Best Independent Style Hotels in Norway

Steeped in rich history and offering guests plenty of luxurious touches, this charming hotel features just 37 characterful double rooms featuring exclusive furniture and unique bathrooms, creating an interior that is redolent of the time when Bryggen was a Hanseatic port. This luxurious yet rustic establishment is set at the enchanting Finnegaarden at Hanseatic Wharf and a number of iconic attractions are just a few steps away in this Unesco World Heritage area. Wooden walls and bare ceiling beams throughout the hotel help to create a very pastoral tone. The hotel includes three restaurants including a brasserie and bar, tex mex restaurant and a fine dining option and their daily buffet breakfast includes many locally sources items giving you a true flavour of Norway. 

Sommerro is located in the heart of Frogner, a vibrant area in Oslo’s West End and is part of Nordic Hotels & Resorts portfolio.  Set within the former headquarters of Oslo Lysverker, the city’s original electrical company, the Art Deco hotel pays homage to a fusion of neoclassical contemporary aesthetics with original historic elements that have been meticulously restored and developed. Sommerro boasts 231 rooms with 56 branded residences, seven restaurants, and bars including a Spanish tapas and wine bar, an exclusive Chef’s table, and a lively cocktail bar inspired by the Roaring Twenties. The hotel will also offer meeting and event spaces with capacity for up to 150 people, a 100-seat gilded theatre, a landmark wellness space with a fully-equipped gym, and the city’s first year-round rooftop pool, sauna, and terrace. It’s more than just a hotel it’s a destination in itself!

Whether you choose to stay here or not, you should definitely pay a visit to the Hotel Victoria for a traditional afternoon tea in vintage surroundings. The turn of the 20th-century Neo-Renaissance building was designed by the architect Henry Bucher and had a previous life as the city’s first cinema. It enjoys a prime harbourfront location, with a French vibe, as evidenced most keenly in the cocktail menu. Interconnecting and sea view rooms are available; all have soundproofing and blackout drapes, which, combined with Stavanger’s fresh air, ensure a great night’s sleep.

A hotel formed to host the British aristocracy, Britannia has a fascinating heritage. After a major revamp, it reopened in 2019 – 149 years after its inception. The grand property contains 257 bedrooms, each with handmade beds, double marble bathrooms and mod cons like Nespresso machines. Last year, Britannia’s palatial dining room, Speilsalen, earned its first Michelin star. And it offers an extensive wine list, with a 10,000 bottle strong cellar. The spa is the largest in the area too; guests can make use of the heated indoor pool, mineral pool, Nordic saunas and infrared cabin. This five-star establishment is a member of The Leading Hotels of The World.

Embrace city centre views and atmosphere, with a stay in this stylishly renovated warehouse on the quayside beside the Ålesund Strait. Of its 131 bedrooms, one (Molja, set at the end of the pier a little away from the main building) is a converted lighthouse. All have a rustic, close-to-nature nautical vibe, with typical Scandi minimalism and design and pictures on the walls narrate the story of the building’s past as a boathouse. Apotekergata No. 5 serves local, homemade food indoors and out, while the hotel’s little store sells gourmet products to take home (or on your day’s adventures).

Oslo has everything for the discerning traveller including the Thief Hotel (or Tjuvholmen) which is tucked away in the middle of downtown Oslo and really did used to live up it its name as it was a renowned hideaway for thieves, smugglers and assorted rascals! Today, the stylish boutique hotel is far removed from its murky past and is a top place to get away from it all and luxuriate in the spa and enjoy Norwegian food, great bars and top-of-the-range designer furniture. Tjuvholmen beach is not far away, and the hotel is set on an islet which is connected by a footbridge.

The respected headquarters of a former office building dating back to 1919 has been transformed into Amerikalinjen – a stylish boutique hotel in a convenient location; only a minute’s walk from the Jernbanetorget metro station and a 6-minute walk from the Oslo Opera House. The hotel has been designed to accommodate all that the modern explorer desires; with a vibrant vibe and an eclectic mix of modern comfort, Norwegian design and a rich history. Standard rooms through to suites are all as equally stylish with space and vantage point being the key differentiator. There is a great selection of food and drink options including; Pier 42 – the place for guests to immerse themselves in Amerikalinjen’s cocktail culture, whilst the Atlas Brasserie serves breakfast and dinner and Gustav is the Jazz club inspired by the New York Jazz scene. A well-equipped gym is open 24 hours a day for guests to use as they wish and comprises separate zones for weight-training, cardio and yoga or Pilates and unwind after a work-out in the Finnish sauna and heated mosaic beds in the relaxation centre.

Built in 1918 by the architect Henry Coll, this hotel preserves a rich slice of Oslo history with the original arched doorways and is known for the theatre in the hotel, and has had a more recent upgrade by Annemone Wille Waage to give it a modern and sophisticated feel. The building is near to the Royal Palace and the parliament as well as Karl Johans Gate. The rooms are furnished in a warm ambience with feature Italian wallpaper, and all rooms have good lighting with large windows and spotlights for that evening glow.

The Saga Hotel in Oslo prides itself on the homey and warm atmosphere that provides a relaxing haven after a hectic day in the city. The four-star hotel is based in Frogner, very near to the Royal Palace, and after a complete refurbishment in 2011 it now combines a modern and soothing interior with the retention of beautiful architecture dating back to the 1890s. Bar Eilert serves a range of coffee and alcoholic beverages, and the hotel restaurant Fangs’ provides an intimate environment with a unique hybrid of raw Nordic and Japanese cooking resulting in a range of innovative dishes.

Right in the heart of downtown Oslo, the Rosenkrantz is only a few minutes walk from Karl Johan High street, and the hotel provides a modern and quirky blend of comfort and quality with pops of colour and interesting materials used as part of the furniture and decor. The hotel is situated right next to the Royal Palace, and the lounge on the eighth floor gives great views whilst guests enjoy meals, coffee and snacks. The hotel is centrally situated for Karl Johans Gate, all the city attractions, and has good public transport networks.

The Opus XVI Bergen is set in an impressive building that dates back to 1876 and this Small Luxury Hotel of The World property can be found in the very heart of Bergen on Vågsallmenningen plaza meaning you are steps away from some of Bergen’s best sights. This boutique hotel is run by descendants of Norwegian and Bergen-born composer Edvard Grieg and celebrates Bergen’s cultural heritage while remaining wonderfully contemporary. Opus XVI has 65 unique and luxurious rooms with each room being individually designed with classic yet modern design and interiors. People who want the chance to sample traditional Norwegian dishes including seafood and local produce will enjoy dining in the hotel’s restaurant which was once Bergen’s grandest bank, while the hotel’s celebrated Saturday Afternoon Tea is popular among both travellers and those who live in Bergen.