Kiosk!

With an area of 8 sq.m, Kiosk! is arguably the smallest coffee bar in Oslo. Located inside a renovated petrol station from 1935, the mini-coffee bar features a dashing bright turquoise blue strip wrapped around its roof, adding a touch of lively cheerfulness to the whole neighbourhood.

The owner and the brain behind this bubbling creative oasis is Kari Anne Solfjeld Eid, an experienced entrepreneur and designer who has also founded the Oslo-based design agency Hoi! and Whee!, a cargo-bike rental subscription provider.

Continuing her insistency on adding an exclamation mark to the company name, Eid had a rough start with Kiosk!. The renovation of the 1935 petrol station, together with its car reparation workshop from 1965, required a large investment, and Eid had to resort to crowd-funding from the neighbourhood. Over the period of a couple of weeks, she managed to gather a group of 65 crowd-funding investors, with their contibutions ranging from 5,000 to 50,000 NOK, according to her interviews with Norwegian media. By such an interesting turn of events, she not only advertised the opening of a new neighbourhood café, but also managed to rake up the project’s seed money.

The neighbours have every reason to like this mini-coffee bar. Eid designed the interior and branding of the place, whereas the Norwegian illustrator and children’s book writer Mari Kanstad Johnsen was commissioned to design the logo as well as the wall painting. Despite its limited space, the inside of Kiosk! feels intimate and cosy, largely thanks to its small counter area and efficient use of space.

Here, you can find coffee from Kaffa roastery as well as pastries from Gladbakst. Under the high roof from the former petrol station, it is very comfortable to sit and enjoy a cup of coffee outside when the weather is nice. All the outer seating furniture is made through a recycling project by the Norwegian furniture producer Vestre.

The coffee bar is particularly popular with small children families, where the kids will be offered “a fancy cup of delicious, warm chocolate” that is both healthier and cheaper than soda drinks in the usual kiosks.

Despite the location’s history as a petrol station, the fact that the mini-coffee bar is equipped with a vintage-style bathroom still came as a positive surprise to us. Economic in size, space and costs, yet persistent on functions and quality products, Kiosk! is truly a neighbourhood café that makes the locals proud and visitors jealous.

Summer Menu Update (July 19th, 2025)

Sunny and warm, with temperatures hovering around 28 degrees, this is the perfect time of year to visit Kiosk! in Oslo.

Tucked away in the quiet Galgeberg neighbourhood, this former petrol station turned mini coffee bar makes full use of its generous outdoor seating. The original 1935 station, with its high, horseshoe-shaped roof, creates a cool shaded area beneath, complemented by the nearby trees—a welcome escape from the city’s blazing summer sun.

At the top of the menu is the Mappliato (69 NOK), an iced coffee made with espresso, oat milk, maple syrup, and a subtle but surprising twist—miso, the traditional Japanese seasoning. The miso lends a faintly salty, fermented umami base, which gives way to the mellow, fragrant blend of coffee and oat milk. The maple syrup rounds it off with a gentle sweetness, elevating the drink into something altogether unexpected. It’s easily one of the most intriguing iced coffees we’ve tried in Oslo this summer.

For something fruitier and more refreshing, try the Cherry Coffee Soda (69 NOK), made with filtered cold coffee, a homemade “cherry coke” syrup, and sparkling water. The result is a light, fizzy drink with a natural fruitiness—thanks to the syrup, which is crafted entirely from scratch by barista Iku.

Unlike many cafés in Oslo, Kiosk!’s summer menu includes both low-caffeine and caffeine-free options. Their decaf cold brew, made with beans from Jacu Roastery, is available in limited quantities daily. There’s also a hibiscus iced tea (50 NOK)—optionally sparkling—blended with strawberries for a bright, caffeine-free herbal infusion. All three are popular and well worth trying.

With only 8 square metres to work with, one has to admire barista Iku’s creativity and resourcefulness in crafting the summer menu. As is so often the case, true masterpieces are rarely constrained by the size of the canvas.

Originally posted on 2024-07-19