Utne Hotel

Missing the last ferry turned into the best surprise of our trip: we spent the night at this charming hotel in Utne, Norway’s oldest still operating, since 1722! The welcome was warm, the rooms cozy, and dinner delicious. A special thanks to the chef, who walked us through the whole menu in English just for us, the only foreigners. A stop we won’t forget. 🌟🇳🇴

The staff are really helpful, and there’s great food and a cosy, historic feel here. The piano was once played by Edvard Greig. I’ve stayed twice, and both times this place was a trip highlight. Utne is a bit out of the way, but you avoid the big, busy hotels on the east side of the fjord. The hotel dates back to 1722.

The cider tasting was fabulous, and I liked that the hotel promotes local cider. Still, we were surprised when no one spoke to us in English during it. Another guest kindly interpreted. We don’t expect a full presentation in English, but since the hotel said it wanted to attract tourists, a few words would have seemed fitting. The food was good, though not fantastic, and I’d expected more compared with other meals I had in Norway. The hotel itself is quaint, warm, and very classy, and has been operating for 300 years.

Friendly staff, a charming atmosphere, and delicious cider. There was no food.