Hotel Bristol

I am an avid traveler, and this is easily one of the worst hotel experiences I’ve ever had. In sum, we were offered second rate service with a side of judgment and a hint of dismissiveness, not only by the employees but even by the arrogant guests that filled the halls. In a city as beautiful as Oslo, it was disappointing to say the least to find such ugliness sitting right at the center of it. ||First and foremost, my husband and I were given a room with construction happening literally right outside our hotel room door in the hallway on the very wall adjacent to our room. It was a unique but definitely unwanted wake up call every morning by banging and drilling on the wall. There was no warning, apology, or even acknowledgement of this occurrence. ||Our final night, before we had to wake up at six in the morning for a flight, there was some sort of party happening inside the hotel with music loudly playing right outside our window until at least one in the morning. When we initially complained about the music, the receptionist lied and said the music was not coming from inside the hotel but from across the street, a palpable falsity given how loud and clear the music was and something the receptionist later contradicted when confronted once again a few hours later as the music had not stopped. In fact, we learned the music was coming from an event being hosted on the second floor of the hotel.||On top of this, the service in general during our three day stay was filled with judgmental and dismissive employees with only the concierge giving us any kind of respect and kindness. We were made to feel inferior and undeserving of a room there for reasons unbeknownst to me. This standing alone warrants recognition in this review, but it should receive special recognition considering our interactions with the staff were not plenary as we were out and about everyday exploring the city. ||Mind you, this is maybe my seventh time visiting Norway, though only my second time is Oslo. I would not say this hotel and the service here is representative of the Norwegian people or the culture, at least not in the other cities I’ve stayed at. But if you’re staying in Oslo, I highly recommend staying elsewhere where respect is likely not something to be earned by hotel guests but rather equally and generously given to all.

Love the location here. Perfect exciting breakfast in nice "Old English" style. Friendly staff. Quite rooms. Generally nice guests as well. Wonderful afternoon tea area. Easy Check In - Clean, cosy and comfortable beds.

Classy hotel, with old money vibes. Central location and walkable from central train station but it’s over 10 minutes and a bus stop is right by the corner. Breakfast buffet was indeed nice, especially the salmon selections. Room was comfortable, clean, and quiet. Gym was well equipped and empty.

Two adults spent 2 nights here in late August as part of a bus tour group and thoroughly enjoyed our stay. The Bristol is an older hotel that was very well kept and modern. Our room was large by European standards, with twin beds, night tables, a large desk/chair, second chair, a built-in bench seat, a room safe, hot pot area, shelving, and a nice bath with a bonus of a heated floor. Lighting was well done, especially in the bath area. Located in the downtown area and within easy walking distance of the harbor, several museums, many restaurants, a Coop grocery store and tram and bus lines. The breakfast at the hotel all of the days was excellent. Note that the weather was cooler while we were here and that the room was cold in general but the comforter on the bed was too warm at night. The room needs sheets and mid-weight blankets on the beds. The staff were very nice and we definitely would stay here again.

Old luxury hotel in the center of Oslo. Room is specious and nice to have bathtub & shower separate area. Breakfast selection was amazing. Hotel staff are nice. My husband really liked the gym. Very touching to have welcome sweets in the room. Only thing though… The front desk greeted with me in Chinese even though I am not. Not Norwegian, not English but Chinese. I don’t expect that they are greeting in my 1st language which is Japanese at all but they greeted with me in wrong language without checking my name and/or my passport just how I look (Asian) This made me very uncomfortable. Not professional. I traveled Northern Europe countries last year and this year, and we used 9 different hotels all over Northern Europe. This was the only time I was greeted with this way. Greeting in local language first, if it doesn’t work, they should use English. I know she doesn’t mean anything, but they should know some guests are offended with it. Other than that, it was very nice hotel.

