Hei hei, Scoopers!

So obviously the big news this week is that Norway are going to the World Cup for the first time in over 20 years..Gratulerer!

However, the real question is, where are you going this weekend?

Do not despair, the Scoop is here to help with these mindblowing decisions.

In addition to the usual highly curated refined guide to Oslo life we have the ever growing Luxury Christmas Hamper that ONE lucky soul will win on the 17th December. As a valued subscriber you are autmoatically entered, however you can dramatically increase your chances of winning by simply referring the Scoop a friend who lives in Oslo..the link is at the foot of the newsletter.

In cooperation with nature - handmade buckwheat pillows from Oslo.

Zen Pute uses natural buckwheat which is totally safe, non toxic and very comfortable.

Crafted by hand using carefully selected natural materials, Zen Pute pillows mould gently to your body, supporting healthy posture while you sleep. Breathable, sustainable, and made for calm - ideal for rest, meditation, and even little ones.

Watch: Meet the Maker – Zen Pute
Explore: zenpute.com
Handmade · Local · Natural

(Each month, The Scoop features one exceptional Oslo business we personally admire chosen for craft, character, and contribution to local life.)

Flights of Fancy (Nov 19th–26th)

Vienna, Austria – 2h20 from OSL (direct)
Why go: Classic winter city-break scene – coffee houses, cake, and Christmas markets in full swing around Rathausplatz and Schönbrunn. Easy strolling, world-class art, and plenty of cosy indoor culture when the temperature dips.

Budapest, Hungary – 2h20 from OSL (direct)
Why go: Thermal-bath capital of Europe – steam in the outdoor pools at Széchenyi or Gellért while the air is crisp. Evening river walks past the lit-up Parliament and Buda Castle feels cinematic. Or if you can’t get enough of Christmas Markets then check this out.

Las Palmas, Gran Canaria (Spain) – 5h50 from OSL (direct)
Why go: Winter escape without the long-haul jet lag – expect mild 20-something °C days, promenade walks along Playa de las Canteras, and a proper “feet in the sand” reset. Perfect location for both city buzz and nature…plus zero Christmas markets!

Oslofjord front row seat
Panoramic sea views straight from the sofa. Two sun-drenched balconies for morning coffee, afternoon prosecco, and low-key spying on boat life.

Hotel finish, actual home
High-end materials, clean lines, built-in storage, and those “of course there’s a fireplace” vibes. Think boutique hotel suite that someone has finally made liveable.

Tjuvholmen at your feet
Gallery strolls, Astrup Fearnley, restaurants, and late-evening fjord dips are basically downstairs. City life and sea air without ever really leaving your postcode.

The ‘mistress apartment’ theory
These Tjuvholmen trophy pads are rumoured to be popular with wealthy businessmen buying “discreet” apartments for their mistresses… Which either means:blissful quiet while they’re in St. Tropez, or occasional midweek champagne noise when they’re actually in town and “entertaining”. Either way, it’s never boring.

Practical grown-up stuff
Garage space, lift, balanced ventilation, broadband, and a caretaker/guard service mean this can run as a near-effortless lock-and-leave base… if your bank manager (and your conscience) can handle it.

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.

Read the full heart warming story here:

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.

Presented in collaboration with Colors of Norway

Inside the Oslo Opera House, the wood almost steals the show.
Those warm “waves” you see? That’s oak – over 15,000 square metres of it – wrapping the space and tuning the sound at the same time.

The oak is European, but the way it’s bent and curved borrows from old Norwegian boat-building tricks, all flowing into a classic horseshoe auditorium topped with a huge chandelier studded with thousands of handmade crystals.

Sicilian restaurant + panetteria from chef-restaurateur Dag Tjersland (Baltazar, Skur 33, Salome/Spaghetteria), opened April 2025 between Blå and Vulkan along Akerselva. Think “Sicilian town hall by the river”: high ceilings, tiled floors, wood-fired oven, open kitchen and a separate panetteria a few steps away doing Palermo-style sandwiches by day.

