Shopping

Sagene Torg is my neighbourhood groceries shop, and it is my favorite place to shop and plan my cooking. Sometimes I just walk around here to discover new food items and get inspired for more exciting cooking ideas.

They have a huge selection of fresh vegetables, fruits and herbs. The normal supermarkets cannot compete with the vegetable markets in selection, quality and price. They have a deli counter with a good selection of fresh olives, feta cheese and more. Their spice rack is rich with a lot of exciting spices, both grounded and dried. A wide selection of fruit juices are available, in addition to oils, sauces, canned food, tea, coffee, nuts, rice and beans.

The staff is nice and helpful if you are looking for something, and the shop is always neat and the vegetables are always fresh, and they are open every day of the year.

I love everything retro, and I love good coffee. The combination of having a nice cup of coffee, and the chance to buy whatever retro item that is around me – I like it!

Retrolykke means “retro happiness”. It is a coffee shop combined with a second hand retro shop. Basically you can buy most items that are decorating the café.

The café serves simple food like bread with spread, cookies and cakes. They serve delicious coffee, tea and some soft drinks. The retro shop has a wide selection of colorful vintage clothes, retro kitchen equipment, small furniture and lots of other retro curiosities.

Follow their Instagram retrolykkekaffebar for lots of retro inspiration!

Mathallen is simply put, a foodies paradise: perfect for picking up special gourmet treats, or just popping by for a tasty lunch.

Mathallen celebrated their second birthday earlier this autumn. It is the only indoor food market of its kind in Oslo, and it fills a gap that was definitely missing in the city. Despite a rush of customers during the first few months after opening, the hype has started to slow down, and it will still take some time for the market to fully come into its own.

Mathallen is sometimes criticised for being overpriced, but taking into consideration that all the produce is top quality, I tend to disagree. Overall, I find the prices to be rather reasonable. Some cheeses, and cuts, are of course gourmet foods, and you can’t expect to pay the same price as you do for generic products at your local supermarket. But that’s the whole point right?!

Penny savers should however, check out the Super Tuesdays – a concept that has every store offer up great discounts on some of their best produce, every second day of the week. There are some real bargains to be found, and one time I came across some wild trout at a what I can only describe as a laughable low price.

I really believe Mathallen has enriched the city, and my favourite thing is to sample some local cheeses, grab a dessert pie from Hello Pie, and order a drip coffee from Solberg & Hansen. 

Located in Markveien, Robot is the sort of store you’ll probably stop by on your typical Saturday day out.

Robot is one the original vintage stores of Grunerløkka, and one of the few that are still around after gentrification increased the rent to an extent where several old favourites were given no choice, but to pack up and close down.

Luckily Robot has survived, because it’s such a fun store. Here you’ll find clothes and accessories for both sexes, although it’s the womens section that takes up most space. There’s a great selection of printed frocks, delicate blouses, colourful sunglasses and elegant brooches. While the guys should definitely check out the vintage printed t-shirts. Perfect for the upcoming summer! The store also stocks a limited selection on new clothing, from labels like Pop and Monkee Genes.

Another great thing about Robot is the continuous rotation of cool tunes coming through the speakers, making the store feel like the real deal!

Tronsmo is a literary jewel in the Oslo bookstore chain jungle.

This is a place you where you will find anything from leftist political literature to experimental prose, design- and photography bricks, as well my personal go-to section: the Bukowski shelf.

I like supporting Tronsmo, as it’s a small independent bookstore, with history glued to its wall – those places seem to be withering away with the rise of the tablet. It feels good to browse the shelves here, it even feels good to leave money behind. It’s just that kind of place.

I must admit that I’m not much of a comic book fan, but the legend has it that there’s one spectacular collection of them to be found in the basement – just saying. I really should try and get past my Bukowski, and venture down there soon. I think I might be missing out.

Tronsmo also organizes readings and other events, so it’s always a good idea to check their website to see if your favourite author might be in town! Patti Smith has been known to appear – again, just saying.

You should also look out for their annual backyard sale on August 28th, it’s the best in town!