Smelteverket runs one of the longest bars in Scandinavia, set in the old industrial Vulkan quarter beside the Akerselva. The beer menu changes constantly and pulls craft from around the world, with a fusion sharing kitchen built for a long table.
Published October 4, 2025 - By Daniel Okafor
Smelteverket sits at Vulkan 5, in the basement level of the Vulkan quarter beside the Mathallen food hall and the Akerselva river, on the western edge of Grunerlokka. VisitOslo describes the ever-changing beer menu as packed with great craft beers from around the world, backed by a fusion sharing menu served tapas-style. The Vulkan setting, a reclaimed industrial yard, gives the room its scale and its name, which means the smeltery.
The room
The space is built around a single very long bar, one of the longest in Scandinavia, which runs the length of the room and keeps the taps within reach of a big crowd. The industrial bones stay exposed, with concrete and steel softened by warm light. It seats a large party comfortably, which is rare in central Oslo.
The Vulkan quarter around the bar is worth the early arrival, since the reclaimed industrial yard now holds the Mathallen food hall, a climbing centre, and a cluster of restaurants along the Akerselva. That setting feeds Smelteverket a steady crowd and gives the long bar its purpose as the neighbourhood's main drinking room. The kitchen's sharing format is built to match the beer rather than compete with it, so a flight and a few plates can stretch across an evening without the table ever feeling rushed.
What to order
The tap list rotates often, so the play is to ask the bar what is fresh rather than chase a fixed house pour. Order a flight to cover ground, then settle on the one that lands, and graze the fusion sharing plates across the table as you go. Pricing sits in the $$ band, which keeps a long session and a few small plates reasonable for central Oslo.
The crowd and best time to go
The room draws Mathallen visitors, Grunerlokka locals, and groups who need a table that actually fits them. Weekend afternoons run busy off the food-hall traffic, while weeknights are the calmer window for tasting through the taps. Go early for a seat at the long bar.
What regulars say
The steady praise across VisitOslo and Yelp (reviews updated April 2026) centres on the rotating selection and the room's scale, with the sharing food a regular bonus. The honest caution is that a hall this size can get loud and busy when the food hall empties into it, so a quiet pint is easier midweek.
Who it is for
This is for the beer explorer, the group that needs space, and anyone pairing a Mathallen visit with a long drink. Skip it for an intimate date or a quiet nightcap, since the hall runs loud once the food market empties into it and suits company over solitude. For more of the area, see our Oslo craft beer guide and the full Oslo bar guide.
The verdict
Smelteverket wins on range and room: a constantly rotating world beer list poured along a bar few cities can match, in a setting built for a crowd. Come with a group, order a flight, and let the bar steer. For more Oslo craft beer, compare the central tap room at Crow Bar, the cellar brewery at Schouskjelleren Mikrobryggeri, and the house brews at Grunerlokka Brygghus. Our craft beer guide covers the rest.
