Food · Bergen · Norway
What to eat in Bergen
The dishes, drinks and food experiences that define Bergen, and where locals actually eat them.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
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Quick answer
Start with Bergen fish soup, Skillingsbolle and Raspeballer. Order a plate of prawns, smoked salmon or fish soup at the stalls by the harbour. Eating out is expensive; lunch specials and bakery lunches cost much less than dinner.
Key facts
- Signature dish
- Bergen fish soup
- Vegetarian-friendly picks
- 3
- Tipping
- Service is included in Norwegian prices and tipping is not expected.
- Food experiences
- 4
9 foods to try
Dish
1.Bergen fish soup (Bergensk fiskesuppe)
A creamy, slightly sweet-and-sour soup of white fish, fish balls, carrots, celeriac and leeks in a rich stock, a Bergen speciality served with bread.
Where: Restaurants around Bryggen and the harbour, and stalls at the fish market.
Snack · Vegetarian
2.Skillingsbolle
Bergen's large, spiralled cinnamon bun dusted with sugar, more generous and less sticky than Swedish versions. Locals argue about which bakery makes the best.
Where: Bakeries across the city, from small independent bakers to local chains such as Baker Brun.
Dish
3.Raspeballer (Komle)
Large dumplings of grated raw potato and flour, boiled and served with salted meat, sausages, mashed swede and melted butter. In western Norway many families eat them on Thursdays.
Where: Traditional restaurants and cafés offering Norwegian home cooking, often on Thursdays.
Snack
4.Fish cakes (Fiskekaker)
Soft, fried patties of minced white fish, eaten warm in bread or with boiled potatoes and onions. Bergen's fishmongers have made them for generations.
Where: Fishmongers and bakeries in the centre, the fish market and lunch cafés.
Dish
5.Prawns on bread (Rekesmørbrød)
An open sandwich piled with cold-water prawns, mayonnaise, egg and lemon; on summer evenings locals buy cooked prawns by the bag and peel them on the quay.
Where: Cafés and restaurants around the harbour; the fish market for prawns to take away.
Dish
6.Plukkfisk
A traditional west-coast dish of flaked salt or fresh white fish and potatoes in a white sauce, served with bacon, flatbread or beetroot.
Where: Restaurants serving traditional Norwegian food around Bryggen and the centre.
Dish
7.Pinnekjøtt
Salted, dried and sometimes smoked lamb ribs, steamed over birch sticks and served with mashed swede and potatoes. It is the classic Christmas dinner in western Norway.
Where: Traditional restaurants during the Christmas season, from late November.
Breakfast · Vegetarian
8.Brown cheese (Brunost)
A sweet, caramel-coloured cheese made from whey, sliced thinly with a cheese slicer onto bread or waffles. A staple of Norwegian breakfasts.
Where: Hotel breakfast buffets, cafés serving waffles and any supermarket.
Drink · Vegetarian
9.Local beer
Bergen's Hansa brewery has brewed beer in the city for more than a century, and newer craft breweries produce ales and stouts. Alcohol is expensive in Norway, and strong beer is sold only in state-run Vinmonopolet shops.
Where: Bars around Bryggen and Vaskerelven, and brewery pubs in the centre.
Food experiences
Seafood at the fish market
Order a plate of prawns, smoked salmon or fish soup at the stalls by the harbour. It is touristy and pricey, but the setting by the boats is classic Bergen.
Cinnamon bun crawl
Compare skillingsboller at a few bakeries in the centre with a coffee; it is one of the least expensive local treats in an expensive city.
Mathallen indoor market
The glass food hall at the fish market sells fresh and cooked seafood, cheeses and local produce, with counters to eat at all year.
Bergen Food Festival
In early September, producers from western Norway set up stalls by the harbour with cheese, cider, seafood and cured meats to taste and buy.
Quick bites and street food
- Skillingsbolle — Bakeries across the city, from small independent bakers to local chains such as Baker Brun.
- Fish cakes — Fishmongers and bakeries in the centre, the fish market and lunch cafés.
- Brown cheese — Hotel breakfast buffets, cafés serving waffles and any supermarket.
Vegetarian options
Of the 9 foods in this guide, 3 are usually vegetarian: Skillingsbolle, Brown cheese and Local beer. Check preparation with staff, as stocks and fats vary.
Eating out: tips and etiquette
- Eating out is expensive; lunch specials and bakery lunches cost much less than dinner.
- Look for 'dagens rett' (dish of the day) at cafés for a filling, lower-priced meal.
- Dinner is eaten earlier than in southern Europe, often from about 5pm to 8pm.
- Tap water is free and excellent; ask for 'vann' with your meal.
- Supermarkets sell beer only up to a modest strength and stop alcohol sales in the evening and on Sundays; wine and spirits are sold only at Vinmonopolet.
Tipping
Service is included in Norwegian prices and tipping is not expected. Rounding up or leaving about 5–10% for good restaurant service is appreciated but optional.
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Hei | Hello |
| Takk | Thank you |
| Unnskyld | Excuse me / sorry |
| Skål | Cheers |
| Ha det | Goodbye |
Questions travellers ask
+What food is Bergen famous for?
Bergen fish soup, Skillingsbolle, Raspeballer and Fish cakes. A creamy, slightly sweet-and-sour soup of white fish, fish balls, carrots, celeriac and leeks in a rich stock, a Bergen speciality served with bread.
+Is Bergen good for vegetarians?
Several local staples are meat-free, including Skillingsbolle, Brown cheese and Local beer.
+Do you tip in restaurants in Bergen?
Service is included in Norwegian prices and tipping is not expected. Rounding up or leaving about 5–10% for good restaurant service is appreciated but optional.