Side Trips from Oslo - Norway - page 163

Marcus Thranes Gate 30, N-1776 Halden. & 69-21-15-00. Fax [phone]. www.park-hotel.no. 64 units.
Mon-Thurs 1,260NOK ($179) double; Fri-Sun 890NOK ($126) double; daily 1,390NOK ($197) suite. Rates
include breakfast. AE, DC, MC, V. Free parking. Amenities: Restaurant; bar; exercise room; sauna; babysitting;
laundry service; dry cleaning; garden. In room: TV, dataport, minibar, hair dryer.
WHERE TO DINE
Dickens INTERNATIONAL You won't find grand cuisine here but those
dependable favorites often consumed by Norwegians with a mug of beer: a
Dickens burger with bacon, nachos with jalapeños, or a chicken salad with
crispy bacon. In winter diners retreat into the 17th-century cellar to enjoy well-
prepared and affordable meals. In summer an outdoor table is preferred on a
barge floating in the harbor. Visitors predominate in the summer months, with
regulars returning when the wind blows cold.
Storgata 9. & 69-18-35-33. Reservations recommended Sat-Sun. Main courses 69NOK-100NOK ($9.80-
$14) at lunch, 100NOK-235NOK ($14-$33) at dinner. AE, DC, MC, V. Mon-Thurs 11am-10pm; Fri-Sat
11am-11pm; Sun 1-9pm. Closed Christmas.
Pub Royal NORWEGIAN/INTERNATIONAL Near the waterfront, this
English pub and restaurant is a favorite rendezvous point for the locals. They
come here for the brew, of course, but also for rib-sticking fare like pizzas made
from scratch, juicy hamburgers, a well-flavored beef platter with onions and
sautéed mushrooms, along with standard pasta and chicken dishes. The decor?
You'll think you've been transplanted to Manchester, England.
Olav V's Gate. & 69-18-00-80. Main courses 164NOK-235NOK ($22-$31). AE, DC, MC, V. Mon-Wed
11am-11pm; Thurs 11am-midnight; Fri-Sat 11am-1am; Sun 11am-10pm.
HALDEN AFTER DARK
Hannestadgården Halden is so sleepy at night that some Norwegian guides
recommend that you overnight elsewhere. But it's not that bad, at least at this
nightspot, a restaurant, dance club, nightclub, pub, and piano bar all rolled into
one. The nightclub, decorated with red furniture and black walls, attracts a
young crowd. The bartender specializes in daiquiris, with strawberry being a
favorite. The local brew is called Borg. Rock 'n' roll is played nightly in the disco
area, and live concerts take place in the piano bar. It's open Monday to Thurs-
day from 3pm to midnight, Friday and Saturday 3pm to 3am. Tollbugata 5. & 69-
19-77-81. Cover Fri-Sat 50NOK-100NOK ($7.10-$14) after 11pm.
Siste Reis Pub Next to the Grand Hotel building, this is a small, cozy, and
friendly Irish-style pub decorated with pictures of local musicians along with
classic advertising posters. Close to the train depot, the pub offers many differ-
ent brews on tap, from Irish Guinness to Danish Tuborg, and especially the local
favorite, Borg. Most of the patrons, ranging in age from 18 to 40, come here to
talk but also to listen to Irish folk music on the weekdays, or recorded rock 'n'
roll on Friday and Saturday. Snacks are served along with the brew. It's open
Monday to Thursday 6pm to 1am, Friday 6pm to 3am, Saturday 11am to 3am,
and Sunday 1pm to 1am. Jernbanetorget 1. & 69-17-53-07.
5 Drammen: River City
40km (25 miles) SW of Oslo
Set in a lovely valley, this is an industrial city, timber town, and major port.
It has also been known for more than 3 decades as the “bedroom community”
of Oslo, but it is more than that. Since the fast-flowing Drammen River
runs through the city, hence its title “River City,” it is also of interest to