It should be no surprise that Bergen has a bundle of historic hotels given its UNESCO-listed wharf. We’ve selected six hotels that have stood the test of time, with renovated interiors that blend nicely with the buildings’ original details. Even if you’re not staying overnight, check out the lounges, bars, and restaurants for a glimpse of the past._x000D_
## A Deeper Dive into Bergen’s Historic Hotels
Bergen, a city steeped in history and surrounded by breathtaking natural beauty, offers a unique experience for travelers seeking a blend of culture and stunning landscapes. One of the best ways to immerse yourself in Bergen’s rich past is by staying in one of its historic hotels, each with its own story to tell and charm to offer. Let’s embark on a more detailed exploration of some of Bergen’s most captivating historic hotels:
## Bergen Børs Hotel
The **Bergen Børs Hotel** stands as a testament to Bergen’s vibrant past. Stepping through its entrance, accessed via elegant red-carpeted steps, feels like stepping back in time. The hotel occupies the city’s former stock exchange building, a grand structure dating back to 1862. Its prime location on a picturesque pedestrian plaza places it in the heart of the action, with the bustling Fish Market just across the street and the main harbor within easy reach.
While preserving its historical significance, the **Bergen Børs Hotel** has undergone thoughtful modernization by its new owners. They have carefully blended contemporary design with the building’s original architectural details, creating a harmonious and stylish atmosphere. The meticulous preservation of the building’s character is evident throughout the property, offering guests a unique glimpse into Bergen’s financial history.
Dining at the **Bergen Børs Hotel** is an experience in itself, with several exceptional options to choose from. The hotel’s newest gem is the impressive bi-level seafood restaurant, **Fresco Hall**. This culinary masterpiece showcases restored murals painted by Alex Revold in the 1920s, adding a touch of artistic flair to the dining experience. Guests can savor fresh, locally sourced seafood while admiring the stunning artwork that adorns the walls.
For a truly exceptional culinary experience, head to **Bare**, Bergen’s only Michelin-starred restaurant, located on the hotel’s third floor. This elegant restaurant offers multicourse Nordic menus that change with the seasons, showcasing the best of the region’s ingredients. Caviar upgrades are also available for those seeking an extra touch of luxury. Each morning, **Bare** also serves an elegant breakfast, ensuring a delightful start to the day.
The **Chamber of Commerce Bar**, situated next to **Bare**, provides a sophisticated setting for enjoying expertly crafted cocktails. This dark-lit space features mirrored walls and Tudor-style windows, creating a unique and intimate ambiance. The bar is renowned for its innovative cocktail program, making it a must-visit destination for cocktail enthusiasts in Bergen.
The **Bergen Børs Hotel** boasts 127 rooms and suites, each thoughtfully designed with bespoke furnishings. Guests can choose from various categories, each offering a unique aesthetic with either soft gray carpeting or herringbone wood floors. However, all rooms share common features such as high ceilings, soundproof windows, minibars, Nespresso machines, and plush bathrobes.
The bathrooms at the **Bergen Børs Hotel** are designed with luxury in mind. They feature heated floors and natural bath products from the renowned Norwegian brand, Fitjar, packaged in eco-friendly pumps. For those seeking more space and enhanced views, the superior, deluxe, and suite options are worth considering. These upgraded accommodations offer potential views of Bergen’s colorful harbor and the surrounding forested mountains, providing a truly unforgettable experience.
## Opus XVI
**Opus XVI**, a polished 65-room hotel, occupies a former bank building dating back to 1876. This is one of Bergen’s most famous historic buildings and sits across the plaza from the **Bergen Børs Hotel**, creating a captivating blend of history and luxury in the heart of the city. The building is now owned by relatives of the celebrated Norwegian composer Edvard Grieg, who have created an in-house exhibit that pays homage to his life and work. The exhibit is based on Grieg’s celebrated piano concerto, which inspired the hotel’s name, adding a touch of musical heritage to the guest experience.
The sophisticated rooms at **Opus XVI** are individually designed, showcasing warm tones and luxurious amenities. Each room is uniquely shaped by the building’s architectural elements, ensuring a distinctive experience for every guest. All rooms feature tall ceilings and windows, wood floors, and marble bathrooms with heated floors. Upscale amenities such as Nespresso machines, French tea from Damman, and Molton Brown bath products, along with plush bathrobes and slippers, enhance the comfort and luxury of the accommodations.
For guests seeking additional space, the superior and deluxe rooms offer extra room to relax and unwind. The junior suites provide even more space and feature sofa beds, making them ideal for families or groups of friends traveling together.
The spacious lobby at **Opus XVI** houses a lounge and brasserie with arched windows and marble columns, creating an elegant and inviting space. The brasserie serves French-inspired dishes made with local ingredients and fresh seafood, offering a delightful culinary experience. Guests should not miss the live jazz performances during the afternoon tea service on Saturdays, adding a touch of sophistication and entertainment to their stay.
Each morning, guests can enjoy a complimentary a la carte breakfast in the lobby, a departure from the typical breakfast buffet found in most hotels in Norway. This personalized breakfast experience ensures a delightful start to the day, with a selection of delicious dishes to choose from.
## Clarion Collection Hotel Havnekontoret
The **Clarion Collection Hotel Havnekontoret** is housed in a neoclassical building dating back to the 1920s, directly facing the harbor and adjacent to the historic Bryggen wharf. Its prime location makes it convenient for travelers arriving from the airport, thanks to the **Flybussen**, which stops right in front of the hotel.
