Hei hei, Scoopers!

As Oslo slides into peak julemodus – twinkly lights, last-minute markets, and the annual “is it too early for ribbe?” debate – this week’s Scoop is all about making the most of it without spending three hours on Google first.

We’ve lined up three very different escapes in Flights of Fancy, A ridiculously expensive “if my numbers hit” dream estate at Skøien Hovedgaard, a new Akerselva Walk of the Week, packed gigs and shows, and an exclusive 100 kr discount on your Christmas tree.

Meanwhile, our Luxury Christmas Hamper keeps growing (well over 4,000 NOK now). You’re already entered and every Oslo-based friend you refer gives you an extra shot at winning it on 17 December.

Why go:
Classic storybook Christmas. Two huge markets in Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square, wooden stalls, mulled wine, chimney cake, and a giant spruce lit up against the Gothic skyline. If you want maximum Christmas with minimum flight time, this is it.

Why go:
Arctic city break plus Northern Lights. Compact centre with cafés and bars, snow-covered mountains in every direction, and easy access to aurora safaris, dog-sledding, reindeer trips and fjord cruises. Perfect if you want big nature and real winter without leaving Norway.

Why go:
Pretty obvious as is the got to place for many Norwegians as the days get shorter.Daylight, blue skies and 20°C while Oslo is in the dark. Long walks on Las Canteras beach, old-town wandering in Vegueta, and slow evenings with tapas and (non-OSLO-priced) coffee. Ideal if you want to defrost your bones and top your vitamin D.

For when “Bjørvika penthouse” suddenly feels a bit… modest.
This is full country-estate energy, hidden inside Oslo’s city limits – a 36 mål private park, sweeping lawns, its own clock-tower barn, and a white mansion straight out of a period drama. You don’t drive up the driveway, you arrive via private allé and wrought-iron gates.

Asking: 500 000 000 kr (Total: 512 518 550 kr)
Type: Enebolig (selveier) • Units: 8 • Bedrooms: 19

Inside space: 3 915 m² BRA-i / BRA
Outdoor: 36 434 m² own plot (ca. 36 mål) + 147 m² veranda/terrace

Year: 1894 • Energy: G (mørkegrønn)
Municipal taxes: 200 469 kr per year

One of Norway’s most spectacular historic properties, restored with obsessive care in the late 90s together with Byantikvaren, Riksantikvaren and architect Finn Falkum. Italian Renaissance villa vibes: tower, marble stairs, columned verandas, arched windows, and long sightlines over lawns that seem to go on forever

You’re not just buying a house, you’re basically owning a small, historically preserved village.

This isn’t a single-family villa, it’s a new Kommune!

Perfect if your “extended family” includes actual family, staff, artists-in-residence… or just a very strong desire for rental income while you swan around the grounds.

You’re minutes from Skøyen, Majorstuen and the rest of Oslo, but standing on the terrace you mostly see: trees, lawn, sky, and a hint of fjord in the distance. It’s that rare mix of central, calm, and completely over the top.

At 500 million, this is more “fantasise over coffee” than “book a viewing after work.”
But still: every home listens to offers.
And someone will end up owning it.

For now, it’s our official “if my numbers hit” dream home of the week.

When Mrs Hang arrived in Norway from Vietnam in 1993, she brought little more than her sewing skills and a fierce work ethic. After years of mending bunads and áo dài dresses, she opened Fru Hang Tailoring & Dry Cleaning at Carl Berners Plass.

When chemical fumes began affecting her health, her son searched for a safer solution, and found GreenEarth Cleaning, a U.S. system using liquid silicone instead of petroleum solvents. Non-toxic, odourless, and biodegradable, it leaves clothes softer, colours brighter, and the planet unharmed.

Today, Fru Hang is Norway’s only dry cleaner using this method, a small family business proving sustainability and craftsmanship can coexist beautifully.

Tucked away on Bjerregaards gate 70, just above St. Hanshaugen, Néroli Skincare is one of Oslo’s most quietly elegant wellness spaces. It’s not just a salon – it’s a sanctuary built on calm energy, thoughtful treatments, and the art of slowing down.

With a 4.9-star rating on Google, locals clearly love this place. As one regular puts it: “Your pulse drops as soon as you walk in, and you’re always greeted with a smile. Highly recommended.”

Founded by Emma and Elisabeth and supported by a team of certified therapists and specialists, Néroli focuses on skin health and well-being rather than quick fixes. They blend the latest innovations in skincare with refined techniques to tailor every visit to your skin’s needs – warm, home-like, and deeply professional.

This week’s photo looks like something between a Fibonacci spiral, a giant seashell, and the entrance to a very stylish underworld.
Golden railing, red light, a blur of someone heading down into… what, exactly? A club? A theatre? A secret society for people who’ve had one too many negronis?

<The first correct answer will get an extra 3 entries into the luxury Christmas pamper hamper!>

Ruffino sits just off Slottsparken on Arbins gate and has quietly built a reputation as one of Oslo’s most consistently reliable Italian restaurants. The menu doesn’t chase trends: homemade pasta, well-executed classics, and a wine list curated by people who actually care about pairings rather than margins.

The truffle ravioli has been a house favourite for years, made in-house with a thin pasta fold and a properly aromatic filling. The linguine alle vongole is seasoned the way it should be, generous garlic, real white wine reduction, and no shortcuts. Even the tiramisu is closer to the Roman style: lighter, balanced, and not overloaded with cream.

Service is attentive without theatre, and dishes arrive hot and correctly paced, something reviewers mention again and again. It’s not cheap, but the pricing matches the quality, and the dining room’s intimacy means it fills quickly.

A refined, dependable choice when you want a proper Italian meal, produced with care.

If you’re looking for an English-speaking church that actually feels like a family, Grace International Church of Oslo might be the city’s best-kept secret.

