Michelin stars shine on Bergen

During the prestigious Michelin Guide Ceremony in Denmark, it was a day of celebration for Bergen. Two of the city’s restaurants, Gaptrast and Omakase by Sergey Pak, each received a desirable star, further strengthening Bergen’s position as a leading culinary destination in Norway.

Bergen has distinguished itself as a food city in recent years, and Monday’s awards marks another milestone for both the restaurant industry and the city. The two award-winning restaurants stand out for their dedication to quality, creativity, and the use of top-tier local ingredients.

“This is incredibly huge – earning a star in the first year of opening is insane! The real work begins now; we will aim higher and strive to improve every day,” said Kristian B. Vangen and Øystein Ellingsen of Gaptrast enthusiastically. Sergey Pak and Kjetil Smørås from Omakase by Sergey Pak also expressed their pride: “Our focus has solely been on creating great dining experiences based on our fantastic ingredients from Western Norway. Receiving this recognition from the Michelin Guide is a major inspiration for our continued efforts.”

Bergen already boasts a Michelin star at the restaurant Lysverket, and Christopher Haatuft welcomes the new stars. “It’s great that we are getting two new stars in the city, so more people recognize that there are several excellent restaurants here. In Bergen’s restaurant scene, we all support each other – more great restaurants mean more reasons to visit the city.” Haatuft also highlights that access to high-quality local ingredients has significantly improved.

Mayor Marit Warncke is in a celebratory mood: “This is a cheerful day for Bergen! Our local culinary experiences are once again being put on the world map, contributing to increased interest in the city – both among locals and visitors to explore everything we have to offer. Hard work and a deep passion for the craft lie behind this achievement, and it serves as a major inspiration for Bergen’s culinary scene.”

“This confirms that Bergen has developed into Norway’s foremost city for gastronomic experiences,” agrees Tourism Director Anders Nyland.

Food critic Ove Svendsen from Bergensavisen (BA) has been following the city’s culinary development in recent years. “In a city where several restaurants operate at a high level, there is a continuous flow of creativity and inspiration. I have dined at many Michelin-starred restaurants across Europe, and many of them are nowhere near the outstanding food quality we have in Bergen.”

The Michelin Guide highlights restaurants of exceptional quality worldwide, and this year’s awards have once again placed Bergen 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.