Oslo is the most expensive city in this guide and also one of the most rewarding to drink in once you know where to go. The best bars in Oslo have risen to the challenge of high costs by making every kroner count — the quality of ingredients, technique, and hospitality here is as high as anywhere in Europe. We covered 19 venues across Grunerlokka, Aker Brygge, and the city centre. These 10 stood apart.
01
Himkok
Storgata
$$$
Nordic Distillery
Oslo's most celebrated cocktail bar, operating its own micro-distillery on site and producing aquavit, gin, and vodka used exclusively in the bar. The tasting menu moves through 5 drinks built around seasonal Norwegian ingredients. Reserve a seat at the distillery counter for the most immersive experience.
Order: The seasonal tasting menu or the aquavit sour
02
The Thief Bar
Tjuvholmen
$$$$
Hotel Bar / Art-Focused
The bar inside The Thief hotel on Tjuvholmen island has earned its own reputation separate from the hotel. The cocktail list is genuinely creative and the waterfront views across Oslofjord make it the most scenically impressive drinking experience in the city. Go at sunset for the full effect.
Order: The aquavit Old Fashioned or house Martini variation
03
Bar Boca
Grunerlokka
$$
Retro / Neighbourhood
A beloved neighbourhood cocktail bar in Grunerlokka with a 1960s design that has been there since before the area became fashionable. The drinks are well-priced for Oslo, the music is excellent, and the crowd is entirely local. It fills by 9pm on weekends — arrive earlier or prepare to stand.
Order: Margarita or the house gin sour
The complete Oslo bar guideEvery category in Oslo, from craft beer to hidden gems.
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Oslo's Best Craft Beer and Neighbourhood Bars
Oslo has a serious craft beer culture anchored by a clutch of excellent breweries and taprooms. These are the bars where local beer professionals spend their evenings off.
04
Schouskjelleren Mikrobryggeri
Grunerlokka
$$
Brewpub / Underground
A brewpub in the old Schous brewery cellars with low vaulted ceilings and 12 taps of house-brewed beer. The porter is exceptional. Friday evenings fill quickly with Grunerlokka locals treating this as their regular. Worth booking a spot at the long communal tables.
Order: Schous Porter or whichever IPA launched that week
05
Crow Bar
Grunerlokka
$$
Craft Beer / Low-key
A focused craft beer bar with 20 taps and a carefully curated bottle list that favours Norwegian and Danish producers. The space is no-frills — wooden stools, good lighting. The staff know the list deeply and will steer you to whatever is drinking best that week.
Order: Whatever Norwegian craft the staff recommends
06
Internasjonalen
Grunerlokka
$$
Bar / Music Venue
A large Grunerlokka bar that doubles as a live music venue and stays relevant by doing both things well. The beer list covers 16 taps with solid Scandinavian representation and the energy shifts from relaxed afternoon drinking to a proper evening out as the music kicks in after 9pm.
Order: Norwegian pale ale on draft
Oslo craft beer guideThe best craft beer taprooms and bars in Oslo.
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Late Night Oslo and the Hidden Bar Scene
Oslo's nightlife runs late and the best venues for the late portion of an evening are concentrated in a handful of streets. These are the ones that reward staying out.
07
Torggata Botaniske
Torggata
$$
Speakeasy / Botanical
A cocktail bar entered through what appears to be a plant shop on Torggata, opening into a low-lit bar decorated with hundreds of botanical specimens. The cocktail menu leans into the theme with herb-forward, bitter, complex drinks built around foraged ingredients. One of Oslo's better-kept secrets.
Order: The botanical tasting menu, 3 drinks
08
The Villa
Aker Brygge
$$$
Waterfront / Lively
Oslo's most prominent waterfront bar, drawing a dressed-up crowd to Aker Brygge every weekend. The setting on the fjord with full views of the Akershus fortress makes it the most atmospheric venue in the city on a clear evening. Best visited on a Thursday when it is slightly less crowded.
Order: Classic Aperol Spritz or house cocktail of the month
09
Kulturhuset
City Centre
$$
Arts Bar / Multi-floor
Four floors of Oslo's most eclectic bar-and-arts-venue, with each floor offering a different atmosphere. The drinks are well-priced by Oslo standards and the crowd ranges across every age group. An essential stop for anyone trying to understand Oslo's social fabric.
Order: Whatever draft beer is on special that evening
10
Bar Brutus
St. Hanshaugen
$$
Natural Wine / Neighbourhood
A natural wine bar in St. Hanshaugen that has become the go-to for Oslo's food and drink professionals on their nights off. The list covers 120 producers with a strong focus on low-intervention European wines. The food is excellent and the atmosphere is genuinely warm without trying hard to be.
Order: Producer Champagne or an Alsatian Riesling by the glass
Our Verdict on Oslo's Bar Scene
Oslo demands a higher upfront investment than most European cities but rewards it consistently. The cocktail bars here compete with the best in Scandinavia, the craft beer scene is world-class, and the late-night options are better than the city's conservative reputation suggests. For the full picture on Oslo's tap room culture, our dedicated Oslo craft beer guide covers Grünerløkka's best breweries and bars in detail. Budget for one exceptional dinner and two proper bar evenings — that is the correct Oslo itinerary.
Oslo hidden gem barsThe under-the-radar venues in Oslo that most visitors never find.
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