Norway’s capital is a perfect blend of old and new.
WHERE TO STAY
This relative newcomer to the region’s most reliable Scandic hotel chain in the heart of Vulkan, one of the newest districts to have sprung up in the Norwegian capital, is full of character. All of Scandic’s usual amenities are supplemented with a fully equipped gym, plenty of kooky design, excellent views over the Akerselva River and its valley, and a special cyclethemed room (No. 201). Scandic Vulkan is also perfectly positioned right next door to Oslo’s food hall, Mathallen. Maridalsveien 13 | scandichotels.com
A CLASSIC NOT TO MISS
Oslo’s old Grand Café is no more, but there’s still one place where you can breathe in the atmosphere of Old Oslo – Theatre Café (Theatercaféen), which is now part of the Hotel Continental. This dining hall and separate private dining room dates back to 1900 and is an architectural marvel, with a stucco vaulted ceiling above the tables and a classic parquet floor below them, separated by elegant marble columns. All of it was painstakingly restored half a century ago, and the café remains the best place in Oslo for a luxurious brunch. Stortingsgata 24-26 | theatercafeen.no
WHY NOT
The most affordable sightseeing tour can be taken by climbing aboard the No. 19 tram. From the square at Majorstuen, it takes you through the streets of Briskeby, past the Royal Palace Park and the National Theatre to Central Station and the diverse neighbourhood of Grønland before weaving through medieval Oslo and up towards Ekeberg Sculpture Park and finally Ljabru. A round trip takes just under an hour, but you can push the button and hop off if you see anything that takes your fancy along the way. Check out the view of the city at Sjømannsskolen. ruter.no/en
WHERE TO SHOP
It may have relocated 100 metres up the street from its original home at the centre of Oslo’s hipster district of Grünerløkka, but Dapper has lost none of its edge and remains the most stylish menswear store in the Norwegian capital. It offers the complete package: carefully chosen clothes, bicycles you’d want to be seen astride, and a full barber service. While waiting for any of the above, you can sample Dapper’s very own coffee. Nordre gate 20 | dapper.no
WHERE TO EAT
Behind the traditional-looking menu at Markveien Mat og Vinhus (Markveien Food and Wine House) is simple cooking of the highest quality. Inside, you’ll find a cosy atmosphere suitable for everything from business dinners to long-awaited reunions. Locals talk about the lamb and crayfish dishes, both of which embody the restaurant’s ideals of traditional food with a Franco-Nordic twist. Torvbakkgata 12 | markveien.no