Food and shopping

Fargegaten © Brian Tallman Photography

Eat and shop better in the culinary region Stavanger

Did you know that Stavanger is one of the few cities in Norway with several MICHELIN Stars restaurants? Stavanger is fortunate enough to have talented chefs and food experts in abundance. More than a few national and international food enthusiasts point to Stavanger as the culinary region number one in Norway.

Stars and distinctions

Apart from Norway’s capital, Stavanger was the first Norwegian city to receive a MICHELIN Star in 2016, thanks to the restaurant RE-NAA, which since this has received (and retained!) another star in the MICHELIN Guide Nordic. Sven Erik Renaa and Torill Renaa are the passionate pair behind the two-star adventure RE-NAA, and the couple is constantly adding new food concepts to Stavanger’s food map. The critically acclaimed restaurant Sabi Omakase, led by Roger Asakil Joya, received its MICHELIN Star in 2017 and has since retained it. Joya is equally adding new restaurants to the region’s food arena. Moreover, the Stavanger restaurant Tango also has distinctions from MICHELIN, a strong testimony to the region’s status as a food region in Norway.

RE-NAA, Stavanger © Renaa Restauranter

Local ingredients

You can of course satisfy your needs for excellent cuisine at several top-notch restaurants if you’re not necessarily after a MICHELIN Star restaurant. Restaurants tempt with shellfish, seafood, lamb, beef, poultry, vegetables, herbs, and fruit from local producers. The mild, humid climate in the Stavanger region makes it particularly favourable to cultivate the land. This means that most of the ingredients do not have to travel very far, and competent chefs know how to appreciate this. The region is a major producer of tomatoes, parsley, potatoes, beets, cucumbers, and other vegetables. For example, the region accounts for 80 per cent of the cucumber production in Norway.

MingarWalker Glassblowing Studio © Marie von Krogh

Shopping

Don’t miss out on Norway’s most colourful street in Øvre Holmegate, also called Fargegaten. On this street, you can find a collection of shops with a unique selection, cafes, art shops alongside gorgeous photo motifs. Langgata in Sandnes is an inviting shopping street for the entire family, and in smaller villages and towns such as Ålgård, Dirdal, Mosterøy, Bryne and Egersund you can stumble across some real shopping treasures. Most people like to do some shopping on vacation, and it can be extra fun to buy something indigenous to bring home. It’s sustainable to support local production in a destination. Brands such as Oleana which produce sustainably emphasise using ecologically sound raw materials. Oleana wishes, among other things, to inspire a lifestyle where you buy fewer things, but of higher quality. In a protected cultural environment at Utstein, Klostergarden farm runs sustainable food production. Anders and Inger Lise are the 11th generation to manage over 300 years of family history at Utstein, but the history extends much further back in time, all the way to the Viking king, Harald Fairhair. At Dirdal Gardsutsalg, the passionate couple Bente and Tore Hommeland offer locally produced food in amazing surroundings.

Kvadrat

Shopping centre with 170 shops, 2,000 free parking spaces, free WIFI. More than 20 restaurants/cafes; i.e. McDonald’s, Burger King, and Starbucks as well as food from different corners of the world. Liquor store, pharmacies, dry cleaning, certified tourist information. Mon.–Fri. 10–21 (18). Gamle Stokkavei 1, Sandnes, kvadrat.no VI/A1

Mingarwalker Glassblowing Studio

Glass blowing studio with stunning products of high quality and with functional elegance. Experience blowing of glass and the making of glass art up close. Group activities by appointment. Open Mon.–Sat. 10–17, Sun. 12–17. Nordsjøvegen 2012, Nærbø, mingarwalkerglass.no VII/B6

Norwegian Outlet

The largest brand shopping centre in western Norway with more than 200 brands gathered under one roof! That’s what you find at Norwegian Outlet at Ålgård. And best of all – it’s always on sale! Always! With a 30–70 % discount on all products, you are guaranteed to make a bargain. Ole Nielsens vei 13, Ålgård norwegianoutlet.no VII/B6

