallops and langoustines, with caviar supplements available for those looking to indulge. Of course, Ille Brød, Oslo’s best sourdough bread, is always a staple on the menu.
SCHLÄGERGÅRDEN Address & Contact Information Lilleakerveien 30, Oslo, Norway Website Instagram Facebook
Restaurant J2
Although it opened a few years ago, restaurant J2 flew a bit under the radar since it was forced to close for many months due to the strict lockdowns in Oslo. But now, a reservation here should be a priority for any food lover in Norway. Serving a modern Korean tasting menu, J2 is a refreshing addition to the Oslo food scene – there’s no other place like this in town! From the Norwegian scallops to the bibimbap, we enjoyed every dish on the seasonal seven-course menu. Our favorite serving was the main course of Iberico pork with lettuce wraps, cauliflower purée, and kimchi. A beverage pairing is available, with a mix of wine, sake, and Korean rice wine.
J2 Address & Contact Information Pilestredet 63A, Oslo, Norway Website Instagram Facebook
What’s your favorite restaurant in Oslo right now? Let us know in a comment below.
Favourite restaurant and where I go most frequently is the new izakaya, Konoji, just a block away from The Little Pickle. Always something new on the menu, cheap and satisfying authentic Japanese food. Great music and overall vibe, much thanks to the dedicated and hardworking staff.
Thanks for the recommendation – we’ll add it to the hit list! 🙂
Real big fan of Aquarie!
Great 6 course menu, all fish- and seafood, with Jonathan Romano at the helm, finally working in the kitchen again. Got some great chefs and waiters with him as well.
So beautifully balanced dishes, they really “got me hooked”, haha.
Good to hear! 🙂
Thanks for sharing all the latest news. Hope to try these places!
Hope you get to!