Himkok
Vaterland, Oslo
Bar in Oslo, Norway
Book with PearlThe Read
Distillery-to-Counter Cocktails
Why go
Himkok is the Oslo bar to prioritize when cocktails are the main event and the booking effort is part of the plan. Its Top 500 Bars Best Bars #6 ranking in 2025 and World's 50 Best Bars #10 placement in 2023 make it a high-confidence pick for serious drinks, but it is less useful for a casual, last-minute night out.
About Himkok
For a first Oslo night, Himkok is a strong name to consider if the plan is built around a recognized venue rather than a full dinner. Its accolades give it international standing: Top 500 Bars Best Bars #6 in 2025 and World's 50 Best Bars #10 in 2023.
The safest way to plan is to keep the premise simple. Treat Himkok as an Oslo venue with major recognition and a smart casual dress code, avoid building the evening around assumptions about menu format, seating, food, drinks, or service style.
Book this for a recognized Oslo stop, not for a full meal
The right expectation is a venue-led visit based on major recognition, not a guaranteed dining plan. If the priority is dinner first, start with our full Oslo restaurants guide and treat Himkok as a separate Oslo stop rather than assuming it will cover the whole meal.
The recognition is the clearest reason to put in the effort. A Top 500 Bars Best Bars #6 ranking in 2025 and a World's 50 Best Bars #10 placement in 2023 give Himkok international credibility. The practical read: it works if the trip has room for one highly recognized Oslo venue, while the exact planning details should be checked directly before you go.
First-timers should keep the plan simple
Himkok is in Oslo, the dress code is smart casual. Check directly for the address, reservation process, seat count, menu structure, food offering, drinks program, or service format before planning around any of those details.
For date night, it is a candidate if both people want an Oslo evening built around a venue with international recognition. For a broader scan before committing, use our full Oslo bars guide, then compare other venues such as Atlas Bar, Plaza Lounge, Sparta, Gustav, or Arakataka depending on the kind of night you want.
Where it sits among recognized options
Himkok is the name to prioritize when international recognition is the deciding factor. Arakataka, Atlas Bar, Gustav, Plaza Lounge, Sparta can be considered as alternatives, but Himkok's awards make it stand out for travelers looking for an Oslo venue with global recognition.
Planning details
- Location
- Storgata 27, 0184 Oslo
- Website
- himkok.no
- Phone
- +47 22 42 22 02
The take
The Take
The Vibe
Himkok greets you behind an unmarked wooden door and then unfolds across multiple levels, trading obvious signage for quiet confidence. The downstairs bar is low-lit and dressed in dark leather and mirrored surfaces, creating an intimate, focus-driven room where bartending is the main event. Upstairs and out back the energy shifts — a high-volume draft cocktail operation and a back terrace pouring Norwegian ciders and local beers offer more animated, social zones. The overall tone is modern and highly curated, with a production-first ethos that gives the place the rare cachet of an internationally recognised, almost iconic bar.
Best For
Himkok is best for people who prioritise craft cocktails and provenance. The intimate, low-lit front bar suits date nights and special-occasion evenings where the drinks and service take centre stage, while the upstairs draft operation and back terrace accommodate more social or after-work gatherings. Groups can move between formats — terrace for casual beers and ciders, upstairs for lively draft cocktails, downstairs for a focused tasting experience — making the venue adaptable across different kinds of nights out in central Oslo.
Ordering Tips
Prioritise house-made spirits and program-led serves: the micro-distillery feeds "house-made aquavit, gin, and vodka directly to the back bar," so cocktails built on those spirits are a direct expression of the bar's craft. For a contrasting experience seek out the high-volume draft cocktail options upstairs, or step onto the back terrace for Norwegian ciders and local beers. Reserve the downstairs front bar for more serious, low-lit cocktails if you want the full Himkok signature experience.
Venue details
Ambiance
Relaxed yet refined industrial chic with exposed brick, copper stills, comfortable leather seating, and cozy, romantic lighting.
Tags
Vibe
Best For
Experience
Format
At the Bar
- Bar Category
- Cocktail Bar
- Music
- Nordic Jazz
Signature Pours
birch martini
Planning details
Location
Recognition and awards
Also consider
Also Consider
- Arakataka, Notable alternative
- Sparta, Notable alternative
- Plaza Lounge, Notable alternative
- Atlas Bar, Notable alternative
- Gustav, Notable alternative
Bar context
How it compares in Oslo
Choose Himkok over Arakataka when the night is built around cocktails rather than dinner. Arakataka is the better cross-shop for readers who want food to carry the evening, while Himkok is the stronger call when the drinks program is the reason to go out. Booking pressure is the tradeoff: Himkok is the harder plan, so Arakataka is the safer fallback for a mixed evening.
Sparta, Plaza Lounge, Atlas Bar are better fits when flexibility and atmosphere matter more than chasing the most credentialed cocktail room in the city. Atlas Bar is the easiest recommendation for a less formal bar-first night; Plaza Lounge makes more sense if a lounge setting is the priority; Sparta is the cross-shop when the group wants a simpler Oslo bar plan.
Gustav is the peer to consider when the evening needs to feel polished without making the whole night depend on one difficult reservation. Himkok is the pick for cocktail-focused visitors who will plan ahead; Gustav is the more forgiving choice for readers balancing drinks with dinner, hotels, or a wider Oslo itinerary.
Explore Oslo
Around this place
Discover more on Pearl
Unlock the full Himkok guide in Pearl, including awards, comparisons, FAQs, planning details, and nearby places.
Compare Himkok
| Venue | Location | Awards |
|---|---|---|
| Himkok | Oslo | 2026 Europe's 50 Best Bars · #4Top 500 Bars 2026 · #62025 World's 50 Best Bars · #142024 World's 50 Best Bars · #112023 World's 50 Best Bars · #102020 World's 50 Best Bars · #302019 World's 50 Best Bars · #172018 World's 50 Best Bars · #192017 World's 50 Best Bars · #20 |
| Arakataka | Oslo | No published awards |
| Sparta | Oslo | No published awards |
| Plaza Lounge | Oslo | No published awards |
| Atlas Bar | Oslo | No published awards |
| Gustav | Oslo | No published awards |
How Himkok Oslo compares with similar nearby venues.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a reservation at Himkok?
Plan ahead if Himkok is the main stop of the night, but check directly for the current booking process. Himkok is in Oslo, has a smart casual dress code, holds major recognition: Top 500 Bars Best Bars #6 in 2025 and World's 50 Best Bars #10 in 2023.
Is Himkok good for a date?
It can be a date-night choice if you want an Oslo venue with international recognition. The dress code is smart casual.
What's the crowd like at Himkok?
For the current atmosphere, check directly or plan with flexibility. Himkok is an Oslo venue with Top 500 Bars Best Bars #6 recognition in 2025 and a World's 50 Best Bars #10 placement in 2023.
Is the food good at Himkok?
Do not plan around an assumed dining format. Treat Himkok as a recognized Oslo venue and check directly if food is important to your visit. If you want food to be the anchor, compare other dining options such as Arakataka.
Is Himkok good for groups?
Confirm directly before planning around a specific party size. If you are comparing venues, Atlas Bar, Gustav, Plaza Lounge, Sparta, Arakataka are other names to consider depending on the night you want.
