The past. The present. And the future of Oslo. It’s all here at The Grand Hotel.
The Grand Hotel Oslo by Scandic is the living, beating heart of Oslo. Not only for its central location at Karl Johans gate, but for its voluminous history and the stories it tells in design and architecture. Completed in 1874, its legacy is without precedent. From past patrons like Edvard Munch to modern guests like Barak Obama, the Grand Hotel makes you feel like you’re quietly a part of its distinguished Norwegian narrative.
With its watchful bell-tower that soars into the sky above the Oslo Fjord and its across-the-street neighbor, the Norwegian Parliament, the hotel communicates elegance without posture. Guests are warmly greeted by the doorman Khalid who’s been working his post for over 40 years. And that’s the thing about the Grand Hotel. The people who work here don’t take it lightly. They’re proudly invested in bringing the best experience to their guests. It’s hard to imagine a staff more polite and professional than the folks you’ll find here.
The hotel has been the frequent haunts of artists and writers dating back to the early twentieth century. You can imagine the yarns they would spin while debating animatedly in the Othilia bar. As a tribute to its most famous artist, there’s a silhouette of Munch’s Scream formed of neon behind the bar. Munch hung out here a lot. There’s even a story about how he tried to trade one of his painting for fifty steaks. Given what Munch’s paintings cost now, that would’ve been a pretty good bargain for the restaurant manager.
The recent history is just as fascinating as its early history. A lot of this is owed to its distinction of hosting the Nobel Peace Prize luncheon. If you believe buildings can embody the spirit of people who have dwelled beneath their roofs, the list of our species’ most profound difference-makers is a powerful charge of energy. As impressed as I was at the Nobel Suite, and the resplendent Mirror Room that receives the winners, I was also blown away to see past guest include Muhammed Ali and David Bowie. Winning a Nobel is a huge achievement. But so is inventing Ziggy Stardust and knocking out Sonny Liston.
“I’m so mean I make medicine sick.” – Muhammad Ali
As you glide across the opulent limestone floor you’re drawn into the Palmen restaurant. The menu features classic recipes with a Nordic twist like reindeer Carpaccio. This prestigious hotel restaurant still maintains a tradition of afternoon tea, a custom that stretched back to the days when the famous playwright Henrik Ibsen spent his days here. He even had his own armchair at the hotel, which seems deserving of the world’s most performed playwright behind Shakespeare.
Hanging above the restaurant is a shimmering, hypnotic chandelier made of Venetian glass. What’s more impressive is the light fittings are connected to a computer that reads music notes and translates them to light pulses. Ziggy Stardust would approve.
Hanging above the restaurant is a shimmering, hypnotic chandelier made of Venetian glass. What’s more impressive is the light fittings are connected to a computer that reads music notes and translates them to light pulses. Ziggy Stardust would approve.
There are 274 rooms in the Grand Hotel. 54 of them are suites. The rooms are indulgent and refined – decorated beautifully with subdued color schemes. The hotel harnesses light in abundance. While modern boutiques curl in darkness, the Grand opens majestically into ornate corridors, sumptuous halls and sweeping views. The Grand Café turns breakfast into a work of art. The café is uncommonly warm despite its size. The open kitchen gives guests an idea of what goes into the Nordic-influenced recipes for its abundant buffet. The food is as exquisite as the room itself. And the painting ‘Kristianiabohem’ by Per Krohg invites reflection on the way the hotel embedded in the consciousness of the 1920s.
The Grand Hotel is a storybook. If you have the chance to visit Oslo, you’ll be missing a big piece without making a visit. Even if it’s only for lunch at the Palmen, cocktails at the Othilia or its discreet rooftop bar with a stunning view of Oslo, your stay in Norway is incomplete without paying homage to the charming character of the city’s most luxurious, historic hotel.