Architecture

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Eilert Smith Hotel

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Wooden houses in Egersund

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Norwegian petroleum museum

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Sandnes town hall

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Sogndalstrand

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Stavanger concert hall

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Midgardsormen Frøylandsvatnet

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Hotel Victoria

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1. Eilert Smith Hotel © Rasmus Hjortshøj, 2. Wooden houses in Egersund © Fotografen AS, 3. Norwegian petroleum museum © Espen Grønli, 4. Sandnes town hall © Brian Tallman Photography, 5. Sogndalstrand © Vest foto & forlag, 6. Stavanger concert hall © Pål Christensen, 7. Midgardsormen Frøylandsvatnet © Henrik Susort,

Stavanger Museum © Oddbjørn Erland Aarstad MUST

Architecture – iconic buildings

From north to south, explore interesting architecture! Wonderful buildings from different times and style eras. We will attempt to give you an impression of some selected builds of particular architectural interest.

Old Stavanger (II/A2) is Northern Europe’s largest concentration of protected wooden houses, and one of the most photographed tourist spots in the centre of Stavanger. The area consists of 173 wooden houses built at the turn of the 18th century. The homes are immaculately decorated with flowers in the summer and cosy garden designs. The Sea houses in Stavanger (II/B2) are more than 60 buildings from the 18th and 19th centuries. Øvre Holmegate, called Fargegaten (street of colours) (II/B2). All the houses were painted in bright colours according to a colour plan by the artist Craig Flannagan. Sogndalstrand (VII/C7) is the only community in Norway where both the wooden architecture as well as the surrounding cultural landscape in heritage-listed. In the town of Egersund, there are several astounding wooden houses in Strandgaten (V/A3) and Haugen (V/B3), Egersund’s “medieval part of the town”. ger hospital. These important buildings were designed and constructed at the turn of the century, between 1883–1897, by the architect Hartvig Sverdrup Eckhoff. The buildings were all made in the classical style of the period, hence why the area became known as the «Acropolis of Stavanger» among the local citizens.

Hotel Victoria (II/B2) was completed in 1900 and is one of the prettiest buildings in Stavanger. It has a unique waterfront location in the old harbour, highly visible for anyone coming to Stavanger by boat and has been a landmark for more than a century. Henry Bucher designed a refined and elaborate neo-renaissance building fitting the ambitions of a luxury hotel at the turn

The neighbourhood surrounding the hill of Våland (II/B5) in Stavanger is a residential area. It’s also, however, the location of the most impressive civic architecture in Stavanger with four key institutions, such as the Stavanger Museum, the former Stavanger Gymnastics hall, the Rogaland theatre and the former Stavan-

Lanternen © Brian Tallman Photography

of the century. The building has an elaborate façade with patterns of red and yellow bricks, with white details, and has several classical elements such as the main entrance with slender columns.

The Eilert Smith Hotel (II/B2) takes its name from the architect who designed it, Mr Eilert Smith. The building was designed in the 30s, with all the esthetical elements of the modernist movement. Clean and elegant, without any excess details or embellishments. Form follows function in this building, and the architecture underlines functionality and efficiency as ideals of the modern era. Today, the Eilert Smith Hotel offers boutique accommodation as well as Norway ́s best dining experience at the RE-NAA, Norway’s only two-starred MICHELIN restaurant.

Stavanger concert hall (II/A1) is designed by RATIO Arkitekter and consists of two wide stretched building bodies; one made of glass and steel, the other of red / brown bricks.

The Norwegian Petroleum Museum. (II/B2) The museum opened in 1999. Designed by Lunde & Løvseth. The building is a symbolic interpretation of the Norwegian bedrock, the open coastal landscape and offshore installations at sea Lanternen (the Lantern) (VI/D4) – a project of Stavanger2008 (European capital of culture) was Norwegian Wood. The outdoor venue Lanternen is a great example of these wooden builds, as well as Preikestolen mountain lodge and the waterfront at Siriskjær.

Sandnes town hall (VI/D4) is one of the first buildings in the transformation area of Havneparken (fremtidens byer/ cities of the future). Designed by Code of Practice Architects GmbH and opened in 2019.

