Eating in Norway without breaking the bank: business lunches, QR menus and ‘white napkins’ — 10 restaurant life hacks for 2025

I totally get why you'd think that, but it's not true! If you know how the local hospitality industry works, you'll see that it's not true at all. During the day, our lovely chefs fill the kitchens with delicious business lunches at the price of a bun, and you can get ten percent cashback when you scan your QR menu. Add some free tap water, refillable coffee and the 'white napkin' life hack, and you'll get a delicious dinner for the price of a burger with a view. The ten questions below are here to help you out. They've got all the answers you need to eat well, variedly and without breaking the bank.

So, you want to know what 'dagens rett' is and why it's 30% cheaper?

'Dagens rett' is the dish of the day, which is lovingly prepared in bulk from the morning delivery. The restaurant kindly sets aside 30–50 portions at the lovely price of 145–185 NOK, while the same steak costs 320 NOK in the evening. The great thing is that the chef saves on ingredients, and you, our lovely guests, save on the price! And if you order 'dagens' before 3 p.m., you often get bread, a salad bar and coffee for free! Hey, if you're ever in Bergen and you're craving some delicious fish soup, you should definitely check out the Kafe Spesial bistro. They've got this amazing soup for just 149 kr during the day, and it's only 229 kr in the evening. Hey, here's a little secret: be sure to check out the restaurant's Instagram stories. They share photos of the 'dagens' (the daily specials) in the morning, and if you repost one of these, you'll get a sweet 20% discount coupon!

Business lunch: where to find it and what does 99 NOK get you?

Oslo's vibrant business districts (Barcode, Aker Brygge) are in a friendly competition to attract office workers. From 11:00 to 13:30, almost every other restaurant offers a delicious business lunch for just 99–139 kr. We're so excited to tell you about our delicious menu! We've got a tasty soup, a half sandwich or pasta of the day (sometimes with mineral water), and we can't wait to serve it to you! At Olivia Tjuvholmen, you can enjoy a delicious pizza lunch for just 129 kr, compared to 198 kr in the evening. The most important thing is that you enjoy your meal and savour every mouthful, so please try to finish within 60 minutes. The waiter will kindly remind you when they bring the bill. The Lunsj Guiden app is here to help! It collects all the offers you could possibly want and sends a friendly push notification if there's a lunch for less than 120 kr within 200 metres. On average, users save a whopping 580 kr per month!

How does the QR menu work and why does it offer a hidden discount?

Hey guys, we've got some great news for you! The OrderYOYO/WeOrder service is here to help you save up to 8% on front-of-house costs. All you have to do is scan a QR code, order and pay on your phone, and you're good to go! In return, many chefs are kind enough to offer a 5–10% 'digital discount'. At Munchies Burger, you can get a delicious Torpedo burger for just 155 kr if you pay by cash, or 139 kr if you pay by QR. Water is free, and you can leave a tip using the button (0–15%). Just a heads-up: the discount is usually for food, not alcohol. If you're a party of four, just let the waiters know and they'll get you all the drinks you need (and water, of course) and you can order your food through the app.

Hey, have you ever wondered what 'white napkin' means? Or maybe you're curious about the unique aspects of Norwegian fine dining?

Hey, I just wanted to let you know that the rule of thumb is pretty simple. If you see starched white napkins on the tables and candles are lit, you can expect a bill of more than 900 kr per person, and that's without the wine. Fine dining restaurants have a little 'kuvert-avgift' – a fixed charge of 39–65 kr 'for bread and butter', even if you don't ask for them. Hey, here's a little life hack for you: when you're booking, just let them know you'd like to avoid bread. You'll be amazed at how many places will happily do it for you! The second little trick I'd like to share with you is to order the Early Bird set menu before 6 p.m. – that way you can enjoy the same tasting menu for 695 kr instead of 1,095 kr! It's all about turnover, and I'm here to help you with that! And if you're not into the whole booze thing, no worries! You'll still get an awesome 150 kr off on the non-alcoholic pairing.

Hey, have you ever thought about sharing plates? I was wondering if it's okay to split one portion between two people?