My stay at the hotel was truly wonderful. What impressed me the most were the breakfasts—so varied and delicious, with something for everyone. The chefs deserve special praise; they were always smiling, very professional, and did everything at the highest level. Thanks to their dedication, every morning felt special. I highly recommend this hotel for its outstanding culinary experience! During my stay, I had breakfast there four times and every single time it was absolutely perfect.

Enjoyed a couple of days at Hotel Bristol, an elegant old fashioned luxury hotel. Location very convenient in central Oslo. Easy walking distance to all those local sites. Staff very friendly and helpful. Single room was small but comfortable. Bathroom was VERY compact but it worked okay. Lobby bar had good cakes along with coffee (and other drinks). Restaurant was excellent for supper. And breakfast was fantastic!! Two full rooms full of choices with freshness obvious. WiFi worked well.

We absolutely loved our stay at Hotel Bristol in our first night in Oslo. The receptionist was welcoming and helpful. The room itself was luxurious yet cozy. Our ultimate treat was the breakfast in the morning.. absolutely incredible! This hotel is worth the hype. We walked from the central train station, which wasn’t too far of walk but still a consideration if location is a priority.

Gayle and I stayed here for 2 nights just a few days ago. We arrived in Oslo off an Oceania Cruise Ship and wanted to spend some time here before heading home. When planning this trip, I pretty much picked the Hotel Bristol off the reviews and what I knew that Gayle liked. This turned out to be a spot on choice, of which other cruise passengers we ran into agreed! CONS None PROS - Nice and very walkable Theater District location that is close to the water, museums (Munch, the National, Nobel, etc.), the Palace, restaurants, shopping, and more. - Upscale and nicely appointed throughout. The vibe is elegant, yet relaxed, with impeccable front desk and breakfast room service. - Amazing multi-room breakfast buffet, featuring about anything you can think of, including fresh local fish of course. Gayle and I couldn't remember anywhere better in our many travels. - Nice quiet (6th floor in a back corner) room with a balcony and a partial view of the Palace. Our room was spacious enough and comfortable to hang out. - I prepaid for the room at ~$225 a night, which I considered a great value considering that Oslo/Norway is expensive and what the service and amenities we received during our stay.

We visited for 2 nights in early July and very much enjoyed our stay. The hotel is near the waterfront and ferry terminal, and an easy walk to a ton of restaurants and things to do. The room was typical European size, with an excellent bed with two twin-sized duvets. What a great idea. The AM breakfast was excellent for both food and service. Also, the attached pub (not listed in Yelp) had a great burger and lots of beers. We'd stay here again.

Relaxed but upscale. Immaculately kept in an older hotel with much character. Excellent Oslo location. Super nice staff.

My Wife and I love to travel and we love food of all kinds. We stayed in this hotel while traveling through Oslo and it was wonderful. But the shining star of our stay was the Bristol Grill. Between the delicious and expertly crafted food, the excellent service, and the beautiful ambiance, it was one the best meals that we have ever had.

I noticed that most of the reviews here are a few years old now, but I'd go along with pretty much all of the positive comments of this fabulous oasis of a hotel -my favourite in Oslo; I consider it almost a second home! The hotel enwraps you like a favourite warm blanket and will lure you back again and again -whether it's to stay as a guest in its pleasant bedrooms, to attend an event, or indulge in lunch or afternoon tea in the magnificent library bar/winter garden -which is the first thing you see as you enter the hotel. I always have the feeling I'm on some great classic liner of the past here, and the whole hotel teems with history without being at all stuffy. It's elegant and relaxed, classy yet unpretentious and this goes for everything from decor to service - you're really made to feel genuinely welcome as a guest -welcome and special. The rooms I have stayed in have all been comfortable, and spotlessly clean. I I would recommend you ask for a quiet room AWAY from the lift/elevator- shaft as the walls are quite thin and the lift noise can be quite annoying -as can noise-spill from other rooms if you've got noisy neighbours. The beds (and bedding) are VERY comfortable! Someone wrote that the hotel must be haunted because the long carpeted corridors reminded them of "The Shining" but I've stayed here lots and have yet to come across any twin children at the end of any of them! And if there ARE any ghosts they must those of some of the illustrious people who have stayed at the hotel, like Josephine Baker and Winston Churchill! As for breakfast - well - give yourself plenty of time to enjoy all the delights and don't start counting the calories when you get to the pastries (though the hotel has a great gym to work them off). Lot's of places claim to have the best breakfast in Oslo, but this one gets my vote any day - for the food, the service, the setting and the atmosphere. I've not much experience of the bar or grill (yet) but I imagine these are pretty great too, judging from what other people have written here. Oh, and finally: the location - the hotel is in the centre of Oslo and close to everything, but its located on a relatively quiet parallel street to the much noisier main street. There's a tram stop very close by, and it's about 7 minutes walk to the main train station. So if you're visiting Oslo and want to sample some old-world elegance mixed with modern Scandinavian relaxed friendliness -this place delivers the goods!