Midgardsormen (VII/B6) is a footbridge bending its way over lake Frøylandsvatnet, connecting Sandtangen and hiking areas on the west side with the forest Njåskogen on the east side. Midgardsormen refers to a mythical sea snake from Nordic mythology.

Street Art

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1UP Crew

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Pøbel «The lovers»

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Sola Strand Sundown

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SMUG

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Jussi Twoseven

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stencilcity

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Hownosm

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Martin Whatson

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1. 1UP Crew © Brian Tallman Photography, 2. Pøbel «The lovers» © Toril Norheim, 3. Sola Strand Sundown © Brian Tallman Photography, 4. SMUG © Brian Tallman Photography, 5. Jussi Twoseven © Brian Tallman Photography, 6. stencilcity/Mariusz Waras © Brian Tallman Photography 7. Hownosm © Brian Tallman Photography, 8. Martin Whatson © Ian Cox

Frida Hansen, Semper Vadentes, 1905, Stavanger kunstmuseum, MUST. © Valentin Boure

Art – indoors and outdoors

Art comes in several forms and expressions, it can be traditional paintings, or it can be a more inconventional artform. You sometimes find art where you least expect it.

Hå gamle Prestegard (old vicarage) is an art and culture institution in a traditional, listed building. Exhibitions with both Norwegian and international contemporary art, as well as cultural history exhibits. Art shop, cafe with local food from Jæren. Rent the venue, and sleep at Obrestad lighthouse. A nice starting point for hikes along Kongevegen/North Sea Road. Open all year. Håvegen 347, Nærbø, hagamleprestegard.no VII/B6 Stavanger Art Museum displays art from its own collections as well as temporary exhibitions of Norwegian and international art. The collections consist of art from the 19th century to the present. The museum has the largest collection of art by artist Lars Hertervig, as well as several works from Frida Hansen, Kitty Kielland and Arne Ekeland. Café and shop. Open all year. Henrik Ibsens gate 55, Stavanger, stavangerkunstmuseum.no I/B2

Broken Column is a sculpture project by British Antony Gormley, consisting of 23 iron sculptures placed in an imaginary column from Stavanger Art Museum to the Stavanger harbour. The sculptures are based on a cast of the sculptor’s own body. II

Cerebellum © Therese Hauger

Brutt lenke (broken chain) is a memorial in Måkeberget at Kvernevik to commemorate the deceased after the Alexander Kielland accident (1980). The accident was the most substantial in Norwegian oil history. The oil rig capsized, and 123 people passed away. By the monument are three memorial boards with the name of all the deceased. VII/B5

Cerebellum in Langgata in Sandnes consists of seven sculptures made by Christian Sunde where the theme of the artistic expression is mankind. The sculptures reflect a form of reference in ourselves, with a focus on contradictions and differences in us, whether we are big or small, lonely or social, in dialogue with each other, happy or sad, curious or withdrawn, determined or insecure. VI/B3

Fritz Røed Sculpture park at Bryne consists of 10 sculptures of different sizes and styles. The local artist (1928–2002) designed the park with a hint of humour, playfulness yet severity and contemplation. VII/B6

Sandra Chevrier and Martin Whatson © Brian Tallman Photography Brutt lenke © Henrik Susort

Mecca of street art

In the Stavanger region, you’ll see street art on almost every street corner, and the city of Stavanger has become world-leading when it comes to street art. The previously organised Nuart festival (2001–2019) truly put this region on the street art map. A great deal of the art you can experience all year on a guided street art tour with Guidecompaniet.

As a visitor, the grand and visual impact of the large murals is significant, with the works of the likes of Fintan Magee, Snik, Milu Correct, AFK, Skurk and Whatson. The art is mainly found in the cities of Stavanger and Sandnes, but also the districts. Nuart has moreover been a pioneer in digitalisation and has published 14 street art stories on Google Arts & Culture, making the art practically available to all.

Pøbel – the “secret” street artist from Bryne. His works consist of paintings, images and sculptures that often decorate abandoned buildings in the districts and nature. His works are found in several countries. Recently, he was world-known for his corona street art piece “The Lovers”, painted on an underpass in the town of Bryne.