My Oslo Guide

People don't ask me about this either but here is my go to list in Oslo.

Saunas

Oslo Badstuforening, Sukkerbiten — my weekday spot. Floating sauna village right behind the Opera House, a short walk from Oslo S. Around ten saunas on the piers, shared or private, walk-in usually works but book ahead if you can. This is where I go on a normal Tuesday to reset after work.

SALT (Langkaia) — PS: Its closed at the moment because of some fire hazard or something. weekends, with friends. Bigger, more of a scene: art, culture, and sauna in one place, seasonal through the warmer months. They take private bookings for larger groups, which makes it the easy choice when there are more than two of us.

Spas (worth the drive)

The Well — Kolbotn, about 15 minutes south of the city. Adults-only, the largest spa in the Nordics: 10+ pools, cold plunge, 15 saunas and steam rooms, hammam, onsen. A proper half-day or overnight thing, not a quick stop. There is also a free bus that goes from The Hub hotel.

Farris Bad — Larvik, roughly 1.5 hours from Oslo. Built on an actual mineral spring, half the hotel sits on pillars over the fjord. Worth the drive for a weekend, especially the fjord sauna with the panoramic windows.

Arcade bar

Tilt (Grünerløkka) — the only one I recommend. Old cabinets, pinball, not the best beer prices for the city but ok. Gets packed on weekends, go early if you want a machine to yourself.

Running

Nordre gravlund — the route I actually run. Quiet, good surface, close to home. Still working my way through the rest of Oslo's routes. Akerselva and Sognsvann are next on the list to try.

Food/Cafè

Baker Hansen Vogts Gate — My cafè. You gotta come!

La Såda (Majorstuen) — our family pizza place. Small but cozy, been there almost 30 years. Book ahead, it fills up fast for a place its size. It's basically the only place to go.

Bars

Svanen (Karl Johans gate) — cocktail bar in a former pharmacy from 1896, interior barely touched since then. Opened by Yunus Yildiz, formerly of Himkok. All their cocktails are good.

Himkok (Storgata) — the bar that put Norwegian cocktails on the map, own in-house distillery for aquavit, gin, and vodka. If you want to taste Norway in a glass, this is the place. Its become more commercial but still have their hidden spot.