Ok, this place is pretty Swank. My friend and I stayed here for 2 nights and when we first walked in, it looked like a place where the Russian mob made their deals. In fact there were a couple of Russian guys being russian in a corner. The décor was very antique-rustic but also slightly on the cheesy side if you over-analyze it. The plus side? Free wifi, awesome breakfast spread with plenty of different smoothie options, plenty of space to explore and hang out if you're exhausted from sightseeing all day. It's relatively walkable to some nice restaurants and shops like (Den Glade Gris). The downside? Pretty sure it's haunted. Unlike many other Oslo hotels this one isn't quite as modern. The bathroom downstairs is super creepy but clean and I'm pretty sure I saw someone run across my window outside around 9 PM. (Ghost maybe?) Either way, the rooms are very clean and there are plenty of amenities around the hotel for those who are more homebodies away from home.

WOW!! This is mainly a review of the lobby/cafebar area. I came to the Hotel Bristol for a conference but didn't stay over. The moment I walked through the door - it looks quite normal from the outside - I was taken aback by the grand and beautiful ambiance. What a spectacular find in Oslo! Everyone I spoke to there was very welcoming and pleasant, so after my meetings I decided to return for a coffee and cake. There is a buffet service of open sandwiches and the most incredible pasteries and cream cakes. I got what I imagine is the Norwegian version of a 'custard slice', it was wonderful. When I ordered a coffee, I didn't just got one cup but a whole silver - yes, real silver - pot to myself. This was nice as it allowed me to relax and spend more time there taking in the scene. Its a great location just a block from Karl Johans and a short walk from the Palace. I highly recommend anyone who isn't staying here to stop by and took a look for yourself! PS - I saw a previous review that they didn't accept credit cards - I paid by card so clearly they now do.

I'm ranking Hotel Bristol as my favorite hotel of our trip. It's elegant, in an old world, European style, the lobby has a killer breakfast spread and the bar has a ton of cognacs. Oh, and the floor in our bathroom was heated. What more can you ask for. While walking down the halls, we joked that this hotel was kind of like The Shining. It has that pattern carpet and wallpaper that is reminiscent of the movie. I didn't find this to be a bad thing at all, just something amusing. The queen size bed is actually two twins pushed together. This seemed to be a trend in other hotels we stayed in but I thought it was worth mentioning if you've never traveled this part of the world before. The breakfast spread was legendary. Salmon, pate, cured meats, cheeses, fresh juices, breakfast cocktails, vegetables, multiple types of seeded breads, yogurts, bacon, sausage, eggs, meatballs. Are you hungry yet? I don't see myself coming back to Oslo anytime soon but this is a place you want to stay or at least, grab a drink and bite at. At any hour of the day, the hotel bar/lobby was packed with people and I'm pretty sure they all weren't hotel guests. This spot is cool and worth checking out.

This was our favorite hotel of our trip to Scandinavia last September. Not only was it the least expensive hotel we booked, our room was very large and the bed was extremely comfortable. We had a room facing an inner courtyard and the location was very quiet.

