For a proper Christmas lunch in Bergen, go where the Christmas food is made from scratch in the city centre. Frescohallen serves a two-course Christmas lunch with pinnekjøtt every day from 9 November, Wesselstuen has a Christmas lunch menu from 30 October, and Haven serves Christmas food from the same date.
Book a table for Christmas lunch
What is julelunsj?
Julelunsj is Norway's Christmas lunch: the same dishes you would eat at a julebord (the Norwegian Christmas party), served at midday. Expect pinnekjøtt (salted, dried lamb ribs), crispy pork belly, lutefisk (lye-cured cod) and riskrem (rice cream) for dessert.
For visitors it is the easiest way to taste a real Norwegian Christmas without committing to a long evening. For local teams it fits neatly into a working day, and it is easier for anyone with children to pick up.
In Bergen, Christmas lunch has a special place. Darkness falls early in December, and a long lunch by candlelight, followed by a stroll through the Christmas market, is many people's favourite part of the season.
Frescohallen: two-course Christmas lunch in Bergen Børs Hotel
Frescohallen sits inside Bergen Børs Hotel on Vågsallmenningen, beneath frescoes that make the hall one of Norway's national art treasures. This season it offers:
Two-course Christmas lunch with pinnekjøtt from NYYT and panna cotta for dessert, or Christmas cod as an alternative main: NOK 895 per person
Dates: 9 November to 23 December 2026, every day
Groups: up to 250 people per group
Regular lunch is served from 12:00 to 16:00 [SJEKK: whether the Christmas lunch follows the same hours]. Groups larger than ten should email post@frescohallen.no. See the Christmas menu at Frescohallen.
Wesselstuen: traditional Bergen Christmas food at lunchtime
At Wesselstuen, by Ole Bulls plass, you order Christmas lunch from the menu. The Christmas lunch menu runs from 30 October and includes:
Christmas plate: pork rib, pinnekjøtt, medisterkake (pork patty) and Christmas sausage, NOK 555
Lutefisk: with yellow pea stew, bacon and potatoes, NOK 575
Cloudberry cream in a krumkake or rice cream with raspberry coulis: NOK 175
Wesselstuen opens at 12:00 Monday to Saturday and is closed on Sundays. The last day before Christmas is 21 December. Larger parties can book a private dining room.
Haven: Christmas lunch outdoors, under a roof
Haven is a year-round outdoor restaurant on the same square as Wesselstuen. There is a roof for rainy days, plus heat lamps and blankets when it is cold. Christmas food is on the menu from 30 October, including pinnekjøtt (NOK 835), pork belly (NOK 715), a Christmas plate (NOK 765) and nut roast (NOK 425).
Haven opens at 12:00 Monday to Saturday. Pick it if you want your Christmas lunch a little less formal.
Christmas lunch or Christmas party?
Both are about Christmas food and good company, but they suit different needs:
Choose Christmas lunch if you want everyone together during working hours, need to keep the budget down, or have colleagues who cannot do an evening.
Choose a Christmas party if you want a full evening with three courses, speeches and dancing, and perhaps a hotel room afterwards.
Choose both if your company is large: lunch for everyone, a party for those who want to celebrate longer.
A Christmas lunch rarely takes more than two to three hours. A Christmas party takes more planning, and our guide to planning a Christmas party is a good place to start.
Planning a Christmas lunch for your team
Book early. The weeks before Christmas fill up fast, especially Fridays.
Share dietary needs in advance. Norwegian Christmas menus are built around meat and fish.
Allow time. An hour and a half to two hours leaves room for two courses and coffee.
Agree on payment. Is everyone paying for themselves, or is the company covering the bill? Say so when you book.
Plan the afternoon. The Christmas market in Bergen and the Gingerbread Town are within walking distance.
Want a full evening instead? See all our Christmas party options in Bergen.
After lunch: festive Bergen is right outside
Every restaurant on this page is in Bergen city centre. From Ole Bulls plass and Vågsallmenningen it is a short walk to Torgallmenningen and Bryggen, the old Hanseatic wharf. Many visitors make Christmas lunch the start of a festive day in town: a little Christmas shopping, a cup of gløgg (mulled wine) and a look at the gingerbread town before dark.
Hosting guests from abroad? Christmas lunch is a simple way to show them Bergen and let them taste real West Norwegian Christmas food.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Christmas lunch cost in Bergen?
Christmas lunch in Bergen costs from NOK 555 to NOK 895 per person at De Bergenske in 2026. The two-course Christmas lunch at Frescohallen costs NOK 895 per person. At Wesselstuen you order from the lunch menu, where the Christmas plate is NOK 555 and lutefisk NOK 575, with dessert extra. Drinks are not included. For groups, agree on the menu and price when you book.
What do Norwegians eat for Christmas lunch?
Norwegians eat the same dishes at Christmas lunch as at the Christmas party, in smaller portions: pinnekjøtt, pork rib, lutefisk, medisterkake and Christmas sausage, followed by rice cream or cloudberry cream. A Christmas plate gives you a taste of everything. Salmon and fish dishes are lighter options at midday.
When is Christmas lunch served in Bergen?
The Christmas lunch season in Bergen runs from late October until just before Christmas. Wesselstuen and Haven serve Christmas food from 30 October, while Frescohallen's Christmas lunch runs from 9 November to 23 December 2026. Wesselstuen is open until 21 December, and both Wesselstuen and Haven are closed on Sundays.
Can we book Christmas lunch for a large group?
Yes, Frescohallen welcomes groups of up to 250 people for Christmas lunch. For more than ten guests, email post@frescohallen.no to agree on a set menu and seating. Smaller groups who want a room to themselves can ask for a private dining room at Wesselstuen.
Is there a vegetarian Christmas lunch?
Yes, but you need to ask in advance. Most Norwegian Christmas menus centre on meat and fish, so mention vegetarians and any allergies as soon as you book your table. Wesselstuen serves a nut roast on its Christmas dinner menu, and Haven has nut roast on its Christmas menu all day, and the restaurants adapt for allergies.
Christmas lunch is the easiest way to taste a Norwegian Christmas: good food, daylight and time to explore the festive city afterwards. Pick a restaurant, book a table and we will take care of the rest.
Our hotels in Bergen city centre
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Christmas party with hotel stay
The best thing about a Christmas party at a hotel is that the night does not end in the taxi queue. Here is how to combine julebord, a room and Christmas breakfast in central Bergen.
How to plan a Christmas party
In charge of this year's office Christmas party? Here is the checklist from people who host julebord every night in November and December: timeline, budget, menu, activities and games.
Christmas market in Bergen
The Christmas market in Bergen opens at Festplassen on 20 November 2026. Here are the opening hours, what you will find, and how to turn your visit into a full Christmas day in the city.
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