Insider tips Oslo: compact, cute and by the water

Our hosts in Oslo, Fabian and Andreas, are two gay best friends living in an amazing two-bedroom apartment. Here are their tips for enjoying the capital of Norway, just as Millennials would: friendly bars, great places to eat out, and Instagram-worthy locations to visit. If you're planning a trip to Oslo, follow their tips and consider staying with them. Life is about connections, and that's what misterb&b is for!

How gay-friendly is Oslo?

Oslo is a very open and gay-friendly city in general: the gay community mixes well with the straight one. You see gay couples holding hands in the street, and even sharing sneaky kisses here and there without any issue or weird looks.

What are the best gay events that take place in Oslo each year?

That would have to be the annual Gay Pride Oslo, usually around June. With lots of international guests, all day-activities and nightly club events, this is the one week Oslo turns pink every year. At the end, there's a fabulous gay parade and end-of-pride party, which is massive, and hosts countless sexy Norwegians!

© Flickr/Dieter Meuser

We only have 48 hours in Oslo. What can’t we miss?

Oslo is a very cute and compact city, and with 48 hours to spare, you have plenty of time for the most important bits! Start by going to the main street (Karl Johan) where you will find sights like the Cathedral, the Parliament, the Royal Castle and City Hall.

Oslo islands © Pixabay/estai

Nearby, you will find the harbor area featuring Oslo Fjord (Aker Brygge/Tjuvholmen neighborhoods), where you can enjoy a luscious glass of wine whilst gazing at the amazing sunset.

You would also have time to hang out in the park known as Frognerparken (featuring some very nude sculptures, and yes, there are gay ones!), Holmenkollen (a famous ski-jump used in the 1952 Olympics) and a bit of shopping on Bogstadsveien, the fancy promenade.

What’s your favorite gay place to grab a bite for lunch or dinner?

For lunch, we love to be spotted at trendy gay eatery/bar Ett Glass. In English, it means “a glass”, like having just one glass could ever happen! ;) We usually order our favorites, their Caesar Salad with a Strawberry Daiquiri (they do amazing cocktails!). This would also be the place to pop in for dinner. They serve an extraordinary fish-soup. There’s also burgers, salmon and delicious desserts.

The best gay place and day for a cheap beer or happy hour?

London Pub is a great place for a cheap beer and good conversation with the local gay community. Once tipsy, they’re always ready to mingle! London Pub features two floors, a Russian mafia-themed bar downstairs (not as scary as it sounds!) which is open every day, and a nightclub upstairs (only Friday and Saturday). Free entrance for all!

We’re ready to party! What are the best gay clubs?

OMG, we've been waiting for your to ask! Elsker (which means “love” in Norwegian”) is definitely the best and most popular gay club in Oslo. It has three floors and great DJs (not to mention very hot bartenders).

It's open every Friday and Saturday; downstairs there is a Eurovision-hits vibes, while upstairs the music will make you fistpump like it’s your last vacation day in Ibiza! Steamy, steamy, steamy... so when are we going?! :)

Can you share a secret or little-known place to visit in Oslo?

Our favorite little secret-to-do is walking along the Akerselva river. It's a great day-out where you can come across some nice bars, good places to eat, and a lot of Instagram opportunities, even waterfalls! Not many visitors knows about this.

Akerselva river © Flickr/Vidar Ringstad

Another little secret is the restaurant Südøst. This Asian-fusion restaurant doesn’t look like much on the outside, but features a very lovely decoration and ambiance inside, as well as an outside seating area. It's our number one go-to place for sushi and Pad Thai. Also, it's perfect for date-night, and a lot of Oslo gays hang out here.

Any beaches, parks or best other places to chill out in?

If the weather allows it, you can go to the one of the many islands that are out on the Oslo Fjord. Most of the islands have nice beaches, old viking ruins and walking paths. By bus you can also reach Huk, which is a scenic and well-visited beach in the summer.

Huk nude beach © Flickr/Mats Anda

Our favorite park is Sofienbergparken, which is located in the hip area of Grünerløkka. It's perfect for a nice picnic or a lay-out in the sun with a beer. The cool kids and gays flock herein the summer.

And finally, where can we get the best view of Oslo?

Well, our private balcony in our apartment features some lovely views of Oslo actually, and even the Oslo Fjord and Ekeberg Mountain. We have lounge chairs for you to relax in, with sun from morning till dawn.

View from Holmenkollen © Flickr/Therese's universe

Besides this, Holmenkollen, the ski jump we mentioned earlier, has some amazing views of the mountains and the city from above. And, if you walk up on the roof of the Opera House, you can catch breathtaking views of the city and waterfront as well! Welcome to Oslo! ●

Fancy taking in the sights of Oslo? Check out our City Guide and read some more Local Tips from our other hosts in this amazing city!

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