Food · Tromsø · Norway
What to eat in Tromsø
The dishes, drinks and food experiences that define Tromsø, and where locals actually eat them.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: The Municipality of Tromsø from Tromsø, Norway, CC BY 2.0
.jpg){kind=link}
Quick answer
Start with Arctic char, Skrei and mølje and King crab. Several restaurants in the centre build tasting menus around Arctic char, cod, king crab, reindeer and wild berries, a good way to try northern Norwegian ingredients in one evening. Eating out is very expensive; lunch specials and bakeries are much cheaper than dinner.
Key facts
- Signature dish
- Arctic char
- 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.Arctic char (Røye)
A cold-water fish related to salmon and trout, with pink flesh and a delicate flavour, served pan-fried, smoked or cured. It is one of northern Norway's signature dishes.
Where: Restaurants serving Arctic cuisine along the harbour and Storgata.
Dish
2.Skrei and mølje
Skrei is the migrating Atlantic cod that arrives on the northern coast from about January to April. In the traditional mølje feast it is boiled and served with its liver and roe, washed down with beer or aquavit.
Where: Seafood restaurants in the centre during the winter skrei season.
Dish
3.King crab (Kongekrabbe)
The giant red king crab, found in the Barents Sea and northern fjords, has sweet, meaty legs that are usually served simply boiled with bread, butter and lemon.
Where: Seafood restaurants in Tromsø, and on king-crab fishing safaris further north.
Dish
4.Sautéed reindeer (Finnbiff)
Thin shavings of frozen reindeer meat fried with onions and mushrooms, then simmered in a cream sauce with brown cheese or juniper, served with mashed potatoes and lingonberry jam.
Where: Traditional Norwegian restaurants in the centre.
Dish
5.Bidos
The traditional Sami reindeer stew of meat, potatoes and carrots in broth, served at celebrations and to visitors at reindeer camps.
Where: Sami reindeer camps and some restaurants serving northern Norwegian food.
Snack
6.Stockfish (Tørrfisk)
Unsalted cod dried on wooden racks in the cold northern air, a preservation method used for more than a thousand years. It is eaten as a snack or soaked and cooked in stews.
Where: Delis and supermarkets, and in dishes on traditional menus.
Dessert · Vegetarian
7.Cloudberries (Multer)
Golden-orange Arctic berries picked in the bogs in late summer, prized for their tart flavour. They are often served with whipped cream as 'multekrem', especially at Christmas.
Where: Restaurant dessert menus, and as jam in supermarkets and delis.
Snack · Vegetarian
8.Waffles with brown cheese
Heart-shaped Norwegian waffles, served with sweet brown cheese, jam or sour cream, are a common warming snack on tours and in cafés.
Where: Cafés in the centre, at the top of Fjellheisen and on many winter tours.
Drink · Vegetarian
9.Mack beer
Mack was founded in Tromsø in 1877, and its lagers and seasonal beers are the local pride, now joined by craft beers from small northern breweries.
Where: Ølhallen at the old Mack brewery premises and bars across the centre.
Food experiences
Arctic menus
Several restaurants in the centre build tasting menus around Arctic char, cod, king crab, reindeer and wild berries, a good way to try northern Norwegian ingredients in one evening.
Lavvu meal at a reindeer camp
Many reindeer visits end with bidos stew and coffee around a fire inside a lavvu, the Sami tent, while hosts tell stories and sing joik.
Skrei season
From about January to April, menus fill with fresh skrei cod, and mølje — boiled cod with liver and roe — is a northern winter tradition.
A beer at Ølhallen
Taste local Mack and craft beers at the city's historic beer hall beside the old brewery buildings.
Quick bites and street food
- Stockfish — Delis and supermarkets, and in dishes on traditional menus.
- Waffles with brown cheese — Cafés in the centre, at the top of Fjellheisen and on many winter tours.
Vegetarian options
Of the 9 foods in this guide, 3 are usually vegetarian: Cloudberries, Waffles with brown cheese and Mack beer. Check preparation with staff, as stocks and fats vary.
Eating out: tips and etiquette
- Eating out is very expensive; lunch specials and bakeries are much cheaper than dinner.
- Many northern lights tours include a light meal or soup, so plan a late lunch on tour days.
- Book dinner ahead in the peak winter months, when restaurants fill with tour groups.
- Tap water is free and excellent; ask for 'vann'.
- Supermarkets stop selling beer 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 service is appreciated, and some travellers tip tour guides who go the extra mile.
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Hei | Hello (Norwegian) |
| Takk | Thank you (Norwegian) |
| Bures | Hello (Northern Sami) |
| Giitu | Thank you (Northern Sami) |
| Nordlys | Northern lights |
Questions travellers ask
+What food is Tromsø famous for?
Arctic char, Skrei and mølje, King crab and Sautéed reindeer. A cold-water fish related to salmon and trout, with pink flesh and a delicate flavour, served pan-fried, smoked or cured.
+Is Tromsø good for vegetarians?
Several local staples are meat-free, including Cloudberries, Waffles with brown cheese and Mack beer.
+Do you tip in restaurants in Tromsø?
Service is included in Norwegian prices and tipping is not expected. Rounding up or leaving about 5–10% for good service is appreciated, and some travellers tip tour guides who go the extra mile.