Guidebook for Sankt Hanshaugen
Food Scene
The first and still nicest coffee bar chain in Oslo. The local spot is a cozy corner shop, good coffee. "Dagens kaffe" (daily brew of black coffee, ask for some milk if you want it white) is the cheapest option. Refill for some additional "kroner".
72 locals recommend
Kaffebrenneriet
2A Løvenskiolds gateThe first and still nicest coffee bar chain in Oslo. The local spot is a cozy corner shop, good coffee. "Dagens kaffe" (daily brew of black coffee, ask for some milk if you want it white) is the cheapest option. Refill for some additional "kroner".
Because it is the closest (albeit not the cheapest). Because it is cool. Because of the coffee. And because it is independent. And you can sit outside and watch people and the trees in the park across the road.
100 locals recommend
Java espresso & coffee Business AS
47 UllevålsveienBecause it is the closest (albeit not the cheapest). Because it is cool. Because of the coffee. And because it is independent. And you can sit outside and watch people and the trees in the park across the road.
A true gem in the very local food scene (five years or so old). Open all day, Scandinavian Modern style place serving well prepared food, Gourmet sharing menu in the evening. The budget option is a dinner plate with "Dagens husmann" (Todays simple fare, it might be traditional Norwegian or something more exotic) served between 4-6am. Also a place to drop in for a glass of wine at the bar in the evening.
186 locals recommend
Smalhans
43 UllevålsveienA true gem in the very local food scene (five years or so old). Open all day, Scandinavian Modern style place serving well prepared food, Gourmet sharing menu in the evening. The budget option is a dinner plate with "Dagens husmann" (Todays simple fare, it might be traditional Norwegian or something more exotic) served between 4-6am. Also a place to drop in for a glass of wine at the bar in the evening.
One of the really old and traditional establishments. We call them "brown" because of the darkish interior, the beer and the low key atmosphere. The food isn't that good any more, but todays dinner ("Dagens") is ok for a taste of everyday Norwegian simple fare.
41 locals recommend
Restaurant Schrøder
8 Waldemar Thranes gateOne of the really old and traditional establishments. We call them "brown" because of the darkish interior, the beer and the low key atmosphere. The food isn't that good any more, but todays dinner ("Dagens") is ok for a taste of everyday Norwegian simple fare.
The best Italian pizza in the neighbourhood! To go or sit down, in summer there are some outdoor tables as well.
31 locals recommend
Arte Pazza Filetto Ristorante
61 UllevålsveienThe best Italian pizza in the neighbourhood! To go or sit down, in summer there are some outdoor tables as well.
Great new informal noodle/ wok- place, young crowd, fresh food prepared to order, authentic and tasty. Very nice place to sit and relax and read and eat.
27 locals recommend
TUNCO
2 a Bjerregaards gateGreat new informal noodle/ wok- place, young crowd, fresh food prepared to order, authentic and tasty. Very nice place to sit and relax and read and eat.
Famous for the finest French patisserie. Go for coffee and croissant in the morning, sit outside if weather permits and enjoy the view of the park and people passing by. Go for nice lunches. And, on a budget, go for the daily early dinner before 6 a.m., well prepared fish or meat of the day, good French bistro style cooking.
51 locals recommend
Pascal Ullevålsveien
47 UllevålsveienFamous for the finest French patisserie. Go for coffee and croissant in the morning, sit outside if weather permits and enjoy the view of the park and people passing by. Go for nice lunches. And, on a budget, go for the daily early dinner before 6 a.m., well prepared fish or meat of the day, good French bistro style cooking.
It used to be a beer place for local drinkers (and the interior is nothing to boast about), and they are still hanging around, but now you get fairly good standard Indian fare as well. Todays offer before 6 pm won't ruin you. Some outdoor tables.
25 locals recommend
Albertine Tandoori
3 Hallings gateIt used to be a beer place for local drinkers (and the interior is nothing to boast about), and they are still hanging around, but now you get fairly good standard Indian fare as well. Todays offer before 6 pm won't ruin you. Some outdoor tables.
My favourite bread here is "havrespelt". You may also want to try the dark, compact Danish rye bread. Ask for half a loaf, get them to slice it for you, if you wish.
25 locals recommend
Baker Hansen
5 Schultz' gateMy favourite bread here is "havrespelt". You may also want to try the dark, compact Danish rye bread. Ask for half a loaf, get them to slice it for you, if you wish.
