Hei hei Scoopers,

“Oslo is a city where it’s easy to breathe,” wrote Jo Nesbø.

And the longer I live here, the more I understand exactly what he meant.

Compared with the intensity of London or New York, Oslo doesn’t leap into your face demanding applause. Like many of the people who call it home, it hangs back. It lets you come to it. It allows you to notice.

Which may be why the things I love most weren’t obvious on day one. They arrived gradually, in small details, quiet routines, moments you’d miss if you were in a hurry.

And, as you know, it’s Valentine’s week.

A good excuse to talk about love in a slightly wider sense. Not just who you’re having dinner with, but the city you’ve chosen to build a life in.

Because Oslo sneaks up on you.

It wins you over through repetition.
The walk you do so often it becomes yours.
The café where they start to recognise you.
The shortcut you’d ache for if you ever left.

For me, it starts with the river.

I live near Akerselva and I never tire of walking it, north or south, especially when the waterfalls freeze and the whole place feels like a film set. (You’ll see one in Photo of the Week.)

I love that there are high-quality astro turf football pitches across the city that are free to use and, somehow, still intact. (If you grew up in the UK like I did, that borders on science fiction.)

I love that Oslo feels safe.
Day, night, most of the time you can simply… be.

And then there are the small, beautiful oddities.

The 120-year-old hot dog kiosk visitors are told they must see.
The vintage buses that appear for one weekend each year with very little explanation.
The quiet sense that the city trusts you to work it out.

So this week’s Scoop leans into connection.

Places to bring someone.
Places to meet someone.
Places to sit, listen, watch, eat, cheer, or just thaw a little in mid-February.

Good options.
No stress.
You’ll find something that fits.

And I’d love to hear yours.

What do you love about Oslo?

Hit reply and I’ll share some of the best answers in next week’s issue.

If you’ve got a tip, listing, or local story, hit reply I read everything and I’ll include the best ones in an upcoming Scoop.

Amsterdam, Netherlands – ~1h 45m from OSL (direct)
Why go: Straightforward flight and a compact city that feels impossibly rich for a long weekend, canals, world-class museums, cosy bruin cafés, and neighbourhoods perfect for just wandering without a plan. Great for a cultural reset that still feels easy to get back from before Monday.

Copenhagen, Denmark – ~1h 15m from OSL (direct)
Why go: Quick city break that punches well above its weight. Danish design, bike-friendly streets, legendary cafés and food culture, and a waterfront that’s just as relaxing in winter as summer, perfect for rediscovering a city at a gentle pace.

Budapest, Hungary – ~2h 20m from OSL (direct)
Why go: A step further south without the hassle - Budapest’s thermal baths, historic cafés, affordable gastronomy and riverside strolls make it feel like a proper European weekend escape for less than many “winter break” trips.

If your face is currently showing clear signs of January, you’re not alone. The cold air + indoor heating combo does something to Oslo skin that feels slightly personal.

That’s why I’m happy to feature Néroli this week - a calm, expert-led skincare studio that does the kind of treatments where you leave looking like you’ve slept properly, drank enough water, and never once forgot to put sunblock.

Their signature treatment is the Néroli Dyprens 60 min (deep cleansing facial) - properly thorough, but still relaxing. It’s ideal if you want a reset without turning it into “a whole spa day.

Scoop offer (new clients only):
20% off Néroli Dyprens 60 min
Use code SCOOP26 when you book (enter it in the “additional info” field).

«Book here»

Completed in 2020 and finished with the sort of care normally associated with people who plan to stay forever, it offers generous proportions, custom solutions, excellent light, and the quiet civilised bonus of an elevator, including one inside the apartment, which feels especially triumphant the first time you carry groceries without negotiating a staircase!

The terraces deserve their own paragraph because they’re not decorative add-ons; they’re rooms with fresh air. Morning coffee, late dinners, a glass of something while the city gets on with itself below and you get the most out of the lovely long summer days.

And beneath the elegance sit the things that make daily life actually work: two garage spaces, peaceful surroundings, hiking terrain close by, and the centre only minutes away. This modern masterpiece has it all and a really good energy rating too so you’re not blowing your budget on heating bills in the winter.

