If you’re planning a trip to Oslo, you are probably looking for a great value accommodation in the city and I think I can make it a little easier for you. This post is a review of the Amerikalinjen hotel, a luxury boutique hotel located in the heart of Oslo. We were looking for the perfect place to enjoy a staycation weekend in Oslo and the Amerikenlinjen did not disappoint!
- Type of hotel: Boutique hotel
- Room price: From 90 to 300 $
- Location: In the city center, 3 min away from Oslo central station
- Length of stay recommended: perfect for long stays & weekend getaways
- Favorite part of the stay: the relaxing room and the restaurant
- Less favorite part of the stay: none
- Final rating: 10/10
Hotel history
The building was built back in 1919 as an office for the Norwegian American Line (”Amerikalinjen”), the former cruise ship company that helped thousands of Norwegians travel to the New World in search of a better life. For its hundredth anniversary, this historic venue was transformed into a modern-style and designed luxury boutique hotel. Parts of the building were nevertheless restored to their former state which enables visitors to have an authentic cultural and historical experience during their stay.
In Norway, major international chains are surprisingly not really prevalent while regional groups are dominating the market. The Amerikalinjen is part of the Nordic Choice Hotels group but it remains independent and very unique for an authentic client’s experience.
The location
The hotel is perfectly located to experience the best of Oslo at your convenience: 20 minutes by train from the airport, 2 min from the central train station. It is therefore a prime location for anyone looking to explore the city center or setting off on an adventure. A few nearby city highlights include the Royal Castle, the National Opera House and one of the Oslo fjord harbor.
Room & Service
For this stay, we opted for the ‘superior room‘ which offers all the comfort of a suite. In addition to a king-size bed, it has a TV corner with a velvet sofa and a coffee table. The decor is very stylish, with a mix of modern design, minimalist Scandinavian tones and subtle reminders of the history of the place.
There is also a roll-top telephone that allows you to listen to historical testimonies and contact the room service. Our interactions with the staff were very pleasant during the whole stay.
Hot tip: I highly recommend the hotel’s Floating bartender experience! Have you ever dreamed of having a bar & cocktail service in the comfort of your room with delicious cocktails made just for you? Such an amazing experience is available to guests upon request! Get your camera ready because the service is quite a show.
The Restaurant
We had dinner at ‘Atlas’, the hotel restaurant before getting to the in-house jazz club for a Mardi-gras celebration and I must say that the dinner was a great start to this unique evening.
On the menu: modern cuisine recipes inspired by French gastronomy with local products and Nordic and American influences. Our dinner was DE-LI-CIOUS! We opted for the fish of the day. There is something for everyone, you can get vegetarian and vegan options full of flavors.
I am not a big fan of chocolate but I particularly enjoyed the hotel’s signature dessert, the “big apple”, with a white chocolate ganache coated with cherry coulis and an apple compote in the middle, a pure delight.
Breakfast at Atlas is copious and tasty – On one hand, you have all the American breakfast classics such as pancakes with maple syrup & bagels. On the other hand, you can enjoy fresh fruit juices, croissants and Norwegian specialties such as Solberg & Hansen’s coffee or sourdough accompanied by brunost, the Norwegian brown cheese with caramelized taste.
The good thing is that post-covid, the hotel decided not to resume buffets & instead continue to serve guests at their table for breakfast which made the experience even more pleasant & luxurious.
My favorite part: The atrium. It is located in the backyard of the hotel. It is a bright space with bay windows, plants, velvet sofas and a fireplace. It’s a real haven of peace within the hotel & the perfect place for a gourmet break during the day or breakfast.
Hot tip: The Atlas restaurant is one of the most popular brunch in the city, so don’t forget to follow the hotel’s recommendations and book your table right after finalizing your room reservation to avoid any disappointments.
The sauna, the relaxing room & the gym
The sauna, gym and relaxation room are located in the basement of the hotel and are accessible 24/24h to the guests.
The Finnish sauna offers the possibility to relax after a good gym session and the heated mosaic beds in the relaxation room are perfect for a moment of calm and serenity whenever you feel like it.
Club Gustav: the hotel’s jazz club
The hotel has its own jazz-club, “Club Gustav” as well as an incredible in-house jazz band that performs there every Friday night. In other words, the hotel got everything you need to spend an unforgettable evening without having to leave the hotel.
Our evening at Club Gustav coincided with Mardi Gras celebration and we enjoyed a particularly festive atmosphere with a nice tribute to New Orleans! Club Gustav is accessible to all so don’t hesitate to reserve your seats in advance for a memorable evening even if you do not stay at the hotel.
The “Wow” Factor: Vista, The Heritage Room
On the 3rd floor of the hotel, you will find a room that makes you travel back in time with its vintage items and design as well as tons of books about the hotel history and the impact of the Amerikalinjen.
In Vista, you can have a drink, enjoy the atmosphere or just stroll around to make the most of it! Those type of unique spaces are the reasons why I love boutique and design hotels the most.
The bar & lounge area
Pier 42′ is the hotel’s bar and lounge area. It’s named after the pier where Norwegian passengers disembarked when the Amerikalinjen ships arrived in New York. Accessible to all, it is one of the most popular bars in the city for its cozy atmosphere, design and the amazing quality of its cocktails which names are a tribute to key events that took place in the United States and Norway.
Pier 42’s fireplace and extra cozy velvet seating make it the perfect place to start or end your evening in style!
Price & overall experience
The Amerikalinjen is a 4 stars hotel that falls into the affordable luxury category and its cost is similar to any major chain hotel. Prices depend on the season but it’s ususally between 90 to 300$ per night on average. I strongly recommend booking a dinner at the hotel restaurant and attend the in-house jazz band concerts if you can. The whole experience is really worth it! So far, the Amerikalinjen is the best boutique Hotel I stayed at in Oslo!
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