Nightlife, in the sense
that most people understand, arrived comparatively late to Norway.
For centuries, family life was the lynchpin of the Norwegian society,
and people tended to socialise at home. Draconian alcohol controls,
including a form of prohibition during the early 20th century, did
not encourage going out.
Since the late 1980s though, with relaxation of drinking laws, it
became possible to drink until 0200 hrs. Pubs and clubs then opened
to take advantage of the change in legislation.
A publication called What’s On in Oslo has
the most comprehensive venue listings and is free from hotel foyers
and from tourist offices, but good first port of call is Rosenkrantz
gate, a street teeming with bars, music pubs and other
great nightspots. Many nightclubs are located on and around Karl
Johans gate. Oslo nightlife is generally
quite relaxed, with neat smart-casual clothing good for everywhere
but the most expensive restaurants.
Drinking alcohol in Norway is still, however, a very expensive business
– a half-litre of beer will cost up to NOK60 and a 40ml shot
of spirit even more.
The minimum drinking age is 18 years for beer and
wine and 20 years for spirits. Distilling spirits
at home is illegal, although that doesn’t
seem to deter production of a form of moonshine called ‘hjemmebrent’,
a lethal concoction of distilled sugar and yeast widely available
on the black market. The national drink is Akevitt,
a fiery spirit flavoured with herbs. Many Norwegians go out late
on Fridays and Saturdays after a ‘vorspiel’
(pre-party) involving drinks at home, so the street atmosphere from
2200 hrs on the weekends can be lively.
Bars
The Dubliner, Rådhusgata 28, is a
typical ‘Irish’ themed bar, as is the Kilkenny
Inn, Øvre Slottsgate. Similarly, the Scotsman,
Karl Johans gate, is popular with ex-pats and visitors and also
offers the adjacent Angus Steakhouse. English is
more often spoken than Norwegian at The Belfry,
Lille Grensen 7.
A recent arrival in town is an Australian theme pub, Down
Under, in Fridtjof Nansens plass. In the summer, there
is a choice of open-air bar/restaurants along the quaysides of Aker
Brygge, in front of Akershus Festning. But again these
tend to stretch the traveller’s budget.
Stravinsky,
Rosenkrantzgate 17, is a swanky venue for those who don’t
mind a bit of ‘clubbing’ thrown in with a disco night
every Wednesday. The Kristiania Bar and
Café, right by the central station in Jernbanetorget,
is a cavernous and rather elegant venue that gets absolutely packed
on Friday and Saturday evenings.
Casinos
There are no casinos located in Oslo, as gambling is illegal in
Norway, other than through the state-run lottery, football
pools and horse-racing schemes, for which
tickets can be purchased in the ubiquitous ‘kiosker’,
small shops also selling newspapers, sweets, hot dogs and soft drinks.
Clubs
Skansen, Rådhusgate
25, is known as a ‘real’ house venue, and although relatively
small hosts international DJs on a regular basis. Sikamikanico,
in Møllergate, offers a choice of house, techno and similar
music genres. Gotham Nights, Bjerregaardsgate 68,
offers something a little different than the usual techno/house
combination, with regular live music for the ‘goth’
fraternity. Tiger Tiger, quite a new venue at Torggata
5, which has become rapidly popular with the mainstream clubbing
crowd.
Live Music
Stortorvets Gjæstgiveri, Grensen 1, is a
lively traditional jazz joint featuring ragtime and New Orleans-style
bands. Galleria, Kristian IV’s Gate 12, features
a disco and a live jazz club, while Oslo Spektrum,
Sonia Henies Plass 2 (website: www.oslospektrum.no),
is where all the visiting international big names play. Skuret
Kulturpub, Christian Krohgs gate 2 (website: www.skuret.no),
offers a regular programme of rock bands and music-related quiz
nights. |
