8 Best Restaurants in Svalbard, Norway

Funken Restaurant

$$$ Fodor's choice
Housed in a former cafeteria for the town's coal miners, Longyearbyen’s finest restaurant offers northern Norwegian cuisine with a twist. The menu has a strong focus on quality produce and locally sourced ingredients, such as reindeer from Svalbard and king crab from the Barents Sea. But with views of Longyearbyen and the surrounding mountains, this cozy space is not just a delight for your taste buds.

Barentz Gastropub

$$
After a long day out in the snow and ice, you'll appreciate this spot's warm and relaxed atmosphere. You'll also love the hearty pub food, including delectable burgers and what might very well be Longyearbyen’s best pizza. It's also a good place to sample a hot pot with fish or seafood. No fancy clothes or attitude required—this place is all about unwinding.

Coal Miners' Bar and Grill

$$
Located in a mess hall for miners dating from 1948, you can't beat this spot's scenic surroundings or casual atmosphere. Combine top-notch pub food with a pint of locally brewed beer and board games and you have the recipe for a very relaxed evening after a day of outdoor adventures. While the restaurant might be a bit far from where you’re staying, you’ll find that the burgers are worth the walk.

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Huset

$$$$

A favorite of many locals since the 1950s, Huset once served as an airport terminal, a school, and even a hospital, so the rough exterior can't compare to the elegant interior of dimmed lights, textured wallpaper, and a polar bear skin on the wall. You can sample Nordic cuisine in two different settings: a less-formal (and much more affordable) bistro serving such modern Norwegian staples as reindeer burgers and fish soup, and a more sophisticated dining room with an innovative New Nordic nine-course tasting menu featuring game from local hunters and trappers. Expect the likes of seal tartar, reindeer steak, and a smorgasbord of cheeses and aquavits to wash it all down.

Dinner Norwegian $$$$
Longyearbyen, Svalbard, 9171, Norway
79--02--50--02
www.huset.com
Known For
  • wine cellar with 15,000 bottles
  • high-quality ingredients
  • innovative food pairings
Restaurants Details
Dining room closed Mon. and Tues.

Kroa

$$

While the rough-hewn beams, stone fireplaces, and wooden-barrel seating are reminscent of a trapper’s cabin, any trapper would have been green with envy at the food that’s being served at this cozy eatery in downtown Longyearbyen. You can find classic pizza and burgers on the menu of pub favorites, but also Norwegian specialties like moose and clipfish.

Nansen

$$$
Experience what happens when Asia meets the Arctic at this scenic restaurant in downtown Longyearbyen. Gazing out from an expansive wall of windows facing the mountains, you can experience a whole new kind of Asian fusion made from fresh and local ingredients such as cloudberries and reindeer. All dishes are presented on modern portioned trays or wooden plates with chopsticks, reinforcing the Asian theme despite the Arctic setting.

Polfareren

$$$
Honoring the young and ambitious Norwegian polar explorer Eivind Astrup---the name means "Polar Explorer"---this eatery sets its sights just as high. Expect a fusion of classic French, traditional Japanese, and New Nordic cuisine in a simple, tasteful setting of walnut tables and leather benches. The ingredients are high quality and sourced from small, independent farms, meaning the menus (changing monthly) focus on seasonal ingredients and may include dishes such as whale carpaccio, ramen soup, and miso black cod.

Vinterhagen

$$$

Longyearbyen’s most unusual and eclectic restaurant is located at Mary-Ann's Polarigg hotel, in what can only be described as a miniature botanical garden. Try traditional Svalbardian cuisine in the glass-enclosed winter garden that lets in the midnight sun all summer long. Dishes like reindeer and seal will surely surprise your taste buds, and decor choices like stuffed Arctic foxes leave a lasting impression.