A new Michelin triumph for the Bergen Region

At the prestigious Michelin Guide ceremony in Denmark, the Bergen region once again received new stars. This time, Mirabelle by Ørjan Johannessen in Bekkjarvik was awarded one star, while Gaptrast advanced from one to two stars.

In recent years, Bergen has distinguished itself as a culinary city, and Monday’s ceremony marks yet another milestone for the restaurant scene in the region. The award‑winning restaurants have stood out through their dedication to quality, creativity, and the use of first‑class local ingredients.

“This is an enormous recognition for the entire team at Mirabelle and Bekkjarvik Gjestgiveri. We are located in a small coastal community, but we have big ambitions on behalf of Western Norway and rural Norway, for our ingredients and for the people who work here every single day. A Michelin star means an incredible amount, both for us and for Bekkjarvik as a food destination and island community,” says star‑winner Ørjan Johannessen.

Kristian B. Vangen and Øystein Ellingsen at Gaptrast could once again celebrate as they received yet another star at this year’s ceremony. “Wow, this is absolutely insane! We’re speechless. This shouldn’t even be possible. We are incredibly proud of what we do, but that someone likes what we’re doing so much that they consider us among the 600 best restaurants in the world is just crazy.”

Christopher Haatuft of Lysverket, who holds a Michelin star himself, welcomes the new additions. “No one in Norway deserves stars more than Ørjan, and when you have such talented people in your local environment, you simply have to seize the moment and cheer them on.” He continues: “These two new stars give people yet another reason to visit Bergen and the surrounding region.”

The mayor of Austevoll, Bente Kari Sletten Taranger, is in a celebratory mood: “This is a great day for Austevoll, and I especially want to highlight the thorough work Ørjan and his team have put in over time. The Michelin star for Mirabelle did not come by itself. It is the result of targeted effort and hard work with a focus on quality at every level. I am especially proud and grateful for the strong commitment Ørjan Johannessen and his family show to their local community.”

Food critic Ove Svendsen of Bergensavisen (BA) has followed the development in recent years. “In an area with several restaurants operating at a high level, you get a flow of creativity and inspiration. I’ve eaten at many Michelin restaurants in Europe, and many are miles away from the high standard of food quality we have here.”

The Michelin Guide highlights restaurants of exceptional quality around the world, and this year’s awards have once again placed the Bergen region firmly on the international gastronomic map. With this recognition, the city’s culinary community hopes to attract even more food lovers from both Norway and abroad.