The Top Things To See And Do In Vulkan Oslo

Vulkan has flourished into one of Oslo’s most innovative and happening areas, located on the west side of the Akerselva River between Grünerløkka and Oslo’s city center. Several new restaurants, hotels, and office spaces have opened with this green initiative in mind, and together they are working to create a new ‘fusion of culture and creative industry’ in the area.

Mathallen Food Hall

Inspired by majestic old European food halls, the Mathallen Food Hall in Vulkan is the very first food hall in Norway. They offer a fresh food market with an exclusive stock of organic, local produce and game. Their main market and a series of pop-up shops can be found on the ground floor, where you can get a full supply of groceries and stock up on quality fish, meats, fruits, vegetables, and sauces. Afterward, you can head upstairs to one of their many restaurants and bars, and take a break to enjoy a leisurely bite or a beer. They offer a variety of American and European cuisine, from Italian to New York style fast food, as well as snacks like gourmet cheeses. The Mathallen is a great hub for small businesses, farmers, and customers seeking healthy foodstuffs. If you come at the right time of year, you may even stumble onto one of their food festivals.

Opening hours:
Tuesday-Wednesday 11am-7pm
Thursday-Friday 11am-8pm
Sunday 11am-5pm

Mathallen Oslo, Vulkan 5, Oslo, Norway, +47 400 01 209

Dansens Hus

Building

The Dansens Husin Vulkan is Norway’s national stage for dance. Found on the same street as Mathallen, this building is one of the finest and most modern stage venues in all of Oslo, featuring top quality state-of-the-art technical equipment. The main stage can seat an audience of 334, and the studio stage has a maximum capacity of 150. Their productions cover a broad spectrum of dance genres, from productions choreographed for babies to appearances by major international touring companies. You’ll find a healthy mix of new emerging local talent sharing the schedule with well-established Oslo greats. The dance house also organizes the Urban Moves street dance festival, and hip hop courses for children and teens.

(Price and hours vary by performance) Beef Burger | © Daniel Go/Flickr

Døgnvill Bar & Burger

Bakery, Bar, Restaurant

Døgnvill Bar & Burger serves the most delicious burgers in Vulkan, and perhaps in all of Oslo. The cattle they use are raised in Jæren (Norway’s largest flat lowland area), minced at Albert Idsøe in Stavanger, cooked in tasty sauces made in-house at the restaurant, and finally served at your table with bread from the nearby Kolonihagen Bakery. Their well-stocked bar offers plenty of options to find the perfect beer, wine, or cocktail to complete your scrumptious meal.

Price: Mid-range

Opening hours:
Monday 12pm-11pm
Tuesday-Saturday 12pm-12am
Sunday 12pm-11am

Watch out for: the high-quality ingredients

Vulkan beehives

It’s not every day that you come across two massive beehives strolling around an urban area, but Vulkan’s not an everyday neighborhood. The Vulkan Bigård projectwas initiated in 2014 to raise awareness of the importance of bees in our ecosystem and educate the public on the ways that bees contribute to the environment. The two beehives are appropriately placed next to Mathallen Hall, on the rooftop of Dansens Hus. Created by Snøhetta, the design of this honey-colored wooden structure was inspired directly by the geometry of natural honeycombs. Two hexagonal volumes were intersected to create the form, and from there they adjusted the width and height to match the beekeeper’s needs. This installation is a great example of Vulkan’s passion for creative, eco-sustainable partnerships in local industries.

Smelteverket

Bar, Pub

Smelteverket can be found along the banks of the Akerselva river, in what was once an old train track production plant. The basic structure of the plant was preserved in the creation of what is now Scandinavia’s longest bar on record. Smelteverket boasts a strong selection of craft beers on tap, as well as an impressive list of imported and local bottled beers. Their food menu is fun and exciting, as is their schedule of weekly activities, featuring pub quizzes, concerts, stand-up comedy, and much more. This is a must-see stop in Oslo for atmosphere, food, drinks and entertainment.

Price: Budget

Opening hours:
Tuesday-Thursday 5pm-10pm
Friday 4pm-11pm
Saturday 2pm-11pm
Sunday 2pm-10pm

Watch out for: the fun activities held every week

About the author

Shreyas Kulkarni

Shreyas Kulkarni has a BA where he studied History, Political Science and Economics. He holds an interest in writing and the use of game theory to develop a better and just world. Why write for The Culture Trip? It's a great place to read and write about the simple and important things in life. Literature, travel, food, culture, and art are the fields which can make humans better and more developed than money or a nine to five job. He hopes that you enjoy his writing.