Shopping

Liebling is a typical Berlin-style café, both the interiors and the menu is a testament to that. The prices are much more budget friendly too, than at your regular Norwegian hang out.

The “Liebling tallerken” is a typical Berlin brunch plate with breads, cheeses and meats, some cereal and yogurt. If it included a bowl of quark I would be over the moon, but it’s still darn tasty – they even do a vegetarian version, just ask! The open-faced sandwiches with homemade toppings are also great as a midday snack, the hummus being my personal favourite.

Alcohol is served after five o’clock, German Riesling and weissbier of course, staying true to their roots. The café has a small boutique part, with mostly German design, which has to close as soon as the first drinks are being served. It’s due to some peculiar Norwegian law… don’t ask, just go with it.

The Liebling crowd is a mix of artsy students from the nearby art academy, and early 30s mums (and dads) on maternity (paternity) leave.

My tip is to like the café on Facebook, it’s a great way to keep up to date on their events, like open mic night and one off concerts.

In this Spotify-age there’s nothing more satisfying that putting on a record, whether an old classic or the latest Pitchfork recommendation. For the latter, Big Dipper is my go to record store. But I can also easily get lost in browsing their selection of old releases, picking up records that fill gaps in my collection.

I like to pop by this Møllergata spot for free weekend mini-concerts. I find that these events are an important contributor in making Big Dipper more of an institution, rather than just a store. The sweetest moment for me was definitely seeing Anna Jarvinen perform, although that’s already a couple of years ago – it was a stand out.

Another great thing about this store is the prices, which are very competitive. It’s rarely cheaper to order the records online, which of course, makes it easy to “shop local.” Which is something we all should do more.

Velouria Vintage is the hippest vintage store in town, from the immaculate window displays to the collection of eccentric clothing from bygone eras, this is the place for picking up one off pieces your wardrobe didn’t know it was lacking.

I also like to stop by Velouria Vintage for pure inspiration, this is a place that makes fashion fun again, as nothing is taken too seriously. You might find a classic designer piece, but you might also find a nineties neon t-shirt with Minnie Mouse on it. For me, the treasure hunt is half the fun!

Although the store caters to both fashionistas and their boys, it’s worth noting that the guys’ section is considerably smaller. The girls, however, can easily spend a good part of an afternoon trying on everything from clothing to shoes and accessories.

In recent years Grunerløkka has become more and more gentrified, and with high street chains popping up all over the neighbourhood, stores like Velouria Vintage play such an important part in keeping up the spirit of the neighbourhood.

Aker Brygge is the area going along one arm of the Oslo Fjord, on the west side of the harbor. On its website it lists a bunch of shops, a cinema and restaurants situated all along the shore or inside the big shopping centers in the area.

But I heard it’s one of the priciest places for shopping so I’ve personally never been inside the mall. Instead, I walked along the shore, where stopping at one of the many boats that have been reorganized as restaurants/bars is an activity I enjoy a lot. It’s delightful to sit on a chair an see the water and seagulls 2-3 meters under, while enjoying a cold drink and some salmon.

Another cool thing about this area is that it is connected with the wide space in front of the City Hall and every weekend (if not every day) you get the chance to catch street performers or a bunch of tents hosting various exhibitions. The best ones are International food fairs where I was able to taste a wide variety of foods from most of the continents. At the ‘sea’ end of Aker Brygge, you find the newly built Astrup Fearnley ArtMuseum.

Plus this is the place from which you can catch boats and ferries. Sometimes, right next to the shopping center, there’s a small amusement park with few entertainments, but funny enough for a hot summer day and from where I had a nice view over the whole harbor when they had this huge wheel.

Freudian Kicks might just be the coolest boutique Oslo has to offer, stocking French labels such as A.P.C., Surface to air and Carven. But the creative people behind the store also design their own line, which is slightly more affordable. I also like flicking through the racks for the local label F W S S.

Located in the old Posthallen, it’s got that trendy brick vibe going on. But all the while this part of town has been rumoured to take off as the next big thing, it has never seemed to happen. There are a few other cool spots near by, like a Henrik Vibskov boutique, but all in all Freudian Kicks stands out as a lone wolf in a half dead part of town.

The store is divided into a ladies wear section on your left, and a guys section on the right. But you’ll also find some sweet accessories, such as headphones, beanies and wallets that would suit both genders equally well.

If you’re a fashionista looking to burn some money, there’s no better place than Freudian Kicks!