As a country, Norway certainly hasn’t established itself as a “must-stop” for European tourists. In fact, its steep exchange rate and relatively spread out urban centers make it a logistical nightmare for travelers, which perhaps explains Norway’s sluggish tourism industry in comparison to neighboring European countries like Great Britain and France. However, Norway- particularly the capital of Oslo- should not be over-looked when planning a European tour. Youthful tourists interested in fast-paced nightlife might discover in Oslo the realization of their greatest traveling aspirations.
While Oslo presents herself as patently “non-English,” most residents speak proficient English. Therefore, tourists can experience an authentically foreign country without risking a complete communication barrier. If a tourist knows basic Norwegian, he can feel free to use it when the opportunity presents itself but, likewise, he can always fall back on the shared English vocabulary to ensure that he communicates exactly what he intends to. When pursuing the vibrant nightlife of Oslo, this can work tremendously in favor of the tourist.
Oslo offers a wide variety of clubs, pubs, discos, and restaurants. In fact, information distributed by the city claims that there are 100 such establishments, 35 of which stay open until 4 am. Unlike most European capitals, midnight means nothing in the context of Oslo.
Autumn and winter is Oslo mean emphasis on theater and art performances in the evening. The city has nine theater stages and four cabarets. The Norwegians of the city also enjoy movie-going, which justifies the presence of thirty screens and five large movie complexes within the central area of the city.
In the summer, Oslo embraces her more cultural side with the promotion of folklore and traditional dancing. The Norwegian Folklore Show performs from early July through September with one-hour shows in the evening on Mondays and Thursdays. Similarly, the Norwegian Folk Museum has earned a reputation for its stellar folk dancing, open-air performances on late summer afternoons. Most such performances occur on Sundays, and the price of admission is included in the entrance fee for the entire museum.
For the more traditional nightlife highlights, Oslo offers a slew of louder, more mainstream venues. One such location is the Bristol Night Spot, a cellar-turned-club with aggressive, high-charged music and a somewhat loyal patronage of older singles. Unlike most clubs, however, the Bristol Night Spot calls for fairly conservative garb and the dining menu features eclectic yet undeniably sophisticated dishes like poached salmon with butter-cream sauce. For the Bristol Night Spot (located in the Bristol Hotel), reservations are recommended.
Another club for the night owls is The Beach Club, which coincidentally markets itself as an American-Norwegian club. The interior is modeled after a 1950s American diner, and era-specific cuisine like burgers and fries (in all sorts of subtle variations) can be found on the menu. The “movers and shakers” might want to avoid this venue, however, because the mood is fairly sedated. People come here for conversation, atmosphere, and drinks.
Similarly, the Library Bar attracts the slightly cultured clubber, as the interior is decorated with leather-bound books and gleaming wooden surfaces. The piano places softly in the background, and strobe lights here would definitely be out of place.
For the party animal, the best bet is Smuget, an extremely popular music club with a very active dance floor and (unfortunately) long, long lines, particularly on weekends. The club features a variety of performers, though most come from rock, pop, and more urban backgrounds. The club itself is behind the Grand Hotel in a 19th century building converted from a district post office. Of course, for the truly raucous party animal, Oslo offers little. If a tourist is looking only to get drunk and sweaty on a strobe-lit dance floor, another city might provide a wider selection.
Oslo nightlife is dominated by culture, taste, and quite remarkable variety. The tourist in search of something different will find in Oslo a rare gem.