PLEASE NOTE: This review is SOLELY for the cafe/eatery in the lobby and NOT the rooms. I didn't stay there as a guest and was only having tea with a friend in the lobby area. We wandered up to this place by request of my friend, who was a frequent visitor. She assured me the tea wasn't too overpriced as I anticipated, so I obliged of course. We arrived and ordered our tea and made ourselves comfortable. A woman with dark hair came over to us and, in Norwegian, told us she would take our coats. I said 'no' and that I wanted to keep mine with. She insisted and told us it didn't costs anything. We handed them over and didn't think too much about it at that point. The waiter, after giving me my tea, told me he needed to confiscate my bottle of soda (which was empty). I asked him why and he said it wasn't allowed for me to have anything in the lobby that wasn't sold at this cafe. He had no idea I wasn't a guest of the hotel. I was appalled that as a possible hotel guest, I couldn't carry around whatever I wanted with me while I was in a hotel I was paying hundreds of dollars a night for. I handed over the soda bottle. Gosh forbid I give anyone the impression that they sold Villa Brus at the cafe. Sheesh. (again, this lobby is completely open and anyone can roam in or out). After our tea, and a sour taste left in my mouth from the waiter, we went to pick up our jackets. We were charged 40kr for 2. We explained to the girl, in English this time (we couldn't understand her Norwegian...she was clearly an immigrant or in the process of learning), that we were told we would not have to pay. She said the person that told us this had left. This girl looked similar to the lady who had told us it in the first place (almost like mother/daughter). This went on for a long time before a sweet Norwegian girl behind us chimed in and started yelling at the girl for her horrible customer service to 'tourists' (at this point we didn't care to correct her as she was sticking up for us so much!) and that we should be treated better than that. This all persisted for about 10 minutes longer. The girl, who could hardly speak Norwegian, pretended most of the time that she couldn't speak English either. Turns out, in the end, she could speak English just fine. Which led me to believe this whole act was a scam. It was really fishy and I will NEVER, EVER return to this place as a hotel guest, or as a customer for evening tea. We ended up not having to pay. The real reason we were so feisty about it is because we had no money on us aside from our credit/debit cards and they stated they didn't take credit/debit. I swear this was a big sham. But a special thanks to the Norwegian who stuck up for us thinking we were tourists. It is really assuring to know that the Norwegian people cater to tourists just as they should (and as other countries should too!). We really appreciated it, even though we reside here!

This was definitely one of the best accommodations we stayed in during our trip. The room was beautiful, the lobby was bustling, and the breakfast spread was incredible (fresh fruits and salads, high quality deli meats, fish, and cheeses, smoothies and hand-squeezed orange juice, and more). The rooms we stayed in were clean and the linens were extremely comfortable. I also appreciated the free wifi. Our bathroom even had heated floors. This hotel was almost directly across the street from an SAS flybus pickup location, so it made getting to and from the airport fairly convenient. We were definitely happy we were at the Hotel Bristol for our time in Oslo.

4.5 stars. This grand hotel is hiding behind an unassuming entrance on an unassuming street in Oslo, but step inside and you're in a different world! It's a perfectly preserved time capsule of a more ornate, more formal, and more elegant era, complete with the live piano player in the cafe/bar area. Yet, it is thoroughly modern in approach, with a friendly and efficient reception, superbly appointed rooms, L'Occitane toiletries, good WiFi and a delicious breakfast eaten at tables with immaculate tablecloths and polished silver. It's steps from everything to visit in Oslo, and from public transportation to nearly anywhere in the area. We greatly enjoyed our stay there and would go back in a blink! Then why only four and a half stars, you ask? Well, if you offer bottles of body wash firmly affixed to the shower wall, you should also offer a washcloth or a disposable puff of sorts. No matter in which language you ask, they just don't have them. A small thing, but it makes a difference.