Price quote: 29,900,000 kr
Total price: 30,662,120 kr
Type: Apartment (selveier)
Bedrooms: 3
Living space: 172 m²
Terrace/Balcony: 69 m²
Year built: 2020
Energy rating: B
Garage: 2 spaces
Elevator: Yes!

Every winter this bit of the river Akersleva turns into something I can’t quite walk past quickly.

The waterfall wraps itself in ice until it looks like a cocoon, while the water keeps moving underneath, still alive, still on its way somewhere, just hidden for a while.

I always wonder how it actually happens…

Do you ever see the moment it freezes mid-fall?
Is it gradual, layer by layer, night after night?
Or does the cold just arrive when nobody’s looking and quietly build a sculpture before the morning?

There’s something very Oslo about it.

No drama.
No announcement.
Just nature getting on with its work while we’re busy with ours.

If you stand there long enough you hear it: the muffled rush under the ice, reminding you it hasn’t stopped.

It’s resting.
Waiting…

And in a month or two it will be moving again in full view, as if nothing happened.

Some restaurants arrive, others endure. Hos Thea is firmly in the second camp.

Opened in 1987 in a former butcher’s shop, Sergio, drawing on experience from legendary kitchens like Sancho and Norberto, set out to prove that a gourmet experience didn’t need theatre or inflated prices. The model was simple: open kitchen, a small menu, total responsibility for every plate.

Oslo noticed fast. Major awards came in the first year, and decades later the place still carries that same sense that every service matters. Hospitality here feels personal, not performed. As one review puts it:
“The restaurant felt like an extension of somebody’s home, which is exactly how I think a good restaurant should feel.”

Expect seasonal cooking, confident wines, and staff who guide without fuss. It works for anniversaries, visiting family, or anyone wanting to understand why this address has stayed relevant for nearly forty years.

Insider bits that actually help

• Small and intimate, book ahead for weekends.
• Better for quiet dinners than big groups.
• A lovely entry point if you’re still finding your feet in Oslo’s dining scene.

Make sure your bunad fits perfectly - book your alterations now.
A Bunad isn’t just something you wear. It’s tradition, pride, and craftsmanship - and it deserves a fit that feels just right.

At Fru Hang, we offer 30 years of experience in professional Bunad tailoring and adjustments so your Bunad sits beautifully and comfortably for the season’s biggest occasions.

Book an appointment and quote SCOOP

Vålerenga’s men’s team travel to Stockholm to take on Djurgården in a mid-season friendly on Sat 14 Feb, 15:00 CET. This one’s outside Oslo, but worth noting if you’re flexible on a weekend trip or want a little cross-border football.

One of Norwegian hockey’s classic rivalries big history, travelling fans, and a crowd that rarely sits down. Proper rivalry, proper noise, and the sort of atmosphere that converts casual observers into people standing up and shouting by period two. Thur 12 Feb, 18:30.

Fast, close, and pleasantly intense. Currently 5th place Tigers take on 7th placed Ammerud on their home turf. Lively atmosphere and end to end action in with these evenly matched sides. -Sun 14 Feb, 16:00.

The secret to picking a winner for this most forced of romantic occasions is to make it personal.  Get their favourite style of wine; a bottle from that estate you visited together on holiday once; the wine you drank the day you got engaged. Failing that, one strategy is to go classic: Sancerre, Chablis, Pinot Noir.

Alternatively, go cosy (and put in the kitchen effort): cook your special beef enchilada recipe and buy an inexpensive, gutsy Chilean red to drink with it or go with a high-low wine-food combo, for instance, any good bottle of red + burger or an ice cold martini + mac ‘n’ cheese. 

Finally if you do go sparkling, maybe try something from a small producer. If Champagne is your thing, maybe choose something subtle and not too ostentatious unless, of course, that’s the message you want to give! 

by Luci B

Oslo is a wonderful place to live but even locals admit it can take time to build a circle. This relaxed international meet-up offers an easy way to change that. No formal programme, no assigned tables, just move around, talk, and see who you click with. English and Norwegian dominate, but other languages usually surface if you ask.