Despite its contemporary interiors, the **Clarion Collection Hotel Havnekontoret** retains many original details, showcasing the building’s rich history. Guests can admire elegant murals in a lounge used for private Champagne receptions and enjoy panoramic views from the rooftop lookout tower, which is free for guests to access.
The hotel’s 113 rooms feature wood-style floors, blackout shades, kettles, and minibars. The bathrooms offer walk-in showers or bathtubs, available upon request, and feature Rituals bath products in eco-friendly pumps. For breathtaking harbor views, the deluxe category is the best choice. Guests can also opt for the large suite, which has attracted a steady stream of celebrities on tour, including Jerry Seinfeld, Rihanna, and Sting. The hotel’s lobby display showcases a complete list of celebrity guests, adding a touch of glamour to the atmosphere.
Guests at the **Clarion Collection Hotel Havnekontoret** can take advantage of complimentary perks such as the breakfast buffet, afternoon waffles, and a light evening buffet that changes nightly with soup, salad, and a hot dish. An all-day bar offers a selection of beverages and snacks for purchase, and guests can relax and enjoy the historic space in the spacious lobby. The hotel’s lower level houses a small fitness center with a sauna and steam room, providing guests with opportunities for relaxation and exercise.
## Clarion Hotel Admiral
The **Clarion Hotel Admiral**, a former warehouse dating back to 1904, has been meticulously restored, blending its historical charm with modern amenities. The hotel boasts elegant meeting rooms and a unique restaurant concept called **Kitchen & Table**, featuring a menu designed by Swedish-American celebrity chef Marcus Samuelsson.
The **Kitchen & Table** restaurant faces the iconic Bryggen wharf, offering diners perhaps the best downtown view in Bergen. Breakfast is also served in this space, and during the summer months, guests can enjoy seasonal outdoor dining, creating a memorable experience with stunning views.
The **Clarion Hotel Admiral** features 209 guest rooms with simple, contemporary decor. The rooms offer either carpeting or hardwood-style floors, flat-screen TVs, kettles, minibars, and walk-in showers with Rituals bath products. While standard rooms in the rear may feel dark, the superior and deluxe rooms offer seating areas and large windows with balconies, providing potential views of the wharf and the surrounding mountains.
The spacious lobby offers comfortable seating areas for lounging and working remotely, along with complimentary all-day coffee, tea, and water. A massage room is available for booking appointments, and the polished 24-hour front desk staff can assist with taxis and reservations to nearby restaurants. Guests can ask for assistance in securing a table at the nearby **Altona** restaurant, located next door to the **Heimen Hotel**, which features a romantic 400-year-old stone cellar.
## Grand Hotel Terminus
The **Grand Hotel Terminus** is a renowned historic hotel in Bergen, dating back to 1928. The current owners have meticulously preserved many of the hotel’s original details, spending over a decade returning the hotel to its former glory with a refurbishment completed in 2019. The lobby features striking black and white tiling contrasting with dark-paneled wood walls, creating a sophisticated ambiance. Across from the entrance, a whiskey bar with stained glass windows evokes the atmosphere of an Ivy League university.
The **Grand Hotel Terminus** offers 131 rooms in four categories, featuring either parquet wood floors or fresh carpet, along with stocked minibars and local bath products in eco-friendly pumps. While the standard rooms and bathrooms are relatively compact, they feature tall ceilings and windows that provide natural light. For more space and amenities, guests can opt for the superior rooms, which offer additional seating areas, larger bathrooms, and Nespresso machines.
The hotel’s location is ideal for travelers arriving by railway, as it is situated directly across the street from the city’s train station. This transportation hub also connects to the main bus station and the light rail, providing easy access to and from the airport. The Bryggen waterfront is approximately a 10-minute walk from the hotel.
## The Hanseatic Hotel
**The Hanseatic Hotel** is housed in an 18th-century building next to the **Hanseatic Museum**. While the structure would date back even further to the Middle Ages if not for the great fire of 1702, its centuries-old structure and location next to the museum make it ideal for travelers seeking a taste of local history.
Each of the 37 rooms at **The Hanseatic Hotel** is unique, featuring original details such as timber walls and wood-beamed ceilings. These historical elements are complemented by rich contemporary tones, patterned wallpaper, thick textiles, and carpet or parquet floors. All rooms are equipped with coffee makers and minibars. Families and friends can choose the standard twin bedrooms, while couples can opt for the deluxe rooms, which offer more space and larger bathrooms with showers and claw-foot tubs.
Despite the hotel’s relatively small size, it offers two restaurants and bars on-site. The **FG Restaurant & Bar** serves continental fare such as mussels and filet mignon, while a more casual Tex-Mex restaurant, said to be the only one in Bergen, offers traditional Tex-Mex dishes like fajitas and burritos. Both restaurants can accommodate vegetarians and children. A breakfast buffet with a range of healthy options and espresso drinks is included in the room price.
These historic hotels offer a captivating blend of history, luxury, and convenience, making them ideal choices for travelers seeking an unforgettable experience in Bergen. Each hotel provides a unique glimpse into the city’s rich past, while also offering modern amenities and exceptional service. From the grand halls of the **Bergen Børs Hotel** to the charming rooms of **The Hanseatic Hotel**, Bergen’s historic hotels provide a perfect base for exploring this captivating city and its stunning natural surroundings.
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