My Top 10 Restaurants in Bergen, Norway
Bergen surprised me in a lot of ways, but the food was one of the biggest. Between rainy mornings ducking into cozy dining rooms and clear evenings eating with a fjord view, this small Norwegian city turned out to be a fantastic place to eat. If you’re planning a trip and want the full rundown on where to stay and what to do, I covered all of that in my Bergen travel guide, which is also where I first shared a few of these restaurants. Here, I’m digging deeper into the 10 restaurants that made my trip so memorable.
A quick budget note before we get into it: Norway is expensive. Plan on roughly 400–700 NOK per person for a main course and a drink at a mid-range restaurant. It’s worth every krone, but it’s good to go in with realistic expectations. And if you haven’t already, take a look around Lily Travel for more destination guides like this one.
Without further ado, here are my 10 favorite restaurants in Bergen, ranked roughly in the order I’d recommend trying them. My husband and I ate at the first six and can personally vouch for them. The second four are restaurants I had researched thoroughly, planned to eat at, but ran out of time.
1. Marg & Bein
My favorite restaurant of the entire trip. Marg & Bein, which translates to “marrow and bone”, takes Norwegian ingredients seriously, and it shows in every dish. The menu was creative without being fussy, the ingredients were fresh and local, and the drinks list paired beautifully with the food. If you only have room for one splurge dinner in Bergen, make it this one.
Pro Tip: Reservations fill up quickly at Bergen’s most popular spots, so book Marg & Bein at least a few days ahead if you can, especially for dinner during peak summer travel season.
2. Pingvinen
Pingvinen was a close second favorite, and we happened to eat here on our very first night in Bergen.
The service was warm, the atmosphere was cozy in that classic Norwegian pub way, and the portions were generous.
I had fish over roasted vegetables with caviar, and it was excellent. The fish was incredibly fresh and the vegetables were perfectly cooked.
Just know that it’s popular with locals too, so reservations are a must in the busy summer months if you want to make sure you get a seat.
3. Trekroneren
Don’t let the humble setup fool you – Trekroneren is a Bergen institution and one of my favorite bites of the whole trip.
This beloved hot dog/sausage stand has been serving locals and travelers for decades, and I went with the reindeer sausage topped with lingonberry sauce. It’s an authentic Norwegian flavor combination you won’t find back home, and it’s the kind of quick, memorable meal that ends up being a trip highlight.
Just be prepared to share the sidewalk with some very friendly pigeons while you eat.
4. Fjåk
On a chilly, rainy afternoon, my husband and I ducked into Fjåk, a chocolate shop and cafe, purely to warm up. We ended up staying much longer than planned. The hot chocolate was perfect, and the chocolate itself was some of the best quality I’ve had, with a fun variety of creative flavors to choose from. If you need a break from the rain (and in Bergen, you will), this is where I’d send you.
Pro Tip: Bergen is one of the rainiest cities in Europe, so build a few indoor stops like Fjåk into your itinerary as a natural way to dry off between outdoor activities.
5. Soya Restaurant
On the day we did the Blue Ice Hike at Folgefonna National Park, we didn’t make reservations because we weren’t sure what time we’d be back. We had no trouble getting into Soya Restaurant, which ended up being an excellent meal that was super satisfying after such a long day of hiking. We ordered a wide variety of appetizers, like dumplings, at this modern Asian restaurant, as well as generously portioned main courses. It was a great meal with a nice atmosphere, excellent service, and more affordable pricing than many of the other places we ate at.
6. Olivia Zachariasbryggen
We ate at this Italian restaurant twice (once for lunch and once for dinner) because the food was good, it had tons of seating, and it was very close to our hotel. Plus, it was right in the Bryggen, so it had great views of the harbor. The meals were generously portioned and the menu had a great variety. We also ate here on days where we had a lot of activities planned and weren’t sure when we’d be back, so couldn’t make reservations. Since this spot had so much seating, we didn’t have a problem getting in. Add Olivia Zachariasbryggen to your list for those busier days on your itinerary!
7. Frescohallen
Located in Bryggen, Frescohallen is one of the most reliably welcoming restaurants in the city. It’s open throughout the day and evening with a flexible approach to timing, which makes it an ideal first-night dinner option when you are still recovering from a long flight and need something good without a lot of fuss. The setting alone, tucked into the historic Bryggen buildings, is hard to beat. While my husband and I did not get to eat here, I had researched this restaurant thoroughly, and had we more time, we would have visited for a meal.
8. Skyscraperen Restaurant
Perched at the top of Mount Ulriken, Skyscraperen offers dinner with a view that stretches across the city, the harbor, and the fjords beyond. Take the cable car up as the sun begins its long Norwegian descent, and you’ll arrive for a dinner that’s as much about the setting as it is about the food. It’s a memorable evening and one of the more unique restaurant experiences you’ll find anywhere.
Pro Tip: Make your dinner reservation at Skyscraperen before you book your cable car tickets. This spot books up fast, and you’ll want to time your ride up the mountain to coincide with your table. We waited too long to book a reservation, and everything was full when we were ready to dine there, so we didn’t get to try it. Don’t make my mistake!
9. Bryggeloftet
One of Bergen’s most storied restaurants, Bryggeloftet sits on the second floor of a historic Bryggen building with harbor views, serving traditional Norwegian cuisine like fish, game, and excellent seafood in a setting that’s welcomed guests for generations. We never actually got a table here because it was fully booked every single time we tried to make a reservation. I’m including it anyway because its reputation and setting make it well worth planning ahead for.
10. Spisekroken
This small, highly reviewed spot was on my list the entire trip, and I never quite made it. Spisekroken serves Scandinavian food if you’re looking to stay on theme, and everything I saw on the menu looked wonderful. If you have more time in Bergen than we did, this is where I’d point you next.
Final Thoughts on Eating Your Way Through Bergen
Between mountaintop dinners, harborside classics, and a hot dog stand that somehow stole the show, Bergen turned out to be one of the best food cities I’ve visited in Norway. My best advice: book your must-try spots early, keep a backup list handy for the ones that are fully booked, and don’t skip the hot dog stand just because it looks unassuming. For more on what to do between meals, head back to my full Bergen, Norway guide for hiking, fjord tours, and where to stay.
