What to Eat in Bergen, Norway: Bergen Restaurant Reviews

In August 2025, I travelled to Bergen, Norway with my in-laws and husband, Patrick. The following is a list of restaurant reviews to help you find what food to eat in Bergen. It includes restaurants and dishes we tried, our thoughts, and general price points. Most of these restaurants are tourist-centric and located within walking distance of the Bryggen. I’ve broken them into categories by meal type. Happy eating!

Plate of vegetables, whale, and potatoes at a restaurant in Bergen, Norway.

What to Eat in Bergen, Norway

Bergen Food & Restaurant Reviews

Bergen’s Culinary Scene

First, let’s set the scene. Bergen is a charming cruise port town located in Vestland county on the western coast of Norway. It is Norway’s second largest city after the capital, Oslo.

From my observations and cursory research, the food scene appears to be shaped by tourist interest, geographical location, and Norwegian culinary traditions. For example, according to a tour guide, during peak summer season, cruise ships of tourists arrive daily depositing 4,000-8,000 people into town each morning, then leave with them that night. In the off season, the city is primarily locals with an estimated population of ~295,000 people.¹ For reference, this is a smaller population than Cincinnati, Ohio². Subsequently, the food scene needs to cater to large numbers of people from all over the world visiting daily. With the city’s location on the water, fish and seafood are prominent throughout most restaurants. Traditional Norwegian dishes are also served throughout the city, and there is an emphasis on locally raised crops and meats.

The Bryggen, the primary tourist attraction and walking distance from most restaurants in this post.

Charming harbor in Norway with yachts and red roofed builings — The Bryggen, the primary tourist attraction and walking distance from most restaurants in this post.

Bakeries

Godt Brød (Bread, Sandwiches)

Godt Brød is an organic Norwegian bakery chain with fantastic bread. The name fittingly translates to “good bread” in English. Their sandwiches looked excellent, though I didn’t have an opportunity to try them. Twice, I went and purchased a half loaf of their sourdough spelt bread for 410 NOK (~$4.10 USD). This provided about 8 slices and lasted my husband and I about 2 days. We’d eat it back at our Air BNB with eggs and smoothies. It was tangy, moist, delicious, and great for digestion, especially while traveling. Would highly recommend swinging by.

Website: https://www.godtbrod.no/

RD Nutrition Insight: What is Spelt?

Spelt is an “ancient grain”, meaning that the harvesting and processing has been largely unchanged for hundreds of years. Spelt is actually a type of wheat and considered a whole grain with a nutty and slightly sweet flavor profile. It is full of fiber, B-vitamins, magnesium and zinc. Spelt berries can be added to yogurts or soups while the flour can be used like any traditional wheat flour for breads, other baked goods, etc. While very nutritious, it does contain gluten, so is not suitable for celiacs.³

Bakstube (Cinnamon Buns)

Another Norwegian bakery chain. We loved their cinnamon buns, or skillingbollers. Skillingbollers are considered classic Norwegian fare, though they were introduced from Hanseatic League trade in the middle ages. They are characterized by their “snail-like” shape and heavy use of cardamon. Unlike American cinnamon rolls, they are unfrosted. Trust me – they taste better than they look. There was cinnamon in every bite, and the bun was soft and buttery, even when purchased at the end of day. I bet they’re even better fresh, first thing in the morning. We attempted to repurchase multiple times, but they were always sold out by the time we swung by.

Website: https://backstube.no/

woman with yogurt and man with cinnamon bun — Backstube Cinnamon Bun

Bin Utop (Salads, Baked Goods)

Located in the galleria. I only tried their cinnamon bun and would not recommend. At 520 NOK, not only was it more expensive than Bakstube, but the taste paled in comparison. The Bin Utop skillingboller tasted like a stale pretzel that had sat on some cinnamon and sugar. I’d say skip. They did seem to have a tasty looking build your own salad bar though, if of interest.

Half Eaten Cinnamon Bun on paper in Norway

Lunch

Søstrene Hagelin (Traditional Fish Dishes, Fish Cakes)

Søstrene Hagelin is a tourist hot spot serving traditional Norwegian fish dishes, such as fish soups and wraps. They’re most known for their fish cakes. Supposedly, when the restaurant first opened, the king of Norway loved their fishcakes so much that he insisted they be shipped to him. I visited at 2 pm on a weekday, and there was a line out the door.

Despite its “Insta-famous” status, Søstrene Hagelin is actually a restaurant with some history. It was started by 2 sisters (søstrene means sister) in 1929, and according to the website, the same recipes used in the 20’s are used today. You can see pictures of the sisters and the restaurant’s early days displayed on the walls inside.

I tried 2 fish cakes for 20 and 33 NOK each. Frankly, I got their best seller and then the heart-shaped one for fun, but can’t find their proper Norwegian names online. Both were white fish based, one with pollock and the other with haddock, I believe. Fish cakes are literally ground fish and potato pan fried. Less unappetizing if you don’t think about it too hard. The first one I ate was, frankly, better than expected; enough so that I went back for a second. Admittedly, I had a weird aftertaste in my mouth and didn’t feel great after eating them, but it was a fun cultural experience. The store’s raw salmon and cucumber wraps looked much more appetizing, and I saw several people with fish soup, which I had tried elsewhere already, that could be worth considering.

Website: https://www.sostrenehagelin.no

Daily Pot (Soup, Vegetable/Grain Bowls)

Daily Pot is where you go when you want some veggies and need a break from Norwegian food. Their mission is to introduce the world to clean eating through delicious food. This Bergen restaurant specializes in soups, salads, and grain bowls with changing weekly menus. This could be a great option if you or someone you’re traveling with has dietary restrictions.

