You can now dine internationally without leaving the city of Oslo. The influx of foreigners in recent years has led to the growth of Mexican-, Turkish-, Moroccan-, Chinese-, Greek-, and American-style restaurants. Among European cuisines, French and Italian are the most popular. The biggest concentration of restaurants is at Aker Brygge. This former shipbuilding yard on the harborfront is now the smartest dining and shopping complex in Norway.

Not all restaurants in Oslo are newcomers. Some have long been associated with artists and writers — the Grand Café, for example, was the stamping ground of Henrik Ibsen and Edvard Munch. Aker Brygge, formerly a dilapidated shipbuilding yard, the futuristic complex now combines more shopping, entertainment, and dining diversions in one area than anywhere else in Norway. Many visitors, some with children, come here to check out the restaurants and cafes, watch the people, and listen to music in the bars. Part of the fun is strolling through the complex and picking a restaurant. Norwegian food is served along with a representative selection of foreign food offerings, including American. In the summer visitors and locals fill the outdoor tables overlooking the harbor. There are also many nightlife options. To reach Aker Brygge, take bus no. 27 or walk down from the center west of the Rådhus.

A local favorite here is the Albertine Café & Bar, Stranden 3, an informal place on the wharf’s edge, offering a panoramic view over the harbor and Akershus fortress. This place consistently serves some of the freshest and tastiest oysters in Oslo. You can drop in for just a hamburger or a full Norwegian seafood dinner. It’s also an easy place for meeting singles. In front of the Rådhuset, you can join Oslovians for a special picnic treat. From 7 to 8am, shrimp fishermen pull their boats into the harbor after having caught and cooked a fresh batch of shrimp during their night at sea.