Oslo, Norway, has traditionally been an underrated destination to enjoy a cocktail or two, but with bars across town landing on global rankings (including list), the city may not be overlooked for much longer. Norwegian bartenders are being influenced by Nordic cuisine to create sophisticated cocktails that rival those found in London and New York.
One bartender making waves with his innovative cocktails is , who was crowned the world’s best bartender in 2022, at Diageo’s annual World Class competition. Originally from Czech Republic, he started slinging cocktails at L’Fleur in Prague before moving to Oslo, where he spent five years as the bar manager at the award-winning Pier 42, inside the boutique hotel Amerikalinjen.
Recently, he left Pier 42 to focus on his own forthcoming project, About Contrasts, a coffee/tea/bistro bar by day and a cocktail spot by evening that draws inspiration from Japanese omotenashi hospitality and the American Rat Pack culture. Until his new concept opens in 2025, here are five Michalcik-endorsed bars to visit on your next trip to Oslo.
For the bar that put Oslo on the drinking map: Himkok
“ started the cocktail movement in Oslo in 2015, when bars in the city were not on a world level,†says Michalcik. Expect a classic cocktail bar, a craft microdistillery and a microbrewery — all rolled into one. Highlighting local botanicals and house-distilled spirits, the cocktails are inspired by Norwegian culture and cuisine. The Strawberry, for example, is made with fresh strawberries, kefir milk and a touch of apple acidity for a creamy, fruity expression of Nordic flavours.
The main space at Bar *ISM, known for an ever-changing menu of creative cocktails.
Bar *ISMFor fun speakeasy vibes: Bar *ISM
At , the drinks take inspiration from an “ism†— such as minimalism or emotionalism. “Once they change the menu, the ‘ism’ gets a different meaning,†says Michalcik. The latest menu is “inspirational*ism,†with cocktails that pay tribute to acclaimed bartenders who have influenced owner Chris Grotvedt. The frozen green apple martini, for example, is a riff on Erik Lorincz’s Green Park cocktail, made with Bombay Sapphire Pressé, Tio Pepe, green apple, basil and lemon. One floor here has a dive-y feel, while the other floor is a speakeasy called Hidden, which has Oslo’s richest collection of vintage spirits. “If someone likes to travel to the past a bit,†says Michalcik, “the speakeasy is the place to go.â€
For cocktails in a heritage setting: Svanen
“One of my favourite bars is ,†says Michalcik. “It’s beautiful for the atmosphere, but they have also great cocktails and great hospitality.†Located in an old pharmacy dating back to 1896, Svanen landed on the 2024 longlist of the World’s 50 Best Bars. Standout signature drinks include the Negroni Amoroso, made with aquavit, Torres Alta Luz, cocoa butter, Campari and house rosé vermouth. Recently, a second bar, DGAE (Den Grimme Aelling), opened in the basement, creating sustainable cocktails from leftover fruit and veggies from the supermarket.
Pier 42, inside the boutique hotel Amerikalinjen, draws inspiration from two destinations: Norway and New York.
Francisco Nogueira / AmerikalinjenFor cross-cultural concoctions: Pier 42 at Amerikalinjen
Taking its name from the iconic Manhattan site, specializes in drinks that capture both the spirit of Norway and the New York bar scene. “It focuses on storytelling around the cocktails to create a five-star experience,†says Michalcik of his former haunt. The playful drinks include the Statue of Liberty, made with Absolut Elyx vodka, green apple liqueur, Suze bitter and lemon juice, and served in a glass shaped like Lady Liberty’s head.
Posthallen DrinkHub houses eight distinct mini-bars inside Oslo’s former central post office.
Posthallen DrinkHubFor a wide variety in one stop: Posthallen Drinkhub
Imagine a food court but for bars — that’s the idea behind , a collection of eight distinct mini-bars, all inside a 1920s-era building that once housed the city’s central post office. “Posthallen is a very interesting concept in Oslo,†says Michalcik. “There are plenty of food halls, but not really purely bar concepts under one roof.†Choose your drink of choice — everything from wine and beer to tropical tiki cocktails is on offer — and settle into the high-ceilinged historic building, or head out to the patio on a glorious day.
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