Olympen

Modern twists on classic Nordic dishes, with an encyclopedic beer menu
Word to the wise: It gets very busy – and equally noisy – so this isn't the best venue for a romantic meal.

Popular plate: Olympen is one of the best places in Oslo to sample Norwegian cod, fresh from the North Sea.
This lively restaurant and bar in the vibrant Grønland district first opened in the 19th century and retains much of its original interior - brass chandeliers, dark wood and huge tobacco-yellowed paintings of old Oslo. It attracts a refreshingly mixed crowd, and tourists are a rare sight.

Olympen's contemporary interpretations of classic Norwegian dishes are highly praised, but it's the exhaustive beer menu which really draws the crowds – the list features over 170 bottled and draught varieties, many from small Nordic breweries.