Each month we highlight a place of interest around the globe that we consider as unique as Borgo di Vagli. The tips are selected as they either show respect for the environment, nature, and architectural beauty or are deeply indigenous to their individual origin. This month we highlight Oslo where Lee and Fulvio presented the Hamlet at the Second Home Property Expo.
The idea was for them to write about this beautiful city during their stay, but unfortunately they didn't have a lot of down time or at least that's what they told us!
Winter is still cold up there, but nevertheless the first impression that they had of the city was that, in spite of the snow and chilly temperatures (-5), the streets were busy with people of all ages and all of the bars and restaurants were brimming with revellers happily enjoying a Friday night with laughter spilling out from the bars onto the streets.
The landscape around Oslo is so peaceful and immaculate…
The city features a diversity of outstanding architecture, both antique and ultra-modern with an evident taste for elegance, which is common to all the Scandinavian countries…
Shops are full of many NON branded, crafted small pieces of Art: lights, cutlery and crockery, hand woven sweaters, sculptures and paintings, pottery… all with a distinctive very refined Northern taste.
Once finished with the Expo, Lee and Fulvio headed towards different parts of Oslo every evening, guided by the not always reliable maps of their iPhones and certainly not helped by the really weird (for them) names of the streets.
The aim was always a restaurant, really hungry after a day of small bites of our pecorini and salami… and the excuse was very good to walk and explore the different parts of the town.
After setting up the stand, they headed for Le Benjamin, which was suggested by a Borgo di Vagli Facebook follower and now friend of Fulvio and Lee's: Thone Svinndal. The bistro and bar has a very cosy atmosphere and typical local, extroverted and cheerful clientele. The bistro is located in a part of Oslo which is more similar to that of a countryside village than a proper city neighbourhood… a very pleasant walk under a gentle snowfall.
The food didn't disappoint and they can highly recommend the locally caught cod, which was cooked in beurre nantaise, carrots, onions, bacon, smoked cod roe and tarragon!
On their second evening, Fulvio and Lee meet up with one of Norway's best renowned travel and property journalists, Tom Andersson, and his strikingly beautiful wife Lisbet; you may remember we highlighted Tom's wonderful article "La Vita Rustica" written for his magazine REIS & BOLIG I UTLANDET last year.
Please click here to read the article
Fulvio and Lee walked through the city centre with its beautiful Saturday evening folk, along the main central street, Karl Johans gate, heading towards the National Theatre (where Ibsen was always premiered…) and dinned at Oslo's famous Theatercafeen always bustling with cultural, media and international elite. Walls are covered with photos and sketches of famous actors and a very trendy, fashionable crowd hop between table to table… Again a great atmosphere and great food.
In the picture halibut on a bed of mushroom risotto, parsnip pure, savoy cabbage, scorzonera and red wine sauce and accompanied by a truffle mouse. Just divine!
On their last evening, without Thone's gastronomic tips, Lee and Fulvio were left to their own abilities to search out for a good dining experience in the metropolis of Oslo; they headed towards the harbour, which is always a good idea. And right there another great restaurant presented itself like a beacon enticing them in: Lofoten
Fulvio remembered of his fascinating trip in the Lofoten archipelago, some years ago, and… they took it for its name not knowing that it is one of Oslo's best restaurants.
But the real discovery of the evening was yet to come… during a breath-taking (-7) after dinner walk, under a dark blue sky being followed by small crescent moon, stumbled upon a piece of Art: a public toilet standing in front of their eyes like a perfect sculpture.
How civilised and what a stunning design. Complimenti !!!
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