Kristiansand
Food & Dining
From fresh harbour seafood to cosy bakeries — something for every taste and budget.
Cafés
Restaurants
Grocery
Norwegian Tips
Cafés & Bakeries
Perfect for a morning coffee or a sweet break during your day
Geheb Conditori & Bakeri
Kristiansand's most beloved bakery since 1888. World-famous cinnamon buns (kanelboller), marzipan cakes and fresh bread. An absolute must-visit.
15 min walk · Markens gate
Mon–Fri 8:30–18 · Sat 9–18 · Sun 12–16
The ODD Bakery
Trendy sourdough bakery with great pastries, open-faced sandwiches and excellent coffee. A local favourite for the morning crowd.
29 min walk · Kronprinsens gate 57 · Bus 10
Tue–Sat 9–15
Tiara Kaffebrenneri
Local specialty coffee roastery with boba, cakes and brunch — open every day. Two locations: Rådhusgata 4 and Markens gate 44.
1.3 km · 19 min walk · Rådhusgata 4
Mon–Fri 8–18 · Sat 9–18 · Sun 11–17
Drømmeplassen
Cosy café in a charming setting — great for a relaxed break with cake and coffee. Perfect for a quiet mid-morning stop.
21 min walk · Skippergata 26
Mon–Sat 8:30–17 · Sun 8:30–16
Fiskebrygga — outdoor shrimp
Not technically a café, but grab a bag of fresh boiled shrimp and eat by the canal — one of the most Norwegian experiences you can have. Around NOK 100–150.
600m · 8 min walk · Fiskebrygga
Spiren Kafe
100% vegan café — plant-based lunches, cakes and coffee.
1.5 km · 21 min walk · Dronningens gate 52
Mon–Sat 10–20 · Sun 11–18
Posebyhaven
Charming garden café in the heart of Posebyen old town.
2.1 km · 29 min walk · Kristian IVs gate 85 · Bus 10
Tue–Sat 10–23
Jordbærpikene
Family-friendly café chain — strawberry cakes, waffles and sandwiches.
1.2 km · 17 min walk · Sandens, Tollbodgata 14
Mon–Fri 9–20 · Sat 10–18
Cafe Generalen
Burgers and coffee inside Ravnedalen nature park — summer season.
3.3 km · 46 min walk · Ravnedalen · Bus 15/19/30 (29 min)
Summer season
Kilden — Afternoon Tea
Afternoon tea with harbour views at the striking waterfront concert hall. Seasonal — check kilden.com.
500m · 6 min walk
Restaurants
The best places to eat in Kristiansand — rated, described and mapped
Havsalt
Seafood restaurant on the Fiskebrygga wharf, in the former Pieder Ro spot — fresh catch and shared dining.
600m · 8 min walk · Gravane 10, Fiskebrygga
Mon–Fri 11–22 · Sat 13–23 · Sun 13–20
Fiskebrygga Fish Market
Outdoor fish market by the canal. Fresh shrimp, smoked salmon and local seafood — very Norwegian and very affordable. A must-see even if you don't eat here.
600m · 8 min walk · Fiskebrygga
Varies — summer season
Bønder i Byen
Kristiansand's beloved farm-to-table restaurant. Famous for the legendary chicken salad and locally sourced seasonal ingredients. Budget NOK 200–400 per person.
1.3 km · 19 min walk · Rådhusgata 16
Mon–Sat 11–22
TilStede Mat og Mer
International seasonal menu in the harbour area. Creative dishes with local ingredients in a relaxed, contemporary setting.
1.3 km · 19 min walk · Markens gate 29
Mon–Wed 11–19 · Thu–Sat 11–22
La Pizza
Best pizza in Kristiansand two years running. Great value and a central location — good for families and groups. Expect to queue at peak hours.
3.4 km · 47 min walk · Idunveien 13, Lund · Bus 15 (28 min)
Daily 15–22
Slakter Sørensen
The city's best steakhouse. Premium cuts, great atmosphere and an excellent wine list — ideal for a special dinner or lunch if you have time.
15 min walk · Markens gate 8b
Mon–Sat 12–22 · Sun 16–21
Smag & Behag
One of Kristiansand's most celebrated restaurants — elegant, locally sourced ingredients with a contemporary Nordic approach. Ideal for a proper lunch.
1.5 km · 21 min walk · Dronningens gate 48a
Mon–Fri 16–24 · Sat 12–24 · Sun closed
Sjøhuset Restaurant
Classic seafood in a historic harbour warehouse — same owners as Bønder i Byen.
1.0 km · 14 min walk · Østre Strandgate 12
Mon–Fri 11–22 · Sat 12–22 · Sun 13–21
Le Monde Tapas
Spanish tapas on the main street. Budget NOK 200–400.
1.1 km · 16 min walk · Markens gate 15
Mon–Thu 11–21 · Fri–Sat 11–22 · Sun 14–21
La Famiglia
Italian trattoria next to Clarion Hotel Ernst.
1.1 km · 15 min walk · Vestre Strandgate 22
Sun–Wed 15–23 · Thu–Sat 15–24
Egon
Relaxed family restaurant with a huge menu (~100 dishes).
1.5 km · 21 min walk · Markens gate
Mon–Thu 10–23 · Fri–Sat 10–24 · Sun 11–23
Skagen Pub
Laid-back pub — arguably the best burger in town.
1.0 km · 14 min walk · Markens gate 5
Daily 12–02
Street Food & Quick Bites
Fast, casual and cheap
Food Trucks at Torvet
Rotating food trucks on the main square — summer only. NOK 100–180.