The ultimate St. Hanshaugen spot for foodies! Excellent deli with an Italian inclination, selling the best imported cheeses, hams, pasta and much more plus some meat products from small Norwegian producers (pluss eggs). Beautiful veg and fruit as well, but pricey. They also sell breads from my favourite Oslo bakers, Åpent brød. Go here to fill up your picnic basket for a day in the park or out on the islands in the inner fjord!
78 locals recommend
Gutta på Haugen
45 UllevålsveienThe ultimate St. Hanshaugen spot for foodies! Excellent deli with an Italian inclination, selling the best imported cheeses, hams, pasta and much more plus some meat products from small Norwegian producers (pluss eggs). Beautiful veg and fruit as well, but pricey. They also sell breads from my favourite Oslo bakers, Åpent brød. Go here to fill up your picnic basket for a day in the park or out on the islands in the inner fjord!
Open Bakery Frydenlund
2 FrydenlundgataBest bread in town. Cozy coffee shop.
Old warehouse at the docks with several street food places indoors to choose from. I especially like the falafel at Aleppo! Outdoor seating in summer with beautiful view of the fjord and islands. Nice, informal vibe. Occasionally events & festivals, music and much more. Combine with a stroll along the waterfront from west to east (or the opposite) and get the feeling of Oslo being a city open to the sea!
158 locals recommend
Vippa
25 AkershusstrandaOld warehouse at the docks with several street food places indoors to choose from. I especially like the falafel at Aleppo! Outdoor seating in summer with beautiful view of the fjord and islands. Nice, informal vibe. Occasionally events & festivals, music and much more. Combine with a stroll along the waterfront from west to east (or the opposite) and get the feeling of Oslo being a city open to the sea!
Go green. Ecological "supermarked" through and through. Food, cosmetics and more.
20 locals recommend
Røtter
39 UllevålsveienGo green. Ecological "supermarked" through and through. Food, cosmetics and more.
Drinks & Nightlife
30 year old establishment created and run by a man who loves opera music and diving! The interior wall paint colour is still deep sea turquoise. Informal neighbourhood feeling, all sorts of people young and old, reasonably priced beers and drinks, a mix of music, too. Opera singers perform on Tuesdays and Thursdays in a relaxed setting with many breaks, go for a try!
38 locals recommend
Underwater Pub
30 year old establishment created and run by a man who loves opera music and diving! The interior wall paint colour is still deep sea turquoise. Informal neighbourhood feeling, all sorts of people young and old, reasonably priced beers and drinks, a mix of music, too. Opera singers perform on Tuesdays and Thursdays in a relaxed setting with many breaks, go for a try!
Neighbourhood pub serving good meals (bistro-pub-fare) and a variety of beers (pluss some wines and drinks). Friendly family place in the late afternoon, gets more lively and noisy in the evenings. Homely place, outdoor seating in the summer season (at a cross road with traffic, but otherwise a green view).
22 locals recommend
Heim St.Hanshaugen
33 Colletts gateNeighbourhood pub serving good meals (bistro-pub-fare) and a variety of beers (pluss some wines and drinks). Friendly family place in the late afternoon, gets more lively and noisy in the evenings. Homely place, outdoor seating in the summer season (at a cross road with traffic, but otherwise a green view).
Hipster place, fire place, nice place. For wine, drinks – and bicycle repair. Not cheap at all, but in the late evening you get a good filling snack for little more than 100 kroner.
63 locals recommend
Café Rouleur Oslo
16A UllevålsveienHipster place, fire place, nice place. For wine, drinks – and bicycle repair. Not cheap at all, but in the late evening you get a good filling snack for little more than 100 kroner.
Parks & Nature
Walk to the top of the park and get a panorama of Oslo, even better in winter when the big old trees are naked! The harbour and fjord and islands to the south, the hills surrounding the city to the north and more. In summer: Bring a picnic and sit on a bench or on the lawn, or visit the outdoor cafe – new venue called UTENDØRS opening August 2018 – for a beer and a bite in the sun. Watch families, children, students reading for their exams. My absolute favourite park in Oslo!
202 locals recommend
St. Hanshaugen
Walk to the top of the park and get a panorama of Oslo, even better in winter when the big old trees are naked! The harbour and fjord and islands to the south, the hills surrounding the city to the north and more. In summer: Bring a picnic and sit on a bench or on the lawn, or visit the outdoor cafe – new venue called UTENDØRS opening August 2018 – for a beer and a bite in the sun. Watch families, children, students reading for their exams. My absolute favourite park in Oslo!
The small ferries (use the regular bus/tram-ticket) leave regularly from the harbour at Aker Brygge (front of City Hall on the western side) and take a round trip stopping at the various islands, all of them attractive for different reasons. Jump on and off as you like! Two of them have eating places (Gressholmen and Hovedøya, both with nice swimming places), but another option is to bring your own picnic for the day as most of us do on sunny days.