Like everywhere in Norway, Daily Pot is pretty pricey. A medium soup (about 2 cups) will run 179 NOK (~$18 USD). That said, my order was delicious and hearty. It included chicken and ham with a tomato base, lots of celery, carrots, etc. You also get to choose two toppings. I opted for broccoli and lentils. Available soup flavors change daily.

The restaurant also offered “Power Bowls”, which, if you include meat, run about $220 NOK. These appear to have a grain, vegetables, and a pesto sauce.

Although the restaurant is open until 8 pm, around 7:30 pm prior to closing, they only offer soup for “take out”. I was able to carry my take out bag to a table and still eat in restaurant though. I would have loved to revisit this restaurant if given more time.

Website: https://www.dailypot.no/

Red soup with chunky vegetables and beans.

Coop Extra (Salad Bar)

An unsung hero.

“Coop Extra” is a local grocery chain. Though not available at all locations, their salad bar is perfect when you want something simple, light, and probably, ordinary. You pay by the kg. I walked away with a small salad that had garlic chicken, lots of mixed greens, pesto soaked beans, and some pasta salad for under $5 bucks. Unheard of. Frankly, I probably needed double the size, but was unsure of quality prior to purchase.

Grocery store salad bar in Norway — Coop Extra Salad Bar

Close Up of grocery store salad bar in Norway — Coop Extra Salad Bar

Trekroneren (Reindeer Sausage)

Trekroneren is a small hotdog stand in Bergen famous for its reindeer sausages and being one of the few “cheap eats” in Norway. I didn’t eat here, but Patrick did and ordered a reindeer dog with lingonberry sauce and fried onions for $9.44 USD. He described the dog as, “Good, had a pop to it” but added that it definitely needed the lingonberries to sweeten it up and distinguish it from an ordinary hot dog. Note that there is no indoor seating, so be prepared to eat on the go.

Website: https://trekroneren.restaurants-world.com/

long hot dog in a bun with red ligonberry sauce — Trekroneren Reindeer Dog, #6

Fjellskål Sjømatrestaurant (Whale, Seafood)

Fjellskål Sjømatrestaurant is a seafood restaurant located inside a food hall near the Bryygen. I also missed out on this lunch, but Patrick ordered the whale salad, pictured below. He described the whale meat as very oily and salty. He said he wouldn’t order it again, but found it fun to try. Where else can you try whale, after all? He recalls the dish being about $25-$30 USD.

Website: https://www.fjellskaal.no/

Plate with whale, greens, and potatoes — Whale Salad

Dinner

Bryggeloftet & Stuene (Steakhouse, Traditional Norwegian Cuisine)

Bryygeloftet & Stuene is a higher end sit-down restaurant serving traditional Norwegian cuisine with a historic vibe, overlooking Bergen’s wharf. It claims to be Bergen’s oldest restaurant, started in 1910. Guests were a mix of locals and tourists, with the locals definitely dressed more formally. I would recommend a reservation. We had one at 5:15 pm and the restaurant was packed upon our arrival.

I ordered the reindeer steak ($575 NOK, ~$60 USD), which is served medium over asparagus and mushroom with lingonberries and a delicious “game sauce”. Each entrée also comes with your choice of potatoes. I opted for the boiled, which were a little bland, but paired well with the rich meat and sauce. The reindeer steak was good; since I was pregnant at the time of visit, I asked for it to be cooked a bit more. Still delicious, but probably better medium, medium-well. The lingonberries added a nice tang and sweetness to the dish. The delicious game sauce stole the show.

Bryygeloftet & Stuene was a delicious way to try reindeer. The restaurant’s halibut is also said to be very good.

Website: https://www.bryggeloftet.no/

Reindeer steak with lingonberry sauce and asparagus

medium reindeer steak with lingonberry sauce and asparagus — Reindeer steak with lingonberry sauce and asparagus

Dessert

Hallaisen (Ice Cream)

Hallaisen is a great ice cream place and another tourist hot spot. The line was out the door. Hallaisen is actually an informal way to say hello in the Bergen Norwegian dialect. The ice cream shop was started by a lesbian couple with one partner native to Bergen, and the other from Kalua Lampur, Malaysia. They wanted their shop to be a place where both flavors and culture could intermingle.
Hallaisen serves about 10 flavors. I ordered the skillingbolle (cinnamon bun), which was delicious and would highly recommend. Others in my group opted for coconut lime or hazelnut. The ice cream texture was very rich and smooth, and the prices quite reasonable. We paid around $25 USD for all 4 of our ice creams.

Website: https://www.hallaisen.com/

Man with double scoop ice cream cone next to woman with spoon in mouth and single scoop ice cream. — Exterior Window of Hallaisen

Wanted to Try But Didn’t Have Time

Pingvingen (Traditional Norwegian Cuisine)

Gastropub serving traditional Norwegian fare. Said to be a good place to try traditional dishes in a trendy setting.

Website: https://portal.gastroplanner.no/p/nFYlVe/restaurant/1386

Conclusion

Though Norway isn’t necessarily renown for its cuisine, the Bergen restaurant and food reviews above give you a sampling of a few classical dishes, like fish cakes, reindeer, and local baked goods, as well as some options to get in some additional veggies or accommodate other palettes. Have you been to Bergen? Which Bergen restaurants would you add to the list?