You'll be happy to know that the answer is yes in most casual tapas and Asian fusion restaurants! At Peppern Gror, you can get a whopping 450 g naan pizza for just 199 kr! And here's the best bit – the waiter will happily split the pizza for you, so you don't have to pay extra. In family-run fish restaurants in Lofoten, you can get grilled halibut for 335 kr, which is enough for two people after soup. There are some exceptions to this rule. These include all-you-can-eat brunches and Michelin-starred set menus. On these occasions, you are not allowed to share your food. If the manager sighs, order an extra side dish (39 kr). This is enough to 'allow' you to share a portion. A family of four can save up to 600 kr on dinner.

Can you drink tap water for free instead of paying 175 kr for a bottle?

Yes! According to the Mattilsynet drikkevann law, restaurants must serve free water from the tap if a customer asks for it. Just say 'kan vi få en karaffel vand, tack'. Norwegian waiters won't be surprised. Ice and lemon are included, and sometimes they ask for a symbolic 10 kr 'for glass' — this is a violation, so you can refuse. The only place where water is charged is at wine tastings with a set menu, where bottled water costs 25 kr (0.5 l). A couple can save 2,450 kr on a 7-day trip, which is almost the price of a cruise to Nærøyfjord.

How does the 'coffee refill' system work, and where can you find it?

The famous Frokost-buffet and Fuglen café give you free refills of filter coffee. Buy a cup for 35 kr, ask for 'paaFyll' and the barista will fill it up again while you sit there. For just three cups of coffee, you can get three cups for the price of one. Spend 70 kr less every morning. If you pay with Vipps, Starbucks will also give you more coffee for the same price. The receipt is linked to your ID. This doesn't apply to cappuccinos. It only applies to hand-brewed or filter coffee.

Is the Oslo Pass a good deal for restaurant discounts?

The Oslo Pass has a little-known bonus: 20% off at over 20 restaurants (Salome Food Hall, Kaffistova, Cave Vin). If you're staying in the capital for three days, you'll be able to use the discount at least twice. This will save you 250 kr, which is a quarter of the price of a daily pass. You can also get similar programmes in the old towns, such as the VisitBergen Pass (15% off) and the Trondheim City Card (10% off). Terms and conditions: please show your active Pass before ordering. Please note that alcohol is not included.

Too Good To Go in cafés: a way to have dinner for 49 kr?

Yes. Espresso House coffee shops and Godt Brød bakeries sell a 'Magic Bag' for 49 kr after 7:30 p.m. The bag includes a salad bowl (139 kr during the day), a croissant and yoghurt. According to the blogger ArcticNomads, you can save 450 kr by buying four bags a week, and they also provide about 1,600 kr worth of nutrition. There are two problems with this: you can't choose what's in it, and you need a container (Green Deal 2025). Otherwise, it costs 10 kr for the paper. The best places are the Barcode office centre, where the bags are the 'fullest'.

How does 'restaurant week' work and when should I book a table?

Norwegian Restaurant Week is in the last week of October and the first week of March: 30–60 of the best restaurants offer set menus for 395/495/645 kr. You can make a booking on Bookatable four weeks in advance, but Smalhans, Kamai, and Sabi Omakase sell out in 30 minutes. You can save up to 40% on the regular price. The best part is that you can upgrade the wine tasting for less than 300 kr (usually 600 kr). From Oslo, it's worth taking a trip to Stavanger. You can get Vy Natt-tog tickets for 199 kr and dinner at re-NAA for 645 kr instead of 1,100 kr.

Even in a country with some of the highest restaurant bills in Europe, you can still expect to pay a set amount. Make the most of the 'dagens rett' (daily special) and business lunch deals during the day, share your food in the evening, scan the QR menu for instant discounts, and save the fine dining battles for a special occasion after you've tried the Early Bird. Add free tap water, coffee refills, OsloPass coupons and a couple of 'magic bags' from Too Good To Go, and you can enjoy twice as much food for half the price. Norwegian food is more than just salmon and a price tag with three zeros. It's also a culture of hospitality that generously shares its flavours in exchange for your wit and a few digital life hacks. Enjoy a drink without spending too much!