Olympen
Olympen has operated from the same grand building on Gronlandsleiret since 1892, making it one of Oslo's oldest continuously running drinking establishments. The main hall is a proper beer hall in the European tradition: high vaulted ceilings, long wooden communal tables, ornate plasterwork, and a bar that stretches across the back wall. The space holds around 300 and fills on weekends with a crowd that spans construction workers, university professors, tourists, and anyone else drawn to cold beer in a historic room. The beer selection is extensive, running from Norwegian craft breweries to Belgian imports, German wheats, and Czech lagers. The food menu splits between traditional Norwegian dishes like lutefisk, rakfisk, and kjottkaker and more contemporary options. A second, more intimate dining room off the main hall serves a quieter menu. The basement hosts a separate bar called Hades that opens on weekends with DJ sets and a younger, louder crowd.
What to Expect
Walking through the heavy front doors deposits you in a grand hall that hasn't fundamentally changed in over a century. The ceilings are high, the wood is old, and the noise of clinking glasses and conversation fills the room. It smells like beer, roasted meat, and history. The first impression is of a place that doesn't need to try.
Grand, democratic, and deeply Norwegian. A beer hall where time has been kind to the architecture and the atmosphere.
None in the main hall beyond the natural acoustic of 200 conversations. Hades basement plays house, disco, and funk on weekends.
Come as you are. The communal tables seat everyone from suits to work boots.
Beer lovers, history enthusiasts, and anyone who wants to experience Oslo's oldest social tradition: sharing a table with strangers over cold drinks.
Cards accepted. Cash works for the old-fashioned.
Price Range
Beer NOK 95-130, traditional mains NOK 200-300, starters NOK 120-180
Beer ~$9-12/~8-11 EUR, mains ~$19-28/~17-26 EUR
Hours
Mon-Sat 11:00-01:00, Sun 13:00-23:00. Hades basement: Fri-Sat 22:00-03:00
Insider Tip
Try the house aquavit selection. They stock over 30 varieties, including some you won't find elsewhere. The communal tables are the best way to meet locals. Ask for the Hades entrance around back if you want to continue after the main hall winds down.
Full Review
The building dominates its corner of Gronlandsleiret with the confidence of a 130-year-old establishment that has outlived every trend. Inside, the main hall hits you with scale: ceilings that reach up three stories, plaster moldings that would cost a fortune to reproduce today, and wooden tables that have supported millions of beers. The bar runs the width of the room's back wall, staffed by servers who move with the efficiency that comes from decades of institutional muscle memory.
The beer program deserves attention. Olympen stocks an impressive range across styles and origins. Norwegian craft breweries get strong representation, with rotating taps from Nogne O, Lervig, and smaller producers. The permanent list includes Belgian classics, German standards, and a handful of British and Czech options. The aquavit collection in the back bar cabinet is equally serious, with over 30 varieties available. A flight of three Norwegian aquavits costs NOK 180 and is worth trying.
Food follows two tracks. The traditional Norwegian menu serves dishes like lutefisk (in season), kjottkaker (meatballs), and smoked salmon that taste like grandmother's kitchen in a grander setting. The contemporary menu offers burgers, steaks, and lighter options for those less adventurous with Nordic cuisine. Both are competently executed.
The communal seating creates a social dynamic you don't find at individual tables. Sitting down with strangers is the norm, and conversations start naturally over shared pitchers. This isn't forced friendliness; it's the product of a layout designed for community drinking. Downstairs, Hades opens as a separate venue on weekends, attracting a younger crowd for DJ sets in a basement that feels completely disconnected from the dignified hall above.
The Neighborhood
Olympen sits on Gronlandsleiret at the southern border of Grunerlokka, close to the Gronland T-bane station and the multicultural restaurants of Toyen and Gronland. The walk north into Grunerlokka proper takes about 10 minutes.
Getting There
Gronland T-bane station is a 3-minute walk. From Oslo S, walk east along Gronlandsleiret for about 10 minutes. Tram lines 17 and 18 stop nearby on Schweigaards gate.
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