Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, so my mother told me when I was a kid. But things are different in Scandinavia.
Here in Trondheim it's that time of the year when new students are moving to Norway, exploring the town and filling up the cafes.
I've just overhead an animated conversation among some new American arrivals lamenting the lack of anywhere selling breakfast in Trondheim.
So many countries are identified with their breakfast. Britain has the fry-up, America has piles of pancakes, France has the croissant.
But Scandinavia? Not a lot…
What do Norwegians eat for breakfast?
Typically, many Norwegians eat very little for breakfast!
Perhaps just a coffee, and more often that not it will be a brewed coffee, black.
The reason? Lunch is taken early, around 11am and almost never later than midday. Dinner is also eaten earlier than many other cultures, usually between 4-5pm.
If a coffee isn't quite enough, then a slither of Norwegian cheese (yellow or brown!) or ham will often do the job.
This will be eaten on a slice of bread, toast, or a crisp-bread.
Norwegian breakfast foods
That's not to say Norwegians never eat breakfast, just that having anything beyond something quick and simple is the exception rather than the rule.
Weekends, special occasions and so on, you're much more likely to see a Norwegian eating a morning meal.
The most common ‘indulgent' breakfast is definitely scrambled eggs with smoked salmon. Made at home, everyone will have their own twist on it, while it's sometimes also available in coffee shops and cafes as an open-faced sandwich.
It's also very common to see cheese at breakfast time, and a Norwegian will likely reach for the cheese sliver regardless of what else they are eating!
The two most common types you will see are brown cheese (brunost) and a yellow cheese, most likely Jarlsberg, which is a super popular Norwegian cheese with a nutty-like flavour.
Another option, which seems to be popular in certain parts of the country only, is a porridge or oatmeal known as havregrøt.
I've also seen this served during the morning rush in some of the SAS airport lounges around the country!
Havregrøt is made from coarse oats and typically served with sugar and/or cinnamon, although this very much to taste as I've also seen it served with fresh fruit and even nuts.
You can buy it ready-made to heat up in the microwave, but it's simple to make from scratch from just four ingredients: oats, water, milk and a little salt.
Breakfast for tourists in Norway
But just because locals skip the morning meal, doesn't mean visitors have to. Although if you're expecting an all-singing all-dancing diner, you'll be out of luck.
This was quite the problem for me when putting together my Moon Norway guidebook.
Well not a problem as such, but I lost count of the amount of times that I had to explain to the editors why I couldn't include a breakfast recommendation!
If you're staying in a hotel, all but the cheapest will include a typical Scandinavian buffet of breads, cheeses, cold cuts, jams, cereals and so on. Salmon is a common sight, and the better hotels will also serve some hot dishes.
If you're not staying in a hotel, or your accommodation doesn't offer breakfast, then you will usually have to visit a nearby coffee shop. Here you'll be able to buy a small pastry, cinnamon bun, and maybe a small sandwich or bagel.
No coffee shops nearby? Then head for the nearest kiosk (Narvesen and 7-Eleven are the most common) where you'll at least be able to buy a coffee and bolle (a bread roll, usually sweetened), yoghurt and maybe some fruit.
If you're staying in an AirBnB or a cabin and have access to a fridge, your best bet is to visit the nearest supermarket the day before and stock up on whatever you fancy: Yoghurt, cereal, milk, bacon, eggs, fruit and so on.
So, there are options out there for breakfast but when you move to a new culture, you have to be prepared to adapt. Have you ever tried eating a meal at 6pm in Spain, for example?
Hopefully in a few weeks Trondheim's newest American students will have adjusted. But just remember this folks, if all else fails, there's always McDonalds!
Was in Norway for 2 weeks in June with a tour had magnificent buffet breakfasts at every hotel. Loved it
I wonder if the concept of brunch is slowly catching on especially at the weekend.? If you are ever in Oslo I recommend the brunch at Grilliert.
are there many Vegans in Norway? Would love an article on
that 🙂
My Norwegian grandma always said breakfast fuels the mind and body for the day. Here in America she always had Awesome breakfast 7 days a week. It consisted of a porridge every morning of either hot Oats or Cream of Wheat another breakfast porridge here. A little butter and a spoon of sugar white or brown sugar with a bit of cream or milk and blueberries, strawberries, bannanas or peaches on the side to add. Served up with Toast and Bacon , eggs if you liked and Orange or Grape Juice , Coffee, and Milk. My cousins and I loved this breakfast and it was so filling i was hardly ever ready for lunch time. To this day at a American restuarant here in U.S. I will skip the Pancakes and order this. This is definitely a Comfort food and hard to beat , my grankids sure love it too
We were in Norway as part of a group tour around end June and stayed at the Scandik chain of hotels.
We enjoyed the huge buffet spreads of great fresh foods.
Very different to our European tour experience.
It was indeed a wonderful start to a great day of touring.
And we loved the various types of coffees and the warm hospitality.
This no breakfast in Norway is news to me. I grew up in Norway and we always had daily breakfasts, including milk and coffee.
How did you get “no breakfast in Norway” from “ having anything beyond something quick and simple is the exception rather than the rule” ???
Having spent a considerable amount of time living in Honningsvåg. We would daily eat Elk, Boar, Reindeer & cured fish with a fondue of several cheeses & freshly baked bread, which was washed down with copious amounts of Brennivín & all before 8:00am in the morning just to get us started for the day ahead.
We spent 2 weeks in Norway, and cooked a variety of breakfasts for ourselves, using ingredients found in grocery stores. Boiled eggs or scrambled eggs, lovely Norwegian bread (my daughter was fascinated by the self-serve bread slicer), leverpostei, brunost, chocolate spread, fresh berries, and lots of coffee!!! I have no idea how Norwegian our eating habits were, but we made sure we used only Norwegian-made foods.
Growing up with my Norwegian grandfather Olaf. We had the brown cheese and black coffee.. i still have coffee but haven’t been able to find the brown cheese in upstate N.Y
I order it on Amazon. The manufacturer is Tine, Ski Queen classic brown cheese. I have been ordering it for quite awhile. I freeze one.
I hope you enjoy this as much as I do.
I loved the smoked salmon at Norwegian hotel breakfast buffets but have not found anything of similar taste & texture in American grocery stores. Any suggestions?
Are you sure it was smoked salmon and not gravlaks?
Hmm this is not accurate At all Norwegians loves breakfast but it is not waffles, pancakes and Eggs Benedict. I always grew up with a smorgasbord with a spread Paalegg and dark bread. Living abroad for 16 years I miss Scandinavian breakfast and Hotel breakfast is the best in the world
Huh? The article doesn’t say anything about “waffles, pancakes and Eggs Benedict”?
lol, you forgot fish paste! Ski cheese on waffles is the best. I like this breakfast though, coffee till noon. perfect.
I wish McDonald’s in Norway would include their SausageEgg McMuffin and their Hashbrowns… But no. Not any breakfast menu. Why?
There are breakfast menus in some McDonalds, but not all.