Bergen has a growing reputation as a city for great dining experiences. Access to first-class ingredients from sea and land, and a culinary environment where creative food artists can flourish, are two of the main reasons why Bergen has world-class restaurants.
In Bergen, the gastronomic experiences are in abundance, and you are guaranteed to find a restaurant that suits your palate. But with well over 250 eateries, it can sometimes be difficult to choose. We have tried to make it easier for you to find the right restaurant by giving you the opportunity to see only restaurants in these four main categories: Typical Norwegian food, sushi and seafood, restaurants with an international menu, pizza, exclusive restaurants with the best local ingredients. You can of course see the entire selection as well, that list can be found below the text in this article.
The best seafood restaurants in Bergen
Bergen has always been known for first-class seafood. Today, some of Norway’s best seafood restaurants are located in our city. You can’t go wrong if you pay Bryggeloftet & Stuene a visit and order the Bergen fish soup. You should also try “Persetorsk” at Bien Bar & Restaurant. “Persetorsk” is cod pressed for a long time in a sugar and salt solution, and actually has its own official day in Bergen, January 28.
We also recommend a visit to Cornelius Seafood Restaurant. Cornelius is one of Norway’s best seafood restaurants, idyllically located right by the ocean front on the island Holmen, just a 20 minute boat ride from the city centre
Inspired by the weather of the day, Cornelius serves its famous menu with exquisite seafood and trimmings.
Photo: Truls J Løtvedt
Michelin restaurants in Bergen
In 2020, Bergen got its first restaurant with a Michelin star. BARE Restaurant is a modern Nordic restaurant, located in Bergen's historic stock exchange building (built in 1862). In 2022 a Michelin star was also awarded to the restaurant Lysverket.
In Bergen you will also find two restaurants listed in the leading restaurant guide for the Nordic countries; White Guide. The two restaurants are Lysverket and Restaurant 1877. Lysverket has been thoroughly praised by Gordon Ramsay, who described the food there as incredible after his last visit to Bergen.
Bekkjarvik Gjestgiveri in Austevoll, outside of Bergen, is run by Ørjan Johannessen, former winner of the Bocuse d’Or. One of his specialties is wild sheep, which is the most sustainable piece of meat you can get in Western Norway.
Restaurants in Bergen in historical settings:
At Bryggen you can find several restaurants with rich menus including seafood, fish and meat based on the traditional western Norwegian kitchen. 26 North Restaurant and Social Club is a modern restaurant that offers the best of Norwegian fjords, farms and forests, while Bryggen Tracteursted is a traditional and historic restaurant inspired by Bergen and Hanseatic food culture. In other words, a taste of the coast and Bergen's history in the same place.
The best pizza and burger restaurants in Bergen
Big 7 Travel have eaten their way through Norway in order to find the best 25 pizzas in our country. Several places in Bergen made the list. At Hoggorm you will find creative pizzas fit for any foodie. Olivia also made the list and offer upscale italian dining in the heart of Bergen. Their pizzas have Sicilian influences and are loaded with the same flavours you’d find on the actual streets of Sicily.
If you like pizza, you probably also enjoy a good burger. Pygmalion is the place for what’s probably the best veggie-burger in Bergen and a 15 minute walk from the city centre (at Danmarksplass) you can find Bien Snackbar. Their burgers are definitely worth the walk.
Dinner with a view:
Many of the restaurants in Bergen have a breathtaking view that makes your dinner a magnificent nature experience. Ulriken Cable Car takes you from the city up to the top of Bergen’s highest mountain.
From the top you can experience panoramic view of Bergen and the surrounding ocean, islands, fjords and mountains. From Skyskraperen Restaurant you can enjoy a simple lunch, a cold refreshment or a fine dinner with the city at your feet.
Fløibanen Funicular is one of Norway’s best-known attractions, and by the final stop is Fløien Folkerestaurant, a café, an á la carte restaurant and banquet facilities for all ocations. Here you can enjoy delicious light dishes, tasty sandwiches and cakes with Bergen at your feet. (Please note that the restaurant is closed from 1 January 2023 for major refurbishment.)
From here you can get a complete overview of the city, giving you the opportunity to pick out individual buildings and sights that you can visit later, like Grieghallen or the Aquarium. From the top of Mount Fløyen you can see everything from the Fish Market and Bryggen to Askøy Island out in the open sea.
Close to one of Bergen's other major landmarks, The Fish Market, you will find Bjerck Restaurant & Bar. In what is perhaps the city's best location, you have the best views of the Fish Market, Bryggen and the bustling city life. At The Fish Market you will also find good places to eat. Both Fish Me and Fjellskål serve high quality seafood.
After a good meal, take the opportunity to go to a bar or pub and make a night of it. Here you will find an overview of some bars and pubs in Bergen that are well suited for a pleasant evening in Bergen.
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