This Oslo establishment playfully takes its name from the peninsula on which it handsomely sits: Tjuvholmen, also known as Thief Island, once a hive of criminal activity where thieves were executed in the 18th century. Today, the neighbourhood’s reputation is somