Under the NORTHERN LIGHTS
Nothing feels more exotic than waking up to a white, winter wonderland where chic living is taken to the next level, says Cecilie Mevatne
There is no need to wait for long summer days to visit Scandinavian capitals. The shorter winter days do not put a city like Oslo to sleep. In fact, it takes on a different persona with scenery dominated by a palette of icy blue and layers of white, like something straight out of a fairytale. It is true that winter holidays require a bit more wardrobe planning, you will need to layer up with heavy wools. But you will not regret it, especially if you are there to take in the winter sports culture of the Norwegians. Holmenkollen, popular local weekend haunt for cross country skiing and other snow sports is only a short ride on the metro from the city centre. And when it is time to heat up, step inside the popular chalet Frognerseteren that rooms a restaurant and café and enjoy its breathtaking views. If you don’t wish explore too much outside the city centre you have enough for spectacular strolls within the city. Make sure to make time for the cultural walk through The Vigeland Park a park filled with over 200 bronze and granite sculptures. Another new and more modern landmark is the award winning Oslo Opera House—its architecture is a piece of art in itself. Located at the head of Oslofjorden, it is the perfect spot to take in the city also while there to enjoy performances from the The Norwegian National Opera & Ballet. There is a rumour that Scandinavians hibernate all winter but in the bustling city of Oslo, this cannot be further away from the truth. The city is awash with chic cafés and restaurants that are usually packed with coffee-thirsty or hungry Scandinavians. In the beautiful and upscale area of the city called Frogner you find the lovely restaurant Kolonihagen hidden in a cobblestone courtyard. In this rustic environment you can enjoy organic meals both for lunch and dinner. With Kolonihagen’s sustainable philosophy, everything on the menu is made with local products and from scratch. The result is meals made with love and goodness. A dash of their pumpkin soup will warm up your soul and body, perfect for a cold winter afternoon in Oslo. Needless to say the pumpkins come from the local farm and the side of bread, from the restaurant’s own bakery. One more fact that you will find heartening—and against popular belief that Scandinavians are cold and indifferent—are the smiling faces that welcome you in the shops, cafés or restaurants. To really take your taste buds to a level of gastronomic excellence and get top-of-theshelf local produce, make sure to make a reservation at the two Michelin starred restaurant Maaemo. Everything on the menu is biodynamic, organic or grown wild. But it’s not just the food coma that Maaemo induces that make it a memorable restaurant experience, because not only does the menu change with the seasons, the restaurant also has a rotating art exhibition. A necessary step back in time when in Oslo is the city’s most sophisticated meeting