Norway Information
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 Posted: Mon Oct 30, 2006 11:42 am Post subject: NIGHTLIFE IN NORWAY (OSLO & BERGEN) |
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NIGHTLIFE IN NORWAY (OSLO & BERGEN)
GENERAL
All Norwegian cities have bars and pubs that offer a full range of alcoholic beverages and most towns over a certain size have a pub. Most hotels have bars. You will find discos and nightclubs in most cities and in many towns, particularly in the weekends. In the cities the hotels offer restaurant service into the night, but nightclubs in the continental sense are not widespread in Norway. Many of the hotels at winter resort offer after-ski gatherings.
NIGHTLIFE IN OSLO
Nightlife, in the sense that most people understand, arrived comparatively late in Norway. For centuries, family life was the lynchpin of Norwegian society, and people tended to socialise at home. Draconian alcohol controls, including a form of prohibition in the early 20th century, did not encourage going out.
Since the late 1980s though, with relaxation of drinking laws, it became possible to drink until 0200. Many pubs and clubs opened to take advantage of the change in legislation.
A publication called What’s On in Oslo has the most comprehensive venue listings and is free from hotel foyers and tourist offices, but good first port of call is Rosenkrantz gate, a street teeming with bars, music pubs and other nightspots. Many nightclubs are located on and around Karl Johans gate. Oslo nightlife is generally relaxed, with neat smart-casual clothing good for everywhere but the most expensive restaurants.
Drinking alcohol in Norway is still, however, a prohibitively expensive business – a half-liter of beer will cost up to NOK60 and a 40ml shot of spirit even more. The minimum drinking age is 18 years for beer and wine and 20 years for spirits. Distilling spirits at home is illegal, although that doesn’t deter production of a form of moonshine called ‘hjemmebrent’, a lethal concoction of distilled sugar and yeast widely available on the black market. The national drink is Akevitt, a fiery spirit flavoured with herbs. Many Norwegians go out late on Fridays and Saturdays after a ‘vorspiel’ (pre-party) involving drinks at home, so the street atmosphere from 2200 on the weekends can be lively, to say the least.
Bars: The Dubliner, Rådhusgata 28, is a typical ‘Irish’ themed bar, as is the Kilkenny Inn, Øvre Slottsgate. Similarly, the Scotsman, Karl Johans gate, is popular with ex-pats and visitors and also offers the adjacent Angus Steakhouse. English is more often spoken than Norwegian at The Belfry, Lille Grensen 7. A recent arrival in town is an Australian theme pub, Down Under, in Fridtjof Nansens plass. In summer, there is a choice of open-air bar/restaurants along the quaysides of Aker Brygge, in front of Akershus Festning. But again these tend to stretch the traveller’s budget somewhat. Stravinsky, Rosenkrantzgate 17, is a swanky venue for those who don’t mind a bit of ‘clubbing’ thrown in – there is a disco night every Wednesday. The Kristiania Bar and Café, right by the central station in Jernbanetorget, is a cavernous and rather elegant venue that gets absolutely packed on Friday and Saturday evenings.
Casinos: There are no casinos in Oslo, as gambling is illegal in Norway, other than through the state-run lottery, football pools and horse-racing schemes, for which tickets can be purchased in the ubiquitous ‘kiosker’, small shops also selling newspapers, sweets, hot dogs and soft drinks.
Clubs: Skansen, Rådhusgate 25 (website: www.skansen.no), is known as a ‘real’ house venue, and although relatively small hosts international DJs on a regular basis. Sikamikanico, in Møllergate, offers a choice of house, techno and similar music genres. Gotham Nights, Bjerregaardsgate 68, offers something a little different than the usual techno/house combination, with regular live music for the ‘goth’ fraternity. Tiger Tiger, a relatively new venue at Torggata 5, which has become rapidly popular with the mainstream clubbing crowd.
Live Music: Stortorvets Gjæstgiveri, Grensen 1, is a lively traditional jazz joint featuring ragtime and New Orleans-style bands. Galleria, Kristian IV’s Gate 12, features a disco and a live jazz club, while Oslo Spektrum, Sonia Henies Plass 2 (website: www.oslospektrum.no), is where all the visiting international big names play. Skuret Kulturpub, Christian Krohgs gate 2 (website: www.skuret.no), offers a regular program of rock bands and music-related quiz nights.
NIGHTLIFE IN BERGEN
As Bergen is so small, there is no particular nightlife district – although the most popular areas include Bryggen and Ole Bulls plass. Bars tend to close at around 0200, while the nightclubs (which usually charge an entrance fee of about NOK50 or more), stay open until about 0300. It is not necessary to dress up for a night out on the town as locals tend to dress casually. Consumption of beer and wine is legal from 18 years but spirits may not be consumed by the under-20s. Prices are high in bars, clubs and restaurants – a night on the town is not a cheap option in Norway (a beer can cost NOK60 or more).
The best sources on the web for information on nightlife are both Norwegian-language sites (www.ba.no, then click on the ‘Puls’ link or www.bergenpuls.no). The Tourist Information Office can provide information in English and its website (www.visitbergen.com) is also of help, while the Bergen Guide website (www.bergen-guide.com) offers some information in English.
Bars: Among the dozens of city centre bars, there are three of the now ubiquitous ‘Irish’ pubs; Scruffy Murphy’s, on Torget, The Harp Irish Bar, Bryggen, and Finnegan’s, Veiten 3, while The Scotsman, Valkendorfsgate, offer yet another type of theming. Fotballpuben, Vestre Torggate, and Champions Sportsbar, Strandgaten 6, are the gathering places for those wishing to watch football on TV. Live music is offered at many of Bergen’s pubs and bars at weekends.
Casinos: There are no casinos, as gaming is illegal in Norway. The only gambling officially permitted is through the state-run Norsk Tipping service, which covers horseracing, the National Lottery and football (website: www.norsk-tipping.no). Slot machines can also be found in every shopping centre and snack bar.
Clubs and Live Music: Mood, Vågsallmenning 16, used to be a bank, but it is now a café by day and a trendy bar by night. There is live music and dancing on Friday and Saturday. Rick’s Café og Salonger, Veiten 3, is a bar, disco and live music venue rolled into one. Miles Ahead, Torggaten, and C49, Christian Michelsensgate, feature dance DJs. The Logen in Ole Bulls plass stages revues and cabaret throughout the year. Nightclub Det Akademiske Kvarter (Academic Quarter), Olav Kyrresgate 49-53, is popular with students and promotes pop and rock concerts. It also stages jazz and classical performances. Madam Felle, Bryggen, offers jazz, blues, roots and gospel. Trendy Metro, at the Radisson SAS Hotel in Ole Bulls plass offers nightly entertainments, as does Night Flight at the Bergen Airport Hotel (hotel guests only). And newcomerOle Bull Scene, Øvre Ole Bullsplass 3 (website: www.olebullscene.no), which opened in October 2005, has concerts and theatre on throughout the week. Rock fans can catch international acts at Hulen, Olaf Ryes Vei 48, on Fridays and Saturdays. |
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