A lovely place to stay by the waterside of one of Norway's most remote islands.
A community of 500 calls the remote islands of Røst their home. Despite the isolation, there's several places for visitors to stay. I checked in to the Røst Bryggehotell.
Check rates and availability at the Røst Bryggehotell with Booking.com
Location
The hotel is just a two minute walk from the island's primary transport link, the car ferry from Bodø on the mainland and Moskenes on Lofoten.
But I arrived by plane! After stepping off the Widerøe prop plane, I chose to walk as it was such a lovely day. It took about 40 minutes including several stops for pictures. If you're arriving by air and don't fancy the walk, you can always order a taxi in advance.
I have to say, when I first arrived at the hotel, I was slightly concerned to see a scene right out of “The Birds” immediately opposite! Thankfully, I didn't hear any noise overnight.
The island's only supermarket is a 15-minute walk away, and there are a couple of alternative places to eat within similar walking distance. The waterfront location is simply stunning, and is easy to access around the back of the hotel.
Read more: Røst: Norway's remote island getaway
If the weather is nice, you can eat breakfast out on the terrace. Boat trips to the bird cliffs leave from the wharf, so there are few better places to be anywhere on the islands.
The room
Given the concerning sight on arrival, I was less than impressed to be handed the keys to room 101 (seriously), but the room turned out to be one of the hotel's best, with large windows on two sides.
The decor was simple and a little dated, but the room was clean and comfortable. I appreciated both the chair for reading and the desk that helped me get some work done for an hour in the morning.
Although Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel, it was very slow in this room most likely because it was in the very corner of the building.
While the large windows on two sides was great during the daytime, it did pose an issue during the night when of course, during early July, the sun doesn't set this far north.
Although the curtains were better than many Arctic hotels I've stayed in, they did still let in a lot of light. An eye mask is an essential item if you're not used to the long summer nights of Norway.
All 15 rooms are en suite, and the bathroom was small but clean and functional. The shower, albeit old, was powerful. There are also apartments available in an annex, although I didn't get a chance to see those.
Check rates and availability at the Røst Bryggehotell with Booking.com
The restaurant
I ate both dinner and breakfast in the hotel's restaurant. It was much busier in the evening, so I guess that many locals and/or tourists staying elsewhere also come to the hotel for dinner.
Once I'd ordered, it was easy to see why! The food was of a really high quality. Considering the restaurant's remote location, I was surprised to find three choices for starter and 10 for main, although it was less of a surprise that the majority of the menu was fish and seafood!
Even if you're not staying here, I'd recommend stopping by for a meal. Prices were reasonable, with several mains available for 195kr, rising to 300kr for steak and the flagship stockfish dish.
Breakfast was exactly what I've come to expect after seven years of staying in Scandinavian hotels! A buffet of fresh bread with toppings including hams, salami, cheese and so on, with fresh juices and yoghurt.
There is also a lunch buffet available at any extra charge, although I had left the hotel by then so I'm not entirely sure if it's the same as breakfast or something different. The coffee machine was available to use throughout my stay.
Other facilities
A sauna is available for guest use with advance notice, and a gallery of a local artist is open for a couple of hours each afternoon.
The hotel also offers bicycles for hire, runs a daily boat trip (600kr) to the bird cliffs, and a daily sightseeing bus tour (200kr) of the islands, subject to demand.
Overall, the standard of accommodation at the Røst Bryggehotell was much higher than I expected for such a remote place. While there are cheaper places to stay on the island, this was great value and I wouldn't hesitate to return.
I paid 990kr for one night in a double room at the Røst Bryggehotell, which I booked with Booking.com. Check rates and availability here.
