Oslo made for you

With enough avant-garde design to make the most discerning art collector turn green, impressive views steal your attention every way you turn at The Thief. From inspiring contemporary art gracing guestrooms to Julian Opie animations playing in the elevators and an Andy Warhol piece sitting in the restaurant – and not forgetting those fjord panoramas – this is Oslo’s exciting, cutting-edge design hotel. Facing the water’s edge in the Tjuvholmen district, now deemed a hotspot for innovative design, with the Astrup Fearnely Museum of Modern Art next door and superb restaurants scattered among pedestrianised streets and squares, this boutique bolt-hole fits perfectly into its creative environment. Closely tied to its Norwegian setting, The Thief is adorned with local designers’ furniture while the restaurant’s seasonal menu is peppered with regional accents. Drinks and views then come hand in hand up at the gorgeous roof terrace, though each room and suite also offers private vistas from floor-to-ceiling windows and French balconies. Scenery isn’t the only thing your room provides either. Infused with gadgets, carefully chosen artwork and luxuries including rainforest showers, bespoke woollen blankets, slippers and bathrobes, the accommodation here is superb.

Hotel Continental Oslo’s location is as central as it gets, directly across from the National Theatre, and a stone’s throw from the parliamentary building and royal palace. A beacon of luxury since its opening in 1900, the hotel is the country’s only five-star hotel, with 155 individually designed rooms and suites. Guests can enjoy fine dining at Restaurant Eik Annen Etage while the historic Theatercaféen has been the Oslo’s most popular dining and meeting place for over 100 years. Drinks and snacks can be enjoyed at the maritime-style Steamen Café, or at the popular Dagligstuen bar which homes a privately owned collection of graphic works by Edvard Munch.

First opening its doors in 1874, the Grand Hotel is steeped in classic history and regarded as the original landmark hotel of Oslo. Sitting on the city’s main street, Karl Johans Gate, the Grand strikes a palatial pose with its timeless elegant design. While the city lies at your doorstep, you can relax in utter luxury within. Traditional and modern indulgences come together to create a first-class service, from handsomely furnished rooms and suites to a complete spa experience and numerous dining choices. Tuck into delicious meals and afternoon tea at the Grand Cafe and Palmen Restaurant, before taking in the cityscape from the top floor bar and rooftop terrace.