• 5
• Fantastic!!

I was in Bergen for two and a half weeks last summer for an academic conference and art exhibition (and because my Norwegian side of the family only came to the U.S.–where I currently reside–from Bergen only a few generations ago and I very much so wanted to experience that place). Kinsarvik made me immeasurably happy. ! After a week of moving around and eating whatever, and doing a ton of walking and traveling (and adjusting to the time difference), I had access to a kitchen and then found THIS place...after spotting signs featuring "økologisk" and making a quick skip down several blocks. There is so much packed into this small, beautiful space. BUT MOSTLY: there is a massive open faced cooler of vegan meats and related (cheese-esque) alternatives. The actual meats are far away in a small floor cooler in the back. This discrepancy is not typical in my experience and caused great joy; I may have literally laughed out loud in the store. Though not strictly vegan, I am strictly vegetarian and do not eat fisk...which understandably baffles everyone in Western Norway. Long-story-short, in my excitement to use a gas stove and cast iron in a small, old, Norwegian kitchen plus the extensive array of never-before-seen brands of small vegan sausages and salami-style slices...I spent pert near 500 NOK on said delicacies. Some focaccia from Godt Brød. Best $60 I've ever spent.