Statholdergaarden

Statholdergaarden, Michelin-starred fine dining in central Oslo

Statholdergaarden is the gourmet restaurant of chef Bent Stiansen, who was crowned world cooking champion at the Bocuse d'Or in 1993. The establishment has held a Michelin star since 1998. The team has established it as one of the leading restaurants in Oslo and Norway, according to its own presentation.

The culinary offering is built around a tasting menu that changes with the seasons and prioritises Norwegian produce at its best. The kitchen draws on the great European culinary traditions and is open to inspirations from other regions. The menu includes three starters, mainly fish and seafood, before moving on to a meat main course, cheese and dessert; guests may choose fewer courses. It is completed by an extensive à la carte selection reflecting the seasonal offering.

Wine cellar and front-of-house service

The restaurant has a wine cellar with more than 500 labels and 8,000 bottles across all price ranges. The selection focuses on the classic regions — France, Italy, Spain, Germany and Austria — and has recently been expanded with wines from New Zealand, Australia and the Americas. The sommeliers create a specific pairing to accompany the menu. The front-of-house team, led by Edvard Skramstad, aims to make guests feel comfortable and able to relax, without the technical level of service interfering with that experience.

Statholderens Mat & Vinkjeller, the cellar bistro

Statholderens Mat & Vinkjeller operates beneath the same building, an informal restaurant located in the original cellar vaults, with white walls and 17th-century origins. Its speciality is extensive menus that change theme every six weeks, at a more affordable price than the gourmet restaurant, accompanied by wine suggestions designed for each menu. The à la carte includes Scandinavian cuisine with European influences.

The lunch service is Danish-inspired and focuses on smørrebrød, the traditional Danish open sandwiches, with specialities such as Danish herring, cured salmon, prawns, fried plaice or rib roast. The head of the kitchen is of Danish origin. Lunch is served from 11:30 to 15:00 Tuesday to Friday and on Saturdays from 12:30 to 16:00; it is closed during the spring and summer seasons. Dinner starts at 17:00 Tuesday to Saturday, closing on Sundays and Mondays.

Spaces for groups and events

Statholderens Mat & Vinkjeller has three private rooms: the wine cellar, for 16 to 20 people; room 2, for 20 to 30; and room 3, for 30 to 40. In total, the restaurant can accommodate 90 diners. The informal atmosphere makes it suitable for dinners with friends, corporate meals, business lunches and other networking gatherings. The wine list includes a specific section of speciality beers and Danish and Norwegian aquavit, with 500 labels and prices 25% lower than at Statholdergaarden.

A 1640 building in the Kvadraturen district

The property housing both restaurants was built in 1640 for mint master Peter Gruner and became part of the new Kvadraturen district, laid out by Christian IV after the great city fire of 1624. Gruner gathered Norway's three mints in this house, based in Kristiania, although he died two years after moving in; it was his son who inherited the property and the position. At the end of the 17th century, the stadtholder Ulrik Fredrik Gyldenløve lived on the estate for twenty years, a period that marks the origin of the festive activity hosted by the establishment today. The building is located at the junction of Rådhusgaten and Kirkegaten, in central Oslo.

Team and kitchen

Bent Stiansen is the owner and chef of the gourmet restaurant, where Torbjörn Forster and Joachim Lindgren compose the tasting menu. Natascha Stiansen is listed as owner. At Statholderens Mat & Vinkjeller, the chef is Nina Kristoffersen. The gourmet restaurant is open Monday to Saturday from 18:00 to midnight, with last kitchen orders accepted at 21:30. The bistro is open Tuesday to Saturday from 17:00 to midnight, also with kitchen closing at 21:30.

Location and contact

Phone: 22 41 88 00