Nestled by the river Akerselva running along its west-side, Grünerløkka (“Løkka”), Oslo’s most populated area, was once a neighborhood swarmed with factory workers, immigrants and young, aspiring artists. Edvard Munch, one of the most famous Norwegian painters, lived here in his early 20s, when his family was struggling with their economy.
The area experienced a transformative makeover during the gentrification process across Scandinavia in the late 1990s. Once notorious for its poor sanitary conditions and slums, it has re-emerged as a young and posh shopping area, dotted with designer shops, restaurants and bars. Locals and tourists alike flock here to experience the latest hot things the city has to offer.
Today, Grünerløkka gathers more independent specialty cafés than any other area in the city. It is home to several of Oslo’s most famous and arguably best cafés, such as Tim Wendelboe and Supreme Roastworks. Newcomers such as Kuro and Lille Oslo Kaffebrenneri have also managed to attract their distinctive groups of regulars. Bring your favourite book and find a comfortable corner to sit in for a relaxing afternoon, or buy take-away and take a stroll across the area’s lush parks—Grünerløkka is where Oslo’s urbanity, together with its charismatic chillness, comes to its best. Nothing this good can be experienced without a nice cup of coffee.
Kaffe Lykke
Kaffe Lykke has rather peculiar opening hours: 8-15, Monday to Friday. Such a “lazy” schedule does not seem to impart the impression that this place is here for serious business. This hasty conclusion, however, cannot be farther from the truth.
The fact is that the café is owned by the Oslo municipality and is used as a training venue for young adults in Grünerløkka borough ranging from 18 to 25 years old....
Tim Wendelboe
Tim Wendelboe is, to a certain degree, the coffee shop that has single-handedly put Oslo on the world’s coffee map. The owner, after whom the shop was named, started his career working as a barista at Stockfleths, a well-known Oslo chain, in 1998 and won the 2004 World Barista Championship. He left Stockfleths three years later and opened his own shop in Grüners gate 1. Wendelboe has since won multiple world championships in roasting and is one of the best-known front figures of the third-wave coffee in the whole Scandinavian region....
Lille Oslo Kaffebrenneri
Lille Oslo Kaffebrenneri (“Lille Oslo”) in English translates to “Little Oslo Coffee Roastery”, and is one of the latest additions to the bustling neighborhood Grünerløkka. The roastery started out as an attachment to the popular donut bakery “My Ugly Baby” at Youngstorget, which went out of business in 2023. It then branched out as an independent café and moved to its current location at the south end of Markveien, a 1 km long street full of shops, cafés, bars, and restaurants....
