Summer Party in Bergen: Venues for Your Company Party

The best summer party in Bergen happens in the city centre, with outdoor space, great food and your hotel around the corner. At De Bergenske you can start with welcome drinks in Villahagen or at Haven and continue in a venue for up to 300 guests.

Send a summer party inquiry

Why hold your summer party in Bergen?

Summer in Bergen means long, light evenings, mountains around the city and a compact centre where everything is within walking distance. That makes it a great city for a company party, whether you are a small team or the whole organisation.

It is also easier to get people to come than you might think. It is light outside, nobody is stressed about Christmas, and an evening that starts with a drink in the sun tends to run long on its own. May and June are the most popular months, before the Norwegian summer holidays scatter everyone.

The city is buzzing in these weeks too. The Bergen International Festival runs from 26 May to 12 June 2027, and Bergenfest fills Bergenhus Fortress with concerts in June. That makes it easy to extend the evening, or to give colleagues from abroad a reason to stay an extra day. Book early though: festival days keep city centre hotels busy.

Outdoors: Villahagen and Haven

Villahagen is the garden of Villa Terminus, a green oasis in central Bergen used for parties, barbecues, concerts and private dinners. A popular set-up is welcome drinks in the garden and dinner in a venue at sister hotel Grand Hotel Terminus next door. [SJEKK: garden capacity and which weeks it is available for summer parties]

Haven is a year-round outdoor restaurant by Den Nationale Scene theatre and Ole Bulls plass. There is a roof for rainy days, and in the evening Haven turns into a nightspot with a DJ and cocktails. Perfect for a group that wants a relaxed start and a late finish. [SJEKK: capacity and whether Haven can be booked for private parties]

Restaurants: from tapas to seafood

Not every summer party needs a venue. Some of the best happen around a long restaurant table:

• Fresquito: the cheeky little sibling of Frescohallen, with Spanish tapas by chef Christian Ponce from Cádiz. Lots of small plates to share.

• Izakaya Skostredet: MICHELIN-recommended Japanese street food and sushi in Skostredet Hotel. Order around the table, and dishes arrive in waves.

• Matbaren på Zander K: a casual bar and restaurant with local seafood from the coast. Head chef Ole-Johnny builds the menu around prawns and shellfish. Share a seafood platter with a chilled white wine.

• Bjerck: an informal restaurant overlooking the harbour and Bryggen.

Want a room to yourselves? We have five private dining rooms in the city centre, including at Engen Steakhouse, Bjerck and Wesselstuen.

Venues for the whole company

• Grand Bergen: the Store Festsal hall seats up to 300. See Grand Bergen.

• Frescohallen in Bergen Børs Hotel: up to 500 guests for mingling and 250 seated.

• Grand Hotel Terminus: Terminus Hall takes 250 guests, with smaller rooms for smaller groups. White tablecloths, classic dishes and attentive service, as the hotel has offered since 1928.

• Zander K Hotel: a 126 square metre venue for up to 150 guests, which can be split into three smaller rooms.

• Engen Steakhouse: three rooms for 2 to 100 guests.

[SJEKK: prices and summer menus for groups, none are listed on the website]

Food and drinks for a summer party

A summer party calls for different food than a Christmas party: light, social and made for sharing.

• Seafood from the coast, with prawns and shellfish on platters in the middle of the table

• Tapas and small plates that get people passing dishes and talking across the table

• Barbecue in the garden for a more informal evening

• Chilled white wine, sparkling and good alcohol-free options for the welcome drink

Tell us what kind of evening you have in mind, and the kitchen will put together a menu that suits your budget and group.

Summer party and kick-off on the same day

Many companies use the summer party to wrap up the first half of the year, so it makes sense to add a meeting or workshop on the same day. De Bergenske has 30 meeting rooms in central Bergen, and Villahagen sits right next to the Terminus Hall and Terminus Forum meeting venues.

1. Morning: meeting or workshop

2. Afternoon: free time, a hike on one of the city mountains or a break at the hotel

3. Evening: welcome drinks outdoors, dinner and party

4. Next morning: breakfast together before heading home

For international teams, it is also a great way to show colleagues Bergen at its brightest.

Five things to settle before you book

• Date and plan B: this is Bergen. Choose a place where you can move inside if it rains.

• Numbers: expect a few extra sign-ups in June, when calendars are lighter.

• Budget per person: agree on food, drinks and any hotel rooms.

• Programme: one short speech and one activity is enough. The summer evening does the rest.

• Getting home: light evenings mean parties often run later than planned. Think taxis or hotel rooms.

Hotels after the party

Six hotels are close by: Bergen Børs Hotel, Skostredet Hotel & Spa, Grand Hotel Terminus, Zander K Hotel, Heimen Hotel and Villa Terminus. Breakfast the next morning is designed to make the day after as good as the night before.

Book rooms for the whole group through our group accommodation inquiry. Heading out before the party? See our guide to outdoor dining in Bergen.

Frequently asked questions

When should a company book its summer party?

A company should book its summer party two to three months ahead, so ideally in February or March for a party in May or June. Thursdays and Fridays in June are the most sought after, as many want to celebrate just before the holidays. If you are a large group or want a specific venue, book even earlier.

Can we hold the summer party outdoors in Bergen?

Yes, and in Bergen it is wise to choose a place with a roof or a venue nearby. Haven is a year-round outdoor restaurant with a roof over the guests, and Villahagen sits right next to the venues at Grand Hotel Terminus. Start outside with welcome drinks and move inside for dinner if the weather turns.

How many guests can we have at a summer party?

At De Bergenske you can be anything from a handful to several hundred. The Store Festsal at Grand Bergen seats 300, Frescohallen 250 seated and 500 for mingling, and Terminus Hall 250 guests. Smaller groups are well suited to a private dining room or a long table in one of our city centre restaurants.

Can the summer party be combined with a meeting or kick-off?

Yes, many companies combine the summer party with a meeting or workshop on the same day. De Bergenske has 30 meeting rooms in central Bergen, so you can meet during the day and celebrate in the evening without moving far. Send one inquiry that covers the meeting, dinner and accommodation.

What makes a good company summer party?

A good company summer party has a relaxed start, good food and room to talk. Welcome drinks outdoors, a long table with sharing plates and music later in the evening work for most groups. Keep the programme short, a speech and perhaps one activity, and let the summer evening do the rest.

The summer party is the night colleagues get to know each other in a new way. Tell us the date, the number of guests and the kind of evening you want, and we will find the venue, menu and rooms.

Send a summer party inquiry