Restaurant in Oslo, Norway
Oslo's longest-running Michelin star. Book it.
Oslo's longest-running Michelin-starred restaurant earns its place at the €€€€ tier through genuine classical cooking built on Norwegian coastal produce — halibut, scallops, langoustine — in a 17th-century setting with consistently strong service. Easier to book than most at this level. The right choice for celebrations or anyone who wants classical European precision over New Nordic experimentation.
Getting a table here is not the ordeal it once was — booking difficulty is rated easy relative to Oslo's fine dining tier — but that accessibility should not make you complacent about why you are going. Statholdergaarden holds the distinction of being the restaurant in the Nordic Michelin guide that has retained its star the longest, and that credential matters when you are spending at the €€€€ price point. If you have been once and enjoyed the classical European framework, this is the kind of restaurant that rewards return visits: the kitchen is consistent in a way that few at this level manage to sustain across decades.
The setting is a 17th-century building at Rådhusgata 11 in central Oslo, and the three dining rooms inside deliver on the promise of the address. Chandeliers hang from ornate stucco ceilings, antiques and curios line the walls, and the proportions of the space feel genuinely historic rather than designed to look it. For a returning guest, the room itself is part of the reason to come back: it has a density of character that newer Oslo fine dining rooms, however technically accomplished, have not yet accumulated.
Chef Bent Stiansen leads a kitchen that works in what the Michelin guide describes as expertly rendered classical cooking , seasonal ingredients in familiar combinations, distinguished by precise seasoning and a personal touch. The Opinionated About Dining guide ranked Statholdergaarden at #252 in Europe for Classical cuisine in 2024, moving to #284 in 2025, which places it firmly in the upper tier of the classical European tradition on the continent. La Liste awarded 83.5 points in 2025 and 81 points in 2026 , a marginal dip, but still a score that keeps it well within the leading bracket of Oslo's fine dining options.
The editorial angle that matters most here is sourcing. Classical European cooking at this level lives or dies on ingredient quality, and Statholdergaarden's approach , seared halibut, spiced scallops, langoustine in bisque , draws directly on Norway's coastal larder. These are not decorative Nordic references; they are the structural logic of the menu. Halibut from Norwegian waters, langoustine pulled from cold North Atlantic depths: the geography of the sourcing is what gives familiar classical preparations their credibility and their price justification. A bisque built on Norwegian langoustine has a different depth profile than one built on farmed product, and the kitchen appears to understand that distinction.
For a returning guest, the question is whether the kitchen's treatment of those ingredients has developed since your last visit. The Michelin note references a personal touch in the seasoning, and the La Liste scores suggest the kitchen remains at a high level even if the 2026 score shows a slight decline from 2025. At €€€€, you are paying for precision and consistency with Norwegian seasonal produce treated through a classical European lens , not for avant-garde experimentation. If that framework suited you the first time, it will suit you again.
Top-notch service is the consistent descriptor across the restaurant's award citations, and the formal dining room context makes that service legible in a way that more casual fine dining rooms do not always manage. The atmosphere is celebratory without being stiff , the Google rating of 4.9 across 584 reviews is an unusually strong signal of consistent guest satisfaction at this price tier, where high expectations make high scores harder to sustain. For a second visit, it is worth requesting one of the main dining rooms rather than any ancillary space, to make the most of the stucco ceilings and the antique character the building provides.
Reservations: Easy to book relative to Oslo's fine dining tier , plan ahead but this is not a months-in-advance situation. Hours: Monday through Saturday, 6 pm to midnight; closed Sunday. Price: €€€€ , budget accordingly for a full dinner with wine. Address: Rådhusgata 11, 0151 Oslo. Dress: Smart to formal , the room and the price point set the expectation; overdressing is preferable to underdressing here.
Statholdergaarden does not operate in isolation. Oslo has a strong fine dining scene anchored by Maaemo at the three-Michelin-star level and Kontrast in the New Nordic register. If you are deciding between them, the choice comes down to idiom: Statholdergaarden is classical European with Norwegian ingredients; Maaemo and Kontrast are building a different argument entirely. For something less formal at a lower price point, Hot Shop at €€€ or Bar Amour offer strong alternatives. For French-leaning options, Mon Oncle is worth consideration.
Beyond Oslo, Norway's fine dining circuit extends to RE-NAA in Stavanger, FAGN in Trondheim, Gaptrast in Bergen, Iris in Rosendal, Under in Lindesnes, and Boen Gård in Tveit. Within the classical European and Modern European tradition more broadly, Landhaus Scherrer in Hamburg and Nautika in Dubrovnik offer useful points of comparison for the same genre executed in different national contexts. For a full picture of where to eat, stay, and drink in the city, see our full Oslo restaurants guide, our Oslo hotels guide, our Oslo bars guide, our Oslo wineries guide, and our Oslo experiences guide.
Smart to formal is the right read. The historic dining rooms, €€€€ price point, and Michelin-starred context all point in the same direction. A jacket for men and equivalent smart attire for women is the safe call. This is not a restaurant where you want to arrive underdressed and spend the evening noticing it.
