Norway's best breakfasts
Mmmm... Nothing beats a good start to the day!
Did you know that a good breakfast is included in the price when you book a stay at almost every Norwegian hotel? But some places take their buffet to the next level. Find out where you can enjoy Norway's best hotel breakfasts!
Ah, the aroma of freshly-brewed coffee, homemade bread, and crispy bacon!
Even mid-range and budget hotels in Norway typically offer lavish breakfast buffets, taking pride in providing a hearty start to the day. So, if you're a breakfast aficionado, you've chosen the right destination! Just make sure you set aside some time to savour your meal.
While extensive buffets abound, smaller hotels and guesthouses may offer a more narrow (but still good quality) selection.
What to expect
Norwegians are bread enthusiasts and take pride in baking a plethora of breads including delectable rye bread, whole grain options, and sourdough creations. At reputable hotels, you can expect to find freshly-baked bread, often accompanied by croissants, sweet treats, and an extensive array of toppings.
Buffets typically include a selection of hard white cheeses, delightful Norwegian blue cheeses, and the renowned brown cheese with its sweet, caramel-like flavour. You can also expect an assortment of cold cuts, jam, and other traditional Norwegian spreads such as liver pâté, cod roe caviar (yes, it's worth a try!), and mackerel in tomato sauce. Are you daring enough to try something new?
Most reputable hotels also offer slices of smoked salmon, pickled herring, cured meats, and local specialities. There are usually yogurts, fruits, and fresh vegetables for those seeking healthier options. Some hotels even provide treats like chia puddings and smoothie shots.
Many hotels cater to dietary needs, offering gluten-free and lactose-free alternatives.
Hot food
Fear not, hot dishes are also available in many places. Expect a variety of eggs, bacon, beans, hot sausages, and potatoes. Oatmeal porridge and fried mushrooms and vegetables are also commonly available, along with other hot local specialities.
Some places even let you prepare your own waffles!
There are some places where breakfast is THE best meal of the day...
See where to find
NORWAY'S BEST BREAKFAST!
The ultimate breakfast
Soft, live piano music greets us as we enter the dining room at Thon Hotel Lofoten in Svolvær, acclaimed winner of the Twinings Best Breakfast Award, earning the title of "Norwegian Breakfast Champion" in the chain hotel category in 2024.
Where to start amidst the array of options? Over a hundred delectable offerings await, including local specialities such as award-winning cheeses from Aalan Farm, delectable sweet brown goat cheese from Lofoten Gårdsysteri, fenalår (cured leg of lamb), and, for the adventurous palate: sugar-salted, smoked cod roe.
"We take pride in our dedicated team of bakers, pastry chefs, and culinary experts who craft the majority of our offerings," says the hotel's director, Erik Taraldsen.
Homemade delights abound, including hot-smoked salmon, savoury liver pâté, falafel, and waffles topped with succulent salmon, to name just a few.
Find your breakfast heaven
The Thon Hotel Lofoten is not the only breakfast paradise in Norway. The Scandic Nidelven Hotel in Trondheim has been considered the breakfast king for many years. It has ranked in the top 3 in the Twinings Best Breakfast competition for each of the last 20 years, winning no less than 14 times!
Hotel Norge by Scandic in Bergen offer a breakfast experience that truly stands out. Guests can enjoy an extensive buffet filled with carefully selected delicacies, while servers bring a special item selected each day directly to your table for that extra touch. The combination of top-notch service and the best seasonal flavours makes breakfast at Hotel Norge an exceptional start to the day.
But you don't necessarily have to stay at these hotels to enjoy a fantastic start to your morning. A superb breakfast is often included when booking a night at one of the largest hotel chains in Norway, which have properties scattered throughout the country. These include Thon Hotels, Scandic Hotels, Strawberry, Clarion Hotels, and Radisson Hotels.
The top of the pops
Another Trondheim hotel, the posh Britannia Hotel, won first prize in the Independent Hotel category. The historic hotel offers an amazing 5-star breakfast buffet and an extensive à la carte menu in its stylish Palmehaven restaurant, which first opened in 1918, but has recently been renovated.
Its high quality food food is beautifully presented and breakfast features local specialities from the Trøndelag region. The cheese buffet is astonishing - filled with award-winning local cheeses, including the hotel's own Britannia Blue Cheese from local producers at Gangstad Gårdsysteri.
The hotel makes a lot of its own food, including freshly baked bread and sweet treats, as well as Coppa ham, salami and sausages in cooperation with Røroskjøtt.
You can taste the seasons when you order from the à la carte menu. In autumn, you can try a chanterelle omelette, roast beef of moose, or blueberry juice from Mikkelhaug in Levanger, while spring, summer, and winter also feature ingredients in season.
More unmissable spots
The second prize winner in 2024 is Hotel Union Øye, a gem of a historic hotel nestled below towering mountains in Urke, by the Hjørundfjord.
Hurtigruten's signature ship, the MS Otto Sverdrup, came in third place. It sets a new standard for breakfast experiences at sea. In a beautiful dining room with panoramic views of the Norwegian coast, tasty options are served from both a buffet and an à la carte menu, based on sustainable, locally sourced ingredients that celebrate Norwegian food culture.
Unique local treats
When you visit some of Norway's unique accommodation such as farm hotels, boutique hotels, rustic or modern mountain lodges, or cosy bed and breakfasts, you can expect a breakfast characterised by regional and local flavours.
This is especially true if you stay at one of Norway's Historic Hotels or Classic Norway Hotels, where you can enjoy a meal in spectacular surroundings, including high-ceilinged breakfast rooms with a historic touch, or surrounded by sleek, modern Scandinavian design.
While buffets at some of the smaller places might not be as expansive and varied as those at larger hotels, the use of fresh ingredients, quality products, and attention to detail often elevates the breakfast experience, making it quite special.
It's important to allocate sufficient time to savour this meal, which can be far more than just a way to fuel up for the day ahead. Don't forget that you're on holiday!
Many hotels in Norway, especially those located in the mountains, offer the option to make your own packed lunch for an additional fee.
Our unique and historic hotels guarantee a great start to your day!
Enjoy pure flavours from farms, mountains and fjords.
Best breakfast, independent hotels
A breakfast to remember! Here are the finalists.
The best breakfast, chain hotels
The full list of the finalists from 2024.
Norwegian specialities
Try some typical Norwegian food!
Breakfast bonanza
A night to remember (and a fantastic breakfast to look forward to)!
Take advantage of top offers
See our selection of trusted companies that work hard to make you happy all through your trip.