Southern Norway - Norway - page 231

Sorlandsparken, N-4696 Kristiansand S. & 38-17-77-77. Fax [phone]. www.quality-kristiansand.no.
210 units. Summer 1,420NOK ($202) double; winter Mon-Thurs 1,190NOK ($169) double, Fri 1,230 NOK
($175) double; Sat-Sun 1,090NOK ($155) double. AE, DC, MC, V. Free parking. Amenities: Restaurant; bar;
outdoor heated pool; children's center and programs; business center; babysitting; laundry service/dry clean-
ing; nonsmoking rooms; rooms for those w/limited mobility. In room: TV, minibar, hair dryer.

Radisson SAS Caledonian Hotel Located in the city center, this is the
largest hotel in the area. It's also one of the best in south Norway. Built in 1968
near the fish market, it remains smart and stylish because of frequent renewals.
A stay here is very convenient as the hotel is within walking distance of the train
and bus stations, as well as the ferry terminal, theaters, cinemas, and the best
shopping. The good-size bedrooms are furnished stylishly with contemporary
pieces and midsize bathrooms with tub/shower combinations. The hotel's
restaurant is far superior to a typical hotel dining room, and the drinking facil-
ities, including a pub, disco, and piano bar, are among the best in the city.
Vestre Strandgate 7, N-4601 Kristiansand S. & 38-11-21-00. Fax [phone]. www.radisson.com. 205
units. Sun-Thurs 1,480NOK ($210) double; Fri-Sat 995NOK ($141) double. AE, DC, MC, V. Parking 100NOK
($14). Amenities: Restaurant; 4 bars; limited room service; babysitting; laundry service/dry cleaning; non-
smoking rooms; rooms for those w/limited mobility. In room: A/C, TV, minibar, hair dryer.
Rica Dyreparken Hotel Lying right in one of the most popular hol-
iday parks in Norway, this hotel, which opened in April 2000, was architec-
turally inspired by Noah's Ark. Staying here should delight animal-lovers of all
ages. All the public lounges and bedrooms have motifs relating to the animal
kingdom—you might opt to stay in a monkey room or a horse room. Or, choose
to relax on an African safari bed or recline in a tiger-striped chair in one of the
Jungle Jim bedrooms. The hotel even has its own bridge along the water, as well
as a large bar terrace where you can sit out on a summer night enjoying the fresh
air. All the bedrooms are equipped with a midsize private bathroom with shower.
The Norwegian in-house restaurant is named—you guessed it—Noah's Ark.
Dyreparken, N-4609 Kristiansand S. & 38-14-64-00. Fax [phone]. www.rica.no. 160 units. Summer
1,340NOK ($190) double; off season 925NOK ($131) double. AE, DC, MC, V. Free parking. Amenities: Restau-
rant; bar; children's center; babysitting; laundry service/dry cleaning. In room: TV, dataport, minibar, hair dryer.
WHERE TO DINE
Bakgården FRENCH/INTERNATIONAL The interior of this well-estab-
lished restaurant is accented with oil-burning lamps, creating a mellow atmos-
phere. The cuisine is an unending festival celebrating southern Europe, and the
chefs frequently add additional flair borrowing recipes from around the world,
although dishes are tailored to local palates. Appetizers might include snails in
garlic butter, followed by grilled filet of pheasant with grapes or tenderloin steak
with mussels. Wild game, beef (sautéed or grilled), and fresh fish round out the
menu. The most frequently ordered main dish is Norwegian salmon with fresh
dill. In the autumn we recommend ordering the poached venison with an array
of mixed vegetables in a port wine sauce.
Tollbødgate 5. & 38-02-79-55. Reservations required. Main courses 210NOK-299NOK ($30-$42). AE, DC,
MC, V. Mon-Sat 6-11pm.
Bølgen & Moi CONTINENTAL This is a member of a chain of fine-
dining restaurants that now stretches across Norway. It occupies a big-windowed
replica of a 19th-century warehouse, set within the “tourist zone” of Kris-
tiansand, on the docks, almost immediately adjacent to the waterfront. Inside,

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