196 locals recommend
Hovedøya
The small ferries (use the regular bus/tram-ticket) leave regularly from the harbour at Aker Brygge (front of City Hall on the western side) and take a round trip stopping at the various islands, all of them attractive for different reasons. Jump on and off as you like! Two of them have eating places (Gressholmen and Hovedøya, both with nice swimming places), but another option is to bring your own picnic for the day as most of us do on sunny days.
Nice walk around this popular lake surrounded by forest. In winter people do cross country skiing here, in summer the beach might even be crowded! Bring your own picnic and join the crowds!
209 locals recommend
Sognsvann
Nice walk around this popular lake surrounded by forest. In winter people do cross country skiing here, in summer the beach might even be crowded! Bring your own picnic and join the crowds!
Because of the splendid view! Take also a look at - and inside - the restaurant and café in the 19th century traditional timber building. You arrive there by the tram, but might want to walk downhill on some paths through the forests for some stops on your way home.
49 locals recommend
Frognerseteren [T-bane] station
Because of the splendid view! Take also a look at - and inside - the restaurant and café in the 19th century traditional timber building. You arrive there by the tram, but might want to walk downhill on some paths through the forests for some stops on your way home.
Essentials
The best and biggest, albeit not the cheapest, local supermarked with a good choice of Organic products + Gluten Free and also of fresh meat and fish. Buy newly cooked shrimps from the fish monger at the innermost counter. Nice range of beers.
49 locals recommend
Coop Mega Bislett
19 DalsbergstienThe best and biggest, albeit not the cheapest, local supermarked with a good choice of Organic products + Gluten Free and also of fresh meat and fish. Buy newly cooked shrimps from the fish monger at the innermost counter. Nice range of beers.
For the daily essentials. Small, but good and reasonably priced. I especially like their vegetable selection.
31 locals recommend
KIWI W.M.Thranesgate
1 Waldemar Thranes gateFor the daily essentials. Small, but good and reasonably priced. I especially like their vegetable selection.
The local Pharmacy. The staff give good advice and also tell you if you should rather see a doctor.
11 locals recommend
Apotek 1 St. Hanshaugen
25 Waldemar Thranes gateThe local Pharmacy. The staff give good advice and also tell you if you should rather see a doctor.
In Norway you cannot buy wine in a grocery store or supermarked or deli. You buy wine (and liquor and strong beer) at the Vinmonopolet (the State Wine Monopoly), which is spread all over the city. And they are usually very well equipped and with a knowledgable staff, we simply love them! Opening hours are a bit limited: They close at six on weekdays, at three on Saturdays, and they are not open on Sundays or other holidays or days running up to major holidays.
91 locals recommend
Vinmonopolet
31 Thereses gateIn Norway you cannot buy wine in a grocery store or supermarked or deli. You buy wine (and liquor and strong beer) at the Vinmonopolet (the State Wine Monopoly), which is spread all over the city. And they are usually very well equipped and with a knowledgable staff, we simply love them! Opening hours are a bit limited: They close at six on weekdays, at three on Saturdays, and they are not open on Sundays or other holidays or days running up to major holidays.
Sightseeing
Quaint steep street with small old wooden houses, gardens across from them. Leads to the river Akerselva and the nice areas on both sides of it.
48 locals recommend
Telthusbakken
TelthusbakkenQuaint steep street with small old wooden houses, gardens across from them. Leads to the river Akerselva and the nice areas on both sides of it.
Arts & Culture
Drinks. Literature. Music. Clubbing. Alternative scene by the river. Nice Italian pizza at the beautiful outdoor seating.
394 locals recommend
Blå
9C BrenneriveienDrinks. Literature. Music. Clubbing. Alternative scene by the river. Nice Italian pizza at the beautiful outdoor seating.
Literature. Events. Nice restaurant/ café / place to sit and work. Especially nice outdoors on sunny summer afternoons and evenings. Try the sumptuous shrimp sandwich for lunch. Buy a book. Listen to authors. Watch the literati – and the trees in the garden surrounding the Royal Palace.
40 locals recommend
Tanum Litteraturhuset
29 WergelandsveienLiterature. Events. Nice restaurant/ café / place to sit and work. Especially nice outdoors on sunny summer afternoons and evenings. Try the sumptuous shrimp sandwich for lunch. Buy a book. Listen to authors. Watch the literati – and the trees in the garden surrounding the Royal Palace.