Come solo, stay as long as you like, and remember to order a drink at the bar.

An intensive, structured path from beginner to confident intermediate. Build foundations, improve everyday communication, and reach real fluency faster.

Flexible daytime, evening, or weekend classes, with options to switch between levels. Payment plans available. Ideal if you want progress, not just practice.

A beautiful, character-filled piece of history. Printed in 1873, pages are intact and in good condition, though the binding needs some restoration.

A striking object for collectors, readers, or anyone who loves items that have lived a life.

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.

Art meets finance meets storytelling in what promises to be a smart, slightly unusual midweek evening. Artists Eline Benjaminsen and Dayna Casey launch their new book exploring the strange language of markets - bulls, myths, ecologies, metaphors - and how it shapes the way we imagine the world.

Expect a performative reading, a short talk on eco-surrealism by economist Marie Storli, drinks, and a launch price on the book.

This daytime workshop replaces swiping and small talk with improv games, group exercises and shared laughter. The goal isn’t forced romance, it’s genuine interaction, letting personality show up naturally and seeing what develops from there.

Most people come alone. No experience needed. If you can be a little playful, you’re already in. 14:30–17:00 (doors 13:45)

If Valentine’s calls for atmosphere rather than grand gestures, this might be your move. Bandoneon player Carlos Quilici and guitarist Martín Tessa bring a proper slice of Buenos Aires to the city, with authentic, dance-driven tango from musicians who are major names on the Rosario scene.

Per Mathisen / Hans Mathisen / Petter Wettre / Gary Husband (20:00) – Victoria – Nasjonal Jazzscene (Sentrum)

The Mathisen brothers reunite with sax heavyweight Petter Wettre and British jazz legend Gary Husband for a night that moves between acoustic elegance and properly charged electric energy.

Matilda Mann (20:00) – John Dee (Sentrum)

A rising British singer-songwriter whose gentle indie-folk/pop has earned praise for intimate melodies and thoughtful lyrics. Her shows feel like a conversation - warm, melodic, and perfect for an easy Thursday night out before the weekend hits.

Frædag: Blawan (23:00) – Jaeger (Sentrum)

Friday goes underground. UK heavyweight Blawan returns to Jaeger with the kind of set that bends techno into darker, stranger territory, industrial edges, serious rhythm, and zero interest in playing it safe. Expect intensity, momentum, and a dancefloor that locks in.

Sat 14 Feb

Miriam Kibakaya & Espen Berg (20:00) – Victoria – Nasjonal Jazzscene (Sentrum)
Pianist Espen Berg, one of the leading voices in Norwegian jazz, meets the warm, close, deeply expressive vocal style of Miriam Kibakaya in a duo format that lets melody, rhythm, and storytelling breathe. Expect standards in new colours, original material, and musicians who listen as intensely as they play.

Living Music Boxes (18:00) – Nordic Black Theatre & Cafeteatret (Grønland)

What happens when mechanical instruments meet human improvisation? Drummer and sound explorer Knut Kvifte Nesheim builds an orchestra from antique music boxes and a tiny mechanical organ discovered at the Ringve Museum, then invites live musicians to interact with them.

Mon 16 Feb
Standup på Latter (18:30) – Latter (Aker Brygge)
Oslo’s weekly stand-up showcase returns midweek. Expect a fresh mix of Norwegian comedic talent and new voices, all in a friendly, lively club environment.

English Standup Oslo (19:00) – SALT, Pyramiden (Langkaia)
Still one of the best midweek culture fixes in the city. International line-ups, a relaxed crowd, and comedy that works whether you’ve lived here six months or six years. Easy to pair with a fjord-side walk and still be home at a sensible hour.

Want to meet up IRL?

«A few people have asked about a very casual Scoop get-together, nothing formal, just a drink and a chat with other readers.»

If that might be something you’d enjoy, just hit reply and say “interested.”

The Scoop grows through word of mouth, so if you liked this week’s issue, send it to one friend and help me spread the word.
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.