Origin: Tjersland and Blå’s Stefan Jansen wanted a place that feels like wandering into a Sicilian palazzo – slow ragù, seafood, stone-baked pizza, gnocchi and a short but serious Italian wine list, all in a big, buzzy room that already feels lived-in.

Order:
Pizza Vulcano, gnocchi with artichoke and blue cheese, salted Sicilian anchovies; finish with Crema di Limone (lemon cream + sorbet served inside a lemon) or tiramisu.

Menu:
À la carte Sicilian comfort (antipasti, pizza, pasta, mains) in the ristorante; panetteria for stuffed focaccia and sandwiches “like on the square in Palermo”.

Pro tip:
Book ahead for weekends; go mid-week, ask for a river-view table or bar seats if you like watching the open kitchen at full tilt.

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

It’s a warm, international fellowship that’s growing fast, so much so they’ll soon need a bigger home. Services are relaxed and welcoming, followed by shared lunches every week: a potluck one Sunday, and a light meal provided the next.

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

Spilloteket – 1,500 board games
Norway’s first dedicated board game bar! 1,500+ games over two floors, play-all-you-want for 50 kr, plus musikkbingo and random themed nights. Perfect for a nerdy date or a great alternative to the usual pubs and club scene.

Gustav at Amerikalinjen – Basement jazz like a tiny NYC club…Nice!
Intimate jazz club under Amerikalinjen with proper stage, sound and cocktails – feels more Manhattan than Jernbanetorget. Check the program, book a table, pretend you “just happened” to find it…don’t forget to wear your Jazz clothes!

The Good Knight – For Chess Nuts!
Elegant chess bar in central Oslo: boards in every table, pieces free to borrow, events like Quiz’n’Chips and tournaments. Beer, banter, intense concentration.

Skatten Oslo – Tøyen’s living room
Café by day, bar/“kulturhus” by night with concerts, quizzes, pool, dart and board games. Feels more neighbourhood-living-room than bar.

Kongen Marina Sauna – Welcome to the pleasure Dome!
Floating sauna with a glowing dome, private bookings up to 10-12 people, plus burgers and drinks on the pier afterwards. Very “off-duty yacht club” energy.

Wednesday 19th Nov – Carmina Burana, Oslo Konserthus
Carl Orff’s cinematic choral thunderstorm with full orchestra and choir – huge, ‘hairs on the back of the neck standing up’ midweek culture hit.

Thursday 20th Nov – A Storytelling Concert with Arghavan, Nordic Black Theatre
Intimate mix of song and spoken stories at Cafeteatret – feels more like being invited into someone’s living room than a “show”.

Friday 21st Nov – Kilder til begeistring, Oslo Nye (Centralteatret)
Smart, funny theatre about the tiny things that keep us going – perfect for readers who like their humour dry and their observations sharp.

Saturday 22nd Nov – Gjenstand og fortvilelse, Dansens Hus
New contemporary dance work from Ingun Bjørnsgaard Prosjekt – moody, physical, and very Vulkan-Saturday-before-dinner.

Sunday 23rd Nov – Makaya McCraven, Cosmopolite
Globally-hyped “post-jazz” bandleader – live sampling, deep grooves, and long evolving pieces. Serious treat for the musically curious.

Monday 24th Nov – Julemiddag, Nationaltheatret (Amfiscenen)
One table, one family, 100 years of Norwegian life – Nationaltheatret’s modern Christmas classic and a classy alternative to another julebord.

Tuesday 25th Nov – OJKOS spiller: Peter Wallem Anundsen, Nasjonal Jazzscene
Large-ensemble Norwegian jazz at Victoria – big band, new compositions, and solid “I saw this before it was cool” points.

All listings verified as of press time. Check venue links for updates and ticket availability.

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.

📧 [email protected]
🔗 Subscribe/share

Stay curious, Oslo.

Spence