6 Best Restaurants in Svalbard, Norway

Barentz Gastropub

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After a long day out in the snow and ice, you'll appreciate this spot's warm and relaxed atmosphere. You'll also love the hearty pub food, including delectable burgers and what might very well be Longyearbyen’s best pizza. It's also a good place to sample a hot pot with fish or seafood. No fancy clothes or attitude required—this place is all about unwinding.

Coal Miners' Bar and Grill

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Located in a mess hall for miners dating from 1948, you can't beat this spot's scenic surroundings or casual atmosphere. Combine top-notch pub food with a pint of locally brewed beer and board games and you have the recipe for a very relaxed evening after a day of outdoor adventures. While the restaurant might be a bit far from where you’re staying, you’ll find that the burgers are worth the walk.

Fruene

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Called the "northernmost chocolate factory of the world," this café offers unusual handmade chocolates shaped like snowballs, ice crystals, and polar bears that you can take home (or, more likely, eat right away). It’s a family-run business that focuses on creating a welcoming atmosphere for locals and visitors alike, which is why it draws in the crowd for its lunchtime soups and salads.

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Kroa

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While the rough-hewn beams, stone fireplaces, and wooden-barrel seating are reminscent of a trapper’s cabin, any trapper would have been green with envy at the food that’s being served at this cozy eatery in downtown Longyearbyen. You can find classic pizza and burgers on the menu of pub favorites, but also Norwegian specialties like moose and clipfish.

Nansen

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Experience what happens when Asia meets the Arctic at this scenic restaurant in downtown Longyearbyen. Gazing out from an expansive wall of windows facing the mountains, you can experience a whole new kind of Asian fusion made from fresh and local ingredients such as cloudberries and reindeer. All dishes are presented on modern portioned trays or wooden plates with chopsticks, reinforcing the Asian theme despite the Arctic setting.

Polfareren

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Honoring the young and ambitious Norwegian polar explorer Eivind Astrup---the name means "Polar Explorer"---this eatery sets its sights just as high. Expect a fusion of classic French, traditional Japanese, and New Nordic cuisine in a simple, tasteful setting of walnut tables and leather benches. The ingredients are high quality and sourced from small, independent farms, meaning the menus (changing monthly) focus on seasonal ingredients and may include dishes such as whale carpaccio, ramen soup, and miso black cod.