The Best Places to Eat in Trondheim, Norway

Located in the very centre of the city in the main market square Torvet and run by former Norwegian baking champion Emanuele Spreafico, Hevd Håndverksbakeri is the perfect pit-stop for whenever hunger strikes. This spot is run as a bakery until 3.45pm, serving delicious takeaway baked treats, breakfast and lunch including eggs benedict, a lobster chilli roll and fish soup. Be sure to try the croissants filled with vanilla cream. After 4.30pm, the bakery transforms into Una Pizzeria for stone-baked pizza and tasty pasta dishes.

Nearly torn down in the 1960s to make way for a motorway, the district of Bakklandet is now one of the most charming areas in Trondheim, with cobblestones, 19th century wooden houses and bustling narrow streets. Kalas and Canasta is equally enchanting with hidden corners and quirky decor that make it feel like dining in someone’s home. With a focus on quality, seasonal ingredients, the restaurant serves a small lunch menu, a weekend brunch and a limited dinner menu. The dinner daily special can be anything from meatballs to a Thai dish. “We serve what we feel like serving,” says head chef Tor Nilssen. “There are five evening dishes, and you can choose as many as you like.”

There is nowhere better to get seafood in Trondheim than right by the harbour at the Ravnkloa Fish Market. The area has been the centre of Trondheim’s busy fishing trade for hundreds of years, with the first fish market built here in the 19th century. The current market was opened in 2000 and has plenty of fishmongers and a summer cafe where diners can tuck into fish soup, fish cakes and the famous shrimp sandwiches on quayside tables.

“We don’t want to lock ourselves into a specific concept, but instead allow ourselves to be inspired by the seasons, travel, nostalgia, memories and experiences we’ve had,” says Thomas Borgan, head chef at Kraft Bodega. Instead, this airy modern restaurant overlooking the fjord has thrown out the rule book and wants people to eat whatever they fancy. Without a strict a la carte menu, there are several dishes from all over the world, served in different portion sizes, so guests can drop by for a snack, devise their own menu or let the chefs surprise them. Just save room for the waffle dessert.

“This eclectic dining establishment is decorated with a figure of Jesus, Dolly Parton memorabilia and a clawfoot tub filled with ice and bottles,” says food writer, blogger and author of two cookbooks Helle Øder Valebrokk. This stylish restaurant in Trondheim is run by Norway Top Chef 2016 winner Renee Fagerhøi, and serves food she dreamed of growing up on a Norwegian farm. “Bula offers five- or ten-course menus, and the guests do not know what will be served until they arrive at the restaurant,” Helle says. “It is also possible to order light dishes at the bar without a reservation.”

Bakklandet Skydsstation is located in one of the best-preserved buildings in the Bakklandet district, a traditional area filled with historic and colourful wooden houses. The building dates back to the 1700s and has previously housed a carpentry workshop, a dairy and a launderette. Now it is home to Trondheim’s most delightful cafe, which overlooks the Nidelva River. Packed with vintage artefacts, old furniture and embroidered cushions, the cafe is a homely mobile phone-free zone, serving hearty food made by cheery owner Gurli Riss herself. “Each day at lunchtime, the herring table is laid with fresh fish caught at Brekstad out by the airport, and a selection of more than 300 different types of aquavit,” says Helle. “Many people come by to taste the house hot chocolate too.”

This elegant restaurant in the historic Trøndelag Theatre is the brainchild of chef couple Mette Evensen and Martin Hovdal. Focusing on ingredients from the nearby mountains and fjord, the restaurant grows its own vegetables and even employs its own hunters to guarantee food is seasonal and as fresh as possible. “Røst serves three-, five- and nine-course menus that are constantly changing,” Helle says. “Mette and Martin purchase whole animals and use everything. This means that half of the restaurant may have moose on their plate and the other half may end up with venison.”

Beer-lovers should not miss this restaurant next to the E.C. Dahls Brewery, which offers tours and tastings for thirsty visitors. The adjacent pub and restaurant keep the focus on beer, with a wide variety on offer. Find a choice of 150 bottled beers, a beer recommendation of the day and food inspired by the great American barbecue. “We serve beer-friendly food with beer in the food, seasoned with lots of spices and a smoky flavour,” says general manager Alexander Skjefte. “Our focus is dishes with a lot of flavour, like local, dry-aged meat, real Philly cheesesteaks and mussels from nearby Fosen.”