Yes , this is one of the clearer calls in Oslo fine dining for celebrations. The Michelin guide explicitly frames it as a place for celebrations, the historic room delivers genuine occasion atmosphere, and the service level is consistently rated as top-notch. At €€€€, it costs accordingly, but the combination of long-held Michelin recognition, the 17th-century setting, and Google's 4.9 rating across 584 reviews makes it a reliable choice when the occasion matters. For a more contemporary special-occasion alternative, Maaemo operates at a higher Michelin tier but is harder to book.
It works for solo dining, though the formal dining room context means the experience skews toward couples and small groups. At €€€€, solo dining here is a deliberate commitment , you are paying for the full classical experience, and the service quality means solo guests are well looked after. If a counter seat or a more interactive solo experience matters to you, Kontrast may offer a more natural solo format.
Three dining rooms across a 17th-century building suggests reasonable group capacity, though specific private dining details are not confirmed in available data. For a group celebration in Oslo at the €€€€ tier, Statholdergaarden's formal setting and strong service record make it a sensible candidate , contact the restaurant directly at Rådhusgata 11 to confirm private room availability and group minimums.
The case for it rests on ingredient quality and kitchen consistency. Norwegian coastal produce , halibut, scallops, langoustine , treated through a classical European technique at Michelin-starred level is a strong value proposition if that register appeals to you. The La Liste score of 83.5 in 2025 and the longest-held Michelin star in the Nordic guide are the two most concrete indicators that the kitchen delivers at this price. If you are weighing it against Maaemo, the choice is between classical depth and avant-garde ambition , both at €€€€, but very different in what they ask of the diner.
| Venue | Cuisine | Awards | Booking Difficulty | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Statholdergaarden | Modern European, Classic Cuisine | The restaurant in the Nordic Michelin guide that has kept its star the longest, and deservedly so. A place for celebrations, this is a classic fine dining restaurant, with high ceilings, eye-catching...; La Liste Top Restaurants (2026): 81pts; Opinionated About Dining Classical in Europe Ranked #284 (2025); La Liste Top Restaurants (2025): 83.5pts; A charming 17th-century house in the city’s heart plays host to these three elegant dining rooms, where chandeliers hang from wonderfully ornate stucco ceilings and an interesting array of antiques and curios are on display. Expertly rendered classical cooking uses seasonal ingredients in familiar combinations that are given a personal touch when it comes to the seasoning. Dishes could include seared halibut with spiced scallops or langoustine in a deliciously rich bisque. Top-notch service and a comprehensive wine list complete the picture.; Opinionated About Dining Classical in Europe Ranked #252 (2024); Michelin 1 Star (2024); Opinionated About Dining Classical in Europe Recommended (2023) | Easy | — |
| Maaemo | New Nordic, Modern Cuisine | Michelin 3 Star, World's 50 Best | Unknown | — |
| Kontrast | New Nordic, Scandinavian | Michelin 2 Star | Unknown | — |
| Hot Shop | New Nordic, Modern Cuisine | Michelin 1 Star | Unknown | — |
| Arakataka | Nordic , Norwegian | Unknown | — | |
| Kolonialen Bislett | Modern Cuisine | Unknown | — |
Comparing your options in Oslo for this tier.
Dress formally. The setting — chandeliers, ornate stucco ceilings, antiques across three dining rooms in a 17th-century building — sets a clear expectation. A jacket for men is the safe call. This is not a venue where you want to arrive underdressed; the atmosphere actively rewards dressing for the occasion.
Yes, and it's one of Oslo's clearest answers to that question. The Michelin guide explicitly describes it as 'a place for celebrations,' and the combination of formal service, ornate dining rooms, and classical cooking at €€€€ pricing builds a recognisable occasion around the meal. If you want something more progressive or experimental for a milestone dinner, Maaemo at three stars is the alternative, but Statholdergaarden delivers a more traditional celebration format.
It's workable but not the natural fit. The three formal dining rooms and a classical service style are built around a shared-table experience, and at €€€€ pricing the value case is easier to make with a companion. Solo diners will be well looked after — top-notch service is a consistent citation across its award credentials — but if solo fine dining is a priority, a counter-style venue gives you more to engage with.
Three separate dining rooms in a 17th-century building at Rådhusgata 11 gives it more flexibility for groups than most Oslo fine dining addresses. check the venue's official channels for private room options; the multi-room layout makes it a practical choice for corporate dinners or larger celebration parties. Book well ahead regardless of group size.
At €€€€ pricing, the case rests on classical cooking done with precision: seasonal ingredients, personal seasoning, and dishes the Michelin guide cites as seared halibut with spiced scallops or langoustine in bisque. Statholdergaarden has held its Michelin star longer than any restaurant in the Nordic guide, which is a concrete performance signal. If you want avant-garde technique, Kontrast is the sharper fit at a lower price point; if you want classical European cooking executed at a documented high level in a formal setting, the menu here earns its price.
Keep this venue in your Pearl passport, rate it after you visit, and track it alongside every other place you collect.
