Best Lunch Spots in Oslo: Local Expert Guide
Are you wondering where to find the best lunch in Oslo? Look no further! We've compiled our favorite lunch spots perfect for family gatherings, meetups with friends, or your next lunch date in Norway's capital.
We've carefully selected Oslo lunch venues that cater to different needs – spacious restaurants with diverse menus for larger groups, and intimate cafes ideal for cozy conversations or romantic lunch dates.
Each lunch spot brings something special to Oslo's food scene:
- Cultivate Food: Plant-based paradise with affordable options
- Generasjonsbaren: Gourmet lunch with Belgian waffles and sourdough specialties
- Vintage Kitchen: Danish open sandwiches with outdoor seating
- Arv Kaffe & Retro: Retro vibes with budget-friendly lunch deals
- Farine: Seasonal ingredients in a cozy Kampen neighborhood setting
- Babbo Collective Frysja: Artisanal sourdough bakery with creative lunch options
Lunch with Friends in Oslo
When dining with a group in Oslo, you need space for everyone and menu options that cater to different tastes. Here are our top recommendations for group-friendly lunch spots with excellent variety.
Cultivate Food
This is a place where you can easily bring your whole group. Cultivate Food offers many delicious dishes that are vegetarian or vegan. In other words, everyone will find something they can eat and enjoy!
The lunch menu includes daily soup (79 NOK) and avocado toast (99 NOK). Prices range from 59 to 159 NOK, making it one of the more affordable quality lunch spots in Oslo.
Opening hours: Monday - Tuesday: 11-22 / Friday and Saturday: 11-23 / Sunday: 11-21
Generasjonsbaren
For those craving an extra special lunch in Oslo, we recommend Generasjonsbaren. Located right by Youngstorget, their menu offers excellent flavors that will leave you satisfied. Lunch at Generasjonsbaren costs between 210-249 NOK.
We tried The Chicken (225 NOK), a Belgian waffle with fried marinated chicken and kimchi mayo, and Beef & Onion (249 NOK), sourdough bread served with beef, pickled onions, parmesan, and bearnaise sauce. The flavor combinations were truly delicious and we left both happy and full.
Opening hours: Tuesday: 11-17 / Wednesday and Thursday: 11-23 / Friday and Saturday: 11-03 / Sunday: 11-16
Vintage Kitchen
If you enjoy sandwiches and cold lunch options, these Danish smørrebrød (open sandwiches) might be perfect for you. The lunch menu is available from 11 am to 4 pm. The space is small, but they have an incredibly charming outdoor seating area.
There are many varieties of smørrebrød to choose from on Vintage Kitchen's lunch menu. They offer options like roast beef with remoulade, pickled cucumber, crispy onions, and horseradish (190 NOK) and breaded plaice with hand-peeled shrimp and remoulade (198 NOK).
Opening hours: Tuesday to Friday: 11-00 / Saturday: 12-00 / Sunday: 12-18
Lunch Date Spots in Oslo
Looking for a smaller venue with cozier vibes that's perfect for bringing a friend or perhaps a date? These three cafes are excellent alternatives for an intimate lunch in Oslo.
Arv Kaffe & Retro
Arv Kaffe & Retro offers toast (73 NOK), lasagna (140 NOK), and waffles (49 NOK). On weekends, they have a package deal until 1 pm where you get toast, coffee, and juice for just 110 NOK. They also serve alcohol if you're looking for a more leisurely lunch experience.
The space is genuinely retro and cool. There are charming small seating areas and several interesting vintage items to catch your eye, making it one of Oslo's most unique lunch spots.
Opening hours: Monday - Friday: 15-23 / Saturday: 10-23 / Sunday: 10-22
Farine
This cozy little cafe in the Kampen neighborhood has a good lunch menu that changes regularly, depending on which vegetables are in season from their local suppliers. At Farine, you can enjoy grilled bread with whipped cream cheese, chives and tomato, fried eggs with romaine lettuce and parmesan, or hot dishes like beans, corn, and palm cabbage.
Prices range from 155-195 NOK, and they serve lunch from 11 am to 3 pm on weekdays and 11 am to 4 pm on weekends.
Opening hours: Tuesday - Friday: 08-16 / Saturday - Sunday: 10-17
Babbo Collective Frysja
This sourdough bakery in Frysja offers a truly flavorful menu in a pleasant setting. Their lunch menu changes occasionally, but during our last visit, we enjoyed Creamy mushrooms with poached egg (165 NOK) and a Toastie – sourdough bread with kale pesto, fennel salami, comte cheese, and onion jam (150 NOK).
Opening hours: Wednesday - Friday: 0930-17 / Saturday - Sunday: 10-1730
Finding the perfect lunch spot in Oslo doesn't have to be challenging. Whether you're looking for an affordable quick bite, a vegetarian-friendly venue, or a cozy cafe for a date, this guide has you covered. Enjoy exploring Oslo's diverse lunch scene!
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