The dining scene of Norway's capital has seen several new additions over the recent years. We have listed the five ones we believe you should visit

Maaemo

Tucked away behind the new and futuristic Barcode building, Oslo central station and the rather pre gentrified neighbourhood of Grønland, the location in itself deserves exploring. Here, Danish Michelin starred chef Esben Holmboe Bang has created a culinary star serving only organic, biodynamic and wild produce put together in a symphony of a menu that's presented in an envelope awaiting you at the table when you arrive.

The menu is ever changing, but with three Michelin stars awarded to Maaemo, you are guaranteed a splendid meal. The menu is inspired by the Norwegian nature, and takes seasonal changes and characteristics into consideration. Make sure you try the signature dessert; ice-cream caramelised with butter, topped off with hazelnuts. With eight tables only, and almost twice as many staff as guests, your meal here will be memorable in terms of both splendid food and impeccable service.

Nodee Barcode

Nodee has been present on Oslo’s dining scene since 2003, but only recently they moved their beloved restaurant from the West side of Oslo to the Barcode building in the highly anticipated emerging neighbourhood of Bjørvika, next to National Opera and the new Munch museum. Complete with a sky bar, Nodee is on the top of the list for trendy, affluent locals.

Here they serve some of their old favourites from Nodee Asian Cooking combined with new influences. One of the new additions is the Peking oven, one of only 15 in Europe. Used for more than just cooking their signature Nodee Style Peking Duck, they make a sumptuous leg of lamb as one of their specialties- served with grilled vegetables, tomato salad and spicy sukiyaki sauce and lamb broth.

Kontrast

Chef ace Mikael Svensson, opened restaurant Kontrast after 15 years working for Michelin starred restaurants around Europe. Voted one of the 300 best chefs in the world, he earned his first own Michelin star with Kontrast in 2016. A modern restaurant with a stark, semi-industrial feel created by the concrete floor, exposed pipework and open kitchen.

Kontrast is a modern Scandinavian restaurant with a focus on using ingredients that are both local and at the peak of their season. They offer world class, organic and ethically sourced ingredients from within Norway and showcase the farmers who produce them. The menu changes daily dependent on what accessible produce is best that particular day. 

Ling Ling Hakkasan

From the team behind Hakkasan, comes the famous restaurant’s “naughty little sister”, Ling Ling. Located in the Onda building at trendy Aker Brygge, and overlooking the harbour, this is the new place to see and be seen. With indoor and outdoor dining, rooftop terrace and a hidden lounge, Ling Ling in Oslo reminds you of an exclusive and vibrant beach hang out.

The cuisine is luxurious Cantonese but the concept is Japanese izakaya, serving dishes to share. The menu is based on Hakkasan’s signature dishes, but with Norwegian influences and local produce on the ingredients list. Dishes include the supreme dim sum platter with Norwegian king crab dumpling, and plaice dumpling with black truffle alongside grilled silver cod in ginger soy.

Happolati

Named after a character created by the Norwegian author Hamsund, Happolati is one of the more unusual recent additions to the dining scene in Oslo. It is run by five young and ambitious chefs, one of whom has previously worked for Michelin starred restaurant Kontrast, and another one who is a member of the Norwegian Culinary Junior Team. The initial plan was to cook Northeast Asian inspired street-food, however the result is gourmet food with culinary gimmicks that has earned mention in the Michelin Guide.

Amongst the dishes you will find noodle soup, gyoza and curry, chips and churros- but not in the conventional sense. Here, it is all made with an innovative twist. Incorporating oysters, king crab and duck confit, you are left with something far from street food. Choose between Liten meny (small menu) and Stor meny (big menu), or just go completely off piste. In heaven, everybody eats fast food like this. 

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