1.2 km · 17 min walk · Torvet · Bus 19 (24 min)
Summer — varies
Big Bite
Quick hot dogs, burgers and wraps (chain).
1.2 km · 17 min walk · Tollbodgata 14
Mon–Fri 9–20 · Sat 10–18 · Sun closed
Price guide
Budget · Under NOK 200
Cafés, bakeries, Fiskebrygga shrimp
Cafés, bakeries, Fiskebrygga shrimp
Mid-range · NOK 200–400
Bønder i Byen, La Pizza, TilStede
Bønder i Byen, La Pizza, TilStede
Fine dining · NOK 400+
Slakter Sørensen, Smag & Behag
Slakter Sørensen, Smag & Behag
Grocery Stores
Pick up snacks, drinks or Norwegian specialties to bring back to the ship
Rema 1000 — Tordenskjolds gate
Norway's popular discount grocery chain — the closest supermarket to the cruise terminal. Great for Norwegian chocolate, snacks and drinks. Mon–Sat 07:00–23:00. Post office inside.
1.4 km · 20 min walk · Kristian IVs gate 5
Mon–Fri 7–23 · Sat 8–21
Meny — Torvet
Well-stocked Norwegian supermarket at Torvet square. Great deli counter with ready-made foods, smoked salmon and local cheeses.
1.2 km · 17 min walk · Markens gate 14
Mon–Fri 8–21 · Sat 8–19
Extra — Vestre Strandgate
Large supermarket with wide selection of groceries and Norwegian specialties. Good prices and a broad range of local products.
1.3 km · 18 min walk · by the bus station
Mon–Fri 7–23 · Sat 8–21
Kiwi — Torvet
Budget-friendly grocery store. Good for quick snacks and affordable Norwegian products on the way back to the ship.
1.3 km · 18 min walk · Kirkegata 14A
Mon–Fri 7–23 · Sat 8–23
Reinhartsen Delikatesse (Fiskebrygga)
The best place to buy Norwegian food to take home — freshly smoked salmon, dried stockfish, caviar, local cheeses and pickled herring. Beautifully packaged for gifts.
1.2 km · 17 min walk · Fiskebrygga
Mon–Fri 8–17 · Sat 8–16
Rema 1000 — Tangen
Budget supermarket near Posebyen.
1.6 km · 22 min walk · Østre Strandgate 67
Mon–Sat 7–23
Kiwi — Henrik Wergelands gate
Budget supermarket — new store.
1.5 km · 21 min walk · H. Wergelands gate 28
Mon–Sat 7–23
Kiwi — Kongens gate
Budget supermarket on the east side, near Posebyen.
1.7 km · 23 min walk · Kongens gate 75
Mon–Sat 7–23
Joker — Kronprinsens gate
Open Sundays! Small grocery — handy when everything else is closed.
2.1 km · 29 min walk · Kronprinsens gate 49
Mon–Fri 8–21 · Sat 9–18 · Sun 9–20
Joker — Lillemarkens
Open Sundays! Small grocery inside Lillemarkens arcade.
1.3 km · 18 min walk · Skippergata 4
Mon–Fri 8:30–19 · Sat 9:30–17 · Sun 10–20
Norwegian Food & Drink
What to try, what to buy and what to bring home
Must-try in Kristiansand
Fresh shrimp (reker) — NOK 100–150
Norway's most iconic street food. Buy a bag of fresh boiled shrimp at Fiskebrygga, peel them yourself and eat with bread and mayo by the canal. Very Norwegian, very delicious.
Fiskebrygga · 300m · 4 min walk
Kanelbolle — Cinnamon bun — under NOK 60
The Norwegian cinnamon bun is softer and less sweet than the Danish version. Try one fresh at Geheb Bakeri with a flat white. A daily ritual for most Norwegians.
Geheb Bakeri · 700m · 9 min walk
Brunost — Brown cheese — from NOK 35
A uniquely Norwegian caramelised whey cheese — sweet and slightly tangy. Try it on crispbread. Polarising for first-timers, but most visitors end up loving it.
Available at all supermarkets
Smørbrød — Open sandwich — NOK 80–150
Norway's classic lunch — thick bread topped with smoked salmon, shrimp or roast beef. Light and very Norwegian. Found in most cafés and bakeries.
Most cafés in the city centre
Best Norwegian food souvenirs
Kvikk Lunsj chocolate — NOK 25
Norway's most iconic chocolate bar — four chocolate-covered wafer sticks. Every Norwegian hiker carries one. A perfect, affordable gift for everyone back home.
Freia milk chocolate
Norway's beloved chocolate brand. The large Freia Melkesjokolade tablet is the classic. Smooth, creamy and very different from other European chocolate.
Brunost (vacuum-packed)
Travels well in vacuum packaging. Gudbrandsdalsost from Tine is the most classic variety. Around NOK 45–60. Available at all supermarkets.
Pick-and-mix candy (fredagsgodt)
"Friday sweets" — a deeply rooted Norwegian tradition. Fill a bag with Norwegian classics from the mix-your-own bins in every supermarket. Very popular with kids.
All souvenirs available at Rema 1000 (650m · 8 min walk) and other supermarkets.
Good to know: Norwegian tap water is among the cleanest in the world — fill your water bottle from the tap. No need to buy bottled water!
Good to know: Norwegian tap water is among the cleanest in the world — fill your water bottle from the tap. No need to buy bottled water!