Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The Brown Scene
What does a Norwegian mean when he refers to a brown nightclub? It's
a raucous, boozy, semisleazy joint where off-duty prostitutes, bikers, har-
borfront riffraff, slumming suburbanites, business travelers on short-term
leaves from their spouses, and all manner of fringe society get together
for a rollicking good time. Don't say you haven't been warned.
Fun Fact
to Saturday from 10pm to 3am, with live music nightly. Rosenkrantzgate 7.
& 55-31-74-70. Cover 80NOK ($11). Bus: 2, 3, or 4.
Zachen Piano Bar One of the most popular piano bars in west Norway
opens onto panoramic views of the fjord. Built of pine, the bar attracts a diverse
crowd, ranging in age from 20 to 50. First-class piano players from throughout
Europe are imported here. Five nights of the week, they also stage karaoke. The
excellent piano music is heard Wednesday to Sunday. It's open Sunday to Thurs-
day noon to 1am, Friday noon to 2am, and Saturday 11am to 2am. Torget 2.
& 55-55-96-42. Bus: 1, 5, or 9.
THE BAR SCENE
Altona This is one of the oldest known bars in Bergen. Some of the stone
walls and the wooden ceiling are original, dating from the 1600s. Lying in the
basement of the Augustin Hotel, its walls are painted white and the bar is dec-
orated with modern sculptures. Patrons, ranging from 30 to 60 years old, come
here to listen to the recorded classical music and to enjoy the elegant drinks,
including champagne, cognac, and the best Scotch whiskey. It's open Monday
to Thursday 6pm to 1:30am and Friday and Saturday 6pm to 2:30am.
Strandgaten 81. & 55-30-40-72. Bus: 2 or 4.
Baklommen This small bar with its old Chesterfield chairs is a quiet and
romantic retreat, lying downstairs from the To Kokker restaurant. A more
mature crowd, ages 30 to 60, comes here to escape from a lot of the pub rowdi-
ness of Bergen. In the heart of the Hanseatic Wharf, this bar plays recorded jazz
music in the background. It's open Tuesday to Saturday from 6pm to 1am.
Bryggen. & 55-32-27-47. Bus: 1, 5, or 9.
Bar Ugla At this brown nightclub, leave your attitude at the door. This bat-
tered-looking pub has an active bar at one end and a stage in the middle. When
we last dropped in, the highly danceable rock 'n' roll/rockabilly was from a tal-
ented band from Romania. Expect an undulating crowd of straights, gays, and
everyone else in between—and all ages. Beer costs around 48NOK ($6.80) per
foaming mug. Ugla (the name translates as “the Owl”) is open every day from 2
to 7pm for mostly low-key drinking. Then it reopens from 10pm till 3 or
3:30am, depending on the crowd and the mood of the staff. Olav Kyrres Gate 28.
& 55-30-63-70. Bus: 1 or 9.
Dr. Livingstone Travellers Café Every surface bears some kind of tribute to
the world's “great” travel experiences at this restaurant and bar. All ages flock
here. You'll take your pick of three distinct subdivisions, some of whose walls are
painted with pithy quotes from African explorer Dr. Livingstone himself
(“Wagon traveling is a prolonged way of picnicking”). A glassed-in area is
devoted exclusively to designer coffees, with or without a shot of liqueur. Bar
areas are on the upper and lower floors. The entire complex is open for food
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