It’s a warm, international fellowship that’s growing so fast they’ll soon need a bigger home. Services are relaxed, joyful, and genuinely welcoming – and after every service they serve a full hot meal buffet. As far as I know, they’re the only church in Oslo doing that every week, and the welcome is just as warm as the food.

You’ll find a mix of Norwegians, expats, and long-term locals who’ve found real friendship and faith under one roof – and around one table.

Christmas concert at Oslo Cathedral – “Klinge skal et jubelkor” (12–14 Dec)
The big one. All five of Oslo Cathedral’s choirs plus both organists, brass, timpani and harp, with the audience invited to sing along to the classic Christmas hymns. Proper goosebump stuff!

Oslos Supermarked Christmas Market at Langkaia (alt Xmas, last days)
An “alternative, edgy and cozy” Christmas festival down on Langkaia, with more than 80 makers, live performances, workshops and good food. It runs across two weekends in December – this week is one of your last chances to wander under the neon “Oslos Supermarked” sign and pick up something a bit more interesting than a standard mall gift.

Åpen Fabrikk & Julemarked at Nydalen Fabrikker (10, 12–14 Dec) Big indoor Christmas market in a 750 m² hall at Nydalen Fabrikker, with a focus on sustainable gifts and greener consumption. Expect local makers, reuse/redesign, cosy café and free sewing workshops where you can make your own gifts from leftover materials.

Oslo Jul are officially partnering with The Scoop and they’re bringing both deals and decorations.

Adding to the Luxury Hamper
They’re contributing premium wreaths and Christmas ornaments, pushing the hamper value to over 4,000 NOK.

Where & when
Fully open by Thursday 27th Nov perfect timing for Advent weekend.

Oslo Jul’s trees come from Denmark specifically Nordmann fir (Abies nordmanniana) known for holding needles far better than the classic Norwegian spruce (Picea abies). They last longer, shed less, and stay lush all through Christmas.

1) Warm it up before bringing it inside
If your tree has been outdoors in the cold, let it warm up gradually in a garage, hallway, or sheltered spot.
A sudden jump from freezing air to a 23°C living room can shock the tree and cause early needle drop.

2) Give it a fresh cut before watering
Slice 1–2 cm off the base just before placing it in the stand.
This opens the pores so the tree can drink properly again.

3) Get it into water immediately
Nordmann firs can drink a surprising amount in the first 24–48 hours.
A steady water supply = a greener, happier, longer-lasting tree.

A feel-good Christmas concert (Fri 5 Dec, 20:00) featuring one of Oslo’s most loved pop choirs performing festive favourites and modern hits. Light, upbeat, and perfect for easing into December without committing to a full classical julekonsert. A great night out with friends or family…or both!

Two weekends of proper old-fashioned Christmas (Dec & 7–8 Dec).
Wooden stalls, horse-drawn carts, live folk music, handmade crafts, gingerbread, and 100+ historic houses decorated the way Norwegians did Christmas 100–300 years ago. Cosy overload. One of Oslo’s best family-friendly winter traditions.

Two evenings (Wed 3 & Thu 4 Dec, 18:00–21:00) showcasing Norway’s newest fiction writers as they read from their debut novels. A cosy, bookish winter event perfect for anyone who loves discovering fresh voices, supporting new talent, and settling into Litteraturhuset’s warm December atmosphere. Free entry.

Wed 10 Dec, 19:00 @ Det Norske Teatret – Da vi var yngre
Raw, hyped, award-winning stage version of Oliver Lovrenski’s novel about growing up fast on the streets of Grønland – rough, funny, very “now Oslo”.

Thu 11 Dec, 20:45 (doors 20:00) @ Cosmopolite – We call it Ballet: Sleeping Beauty Dance & Light Show
Family-friendly dance and light show based on the classic Sleeping Beauty story – classical ballet meets modern lighting and stage effects, suitable for all ages.

Fri 12 Dec, 19:00 @ Dansens Hus – Loop (Chriz Nypan)
Physical, bass-heavy dance piece where bodies create the music live through looping and sound design – immersive, urban, very cool on the Studioscenen.

Sat 13 Dec, 18:00 @ Nasjonal Jazzscene Victoria – Hilde Louise Orchestra: Ekstrajulekonsert
Vintage-glam Christmas show with Hilde Louise Asbjørnsen and full band – swinging standards and jazzy holiday tunes in an intimate club setting.

Sun 14 Dec, 17:00 @ Folketeateret – ANNIE – Juletradisjonen på Folketeateret
Big-stage family musical: classic songs, full orchestra and proper Christmas spectacle in one of Oslo’s grandest theatres.

Mon 15 Dec, 20:00 (doors 19:30) @ Cosmopolite – Christmas Lights / Oslo Hit Ensemble
Pop-choir Christmas concert with Oslo Hit Ensemble – modern arrangements, band on stage, and a cosy “Monday reset” vibe at Cosmopolite.

Tue 16 Dec, 19:30 @ Kulturkirken Jakob – PUST: Julero
Critically acclaimed a cappella ensemble PUST with their meditative Christmas programme “Julero” – candlelit church, Nordic harmonies, very stilling.

This is a new feature a s requested by some readers.

Oslo’s classic river walk, but we’re taking the upper, quieter stretch: from Kjelsås/ Teknisk Museum down to Nydalen. Forest on one side, river on the other, and just enough civilisation for a coffee at each end.

Quick hits:

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Behind the scenes, I’m also helping a handful of Oslo businesses get found and remembered. If that sounds like you, let’s talk.

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Stay curious, Oslo.

Spence

PS. Know someone in Oslo who’d love The Scoop? Hit reply with their email and I’ll add them (and give you an extra entry in the Christmas draw).