Unike matopplevelser i Bergen for grupper

Unike matopplevelser i Bergen for grupper

Sanking, smaking og sjømat – slik løfter du firmaturen

Beer tasting, scallops and boat life – 8 unique food experiences in Bergen for groups

A company dinner is one thing. But a company trip to Bergen where the group forages food from nature, tastes their way through local breweries and eats seafood out on the fjord – that is something else entirely.

Bergen is part of UNESCO's global network of creative cities of gastronomy, and with the fjord right outside the city centre and a flourishing craft brewery scene, the city is made for food experiences that bring people together. Here are the best activities for groups who want to experience more than a restaurant visit.

Beer tasting is a social group activity - nobody needs to be a beer expert to have fun, and there is a good reason it has become a favourite on company outings and group trips. In the Bergen region you will find two breweries that both welcome groups and turn the tasting into a full experience.

1. Beer tasting at 7 Fjell Bryggeri 

7 Fjell Bryggeri (Brewery) at Bønes, not far from Bergen city centre, primarily brews beer they like themselves - and that is a good starting point. Here the group can join a tour and tasting with six different beer styles, which takes two to three hours. Flexible and approachable as they are, they are happy to welcome groups outside the regular open tours. A fun tip: you can also hire a mobile tap tower for your own event. Beer on tap, exactly where you want it.Beer tasting at 7 Fjell Bryggeri
From a tasting at 7 Fjell Bryggeri. Photo: KIND Conceptual Branding

2. Beer tasting at Tøsse Brygghus

Tøsse Brygghus on Osterøy is a bit further away – and that is actually part of the experience. The brewery is beautifully situated by Osterfjorden, and although you can drive there in fifty minutes, arriving by boat is even more impressive.

Kom med båt til Tøsse BrygghusPhoto: Tøsse Brygghus 

The tour starts with a round of the brewery and the story of the mill and the secret behind good craft beer. The group then sits down to a tasting board with four beer styles and local cured sausage – and more mill stories. The brewery welcomes groups from five to sixty persons – and if you want even more, a mill walk can be added.

Ølsmaking på Tøsse Brygghus på OsterøyPhoto: Tøsse Brygghus

3. Smaking hos House of Taste

Taste House of Taste in Lars Hillesgate, right in Bergen city centre, has specialised in tastings - and not just beer. Here the group can also choose wine, whisky or gin, which makes it a good option for those who want a little more flexibility in what the evening should be about. The premises are flexible and welcome groups from ten to seventy people. They also have venues that can accommodate up to 280 persons with long tables and benches for various types of events.


Photo: iTaste AS & House of Taste AS 

4. Seafood from the fjord with Fjord Adventure

With Fjord Adventure the trip departs from Bergen city centre and into the archipelago – exactly where depends on weather. That is part of the concept. If the weather is fine you are out on the fjord, if not, the group moves into a cosy boathouse. Both work well.

What really sets this experience apart from a regular seafood dinner is that those who wish can join in foraging on the shore – seaweed, periwinkles, shellfish and shore crabs from the rocks become part of the meal. Guests can help prepare the food themselves, learn useful tips and tricks, as well as the various recipes.

Matopplevelser med Fjord Adventure
Photo from Fjord Adventure: Gunn Kristin Monsen 

The menu varies according to what nature offers, but the main ingredients are brought by the guides from local fishermen on Sotra. Such as scallops, oysters, crayfish and ingredients for shellfish soup. Scallops are by the way a great favourite, and for good reason - they can be prepared in an infinite number of ways, from raw to grilled on the campfire. This is a truly unique experience, and something you won't forget that easily. Best suited for smaller and exclusive groups.

5. Dive and pick your own scallops – Bjørnafjorden Opplevelser

Another good option is Bjørnafjorden Opplevelser, forty minutes by car from Bergen. They offer kayaking, boat trips and diving for smaller groups. And for those who want even more action: here you can dive and pick your own scallops and crab - and afterwards prepare the catch yourselves. It does not get fresher than this.

6. Cooking competition and wine tasting at Beckerwyc Food Academy

Bekkjarvik is an hour and a half from Bergen by car and here you get both accommodation and world-class food. If you want to shorten the travel time and get an experience in the process, a boat is the natural choice. Depending on the type of boat, the sea route takes between 30 and 60 minutes. Read more about boathire in Bergen here.

At Beckerwyc Food Academy you get culinary experiences that inspire. Immerse yourselves in the world of wine or challenge each other in a cooking competition. The experiences are suitable for groups from 8 persons. «Wine gems and flavourful bites from Mirabelle by Ørjan Johannesen» lasts 2 hours and can accommodate up to 100 persons.

Kokkekamp på Beckerwyc House
Photo: Beckerwyc House - Tom Haga 

A cooking competition lasts 2-2.5 hours and the chef shows you a masterclass on how to before you are divided into teams and given a set time to complete the task, where the goal is to deliver the best dish with good teamwork and focus.

Bekkjarvik Opplevelser offers packages where the group goes on a fishing trip and takes the catch straight to the restaurant Mirabelle by Ørjan Johannessen at Beckerwyc House - where it is prepared and eaten. From sea to plate, literally.

7. Cornelius Seafood restaurant

Cornelius Sjømatrestaurant is perhaps one of the country's best seafood restaurants, located on a small islet approximately 20 minutes by boat from Bergen. They have regular scheduled trips that are open to everyone, or you can book the venue for large and small groups. They are happy to create an experience where you learn about ingredients from fjord and shore, combined with tastings of various shellfish and their own smoked salmon. If you want to arrive in style they can receive both seaplanes and have their own helipad.

Unike matopplevelser på Cornelius Sjømatrestaurant
Photo: Cornelius Sjømatrestaurant / Giovanni Tagini - Visit Norway  

8. Guided food tours in Bergen city centre

If you want to stay in the city centre, there are some food tours with regular departures that you can join. These tours can also be booked as a private tour for your group. There are mainly two tours: "Food and culture guided walk" and the tour "A taste of Bergen Food Tour".

  1. Taste of Bergen
    Experience the city of Bergen with all your senses. This tour takes you through the history of Bergen and tastes of local food and it’s story.
    1. 02/01/2631/12/26
  2. The food tour: A taste of Bergen
    Join us for a food experience the Bergen way, on a tour which offers a genuine introduction to the city's culinary scene.
    1. 11/04/2630/09/26

Ready to plan? The experiences above are just a selection of what Bergen has to offer for groups. See also our tips for company outings and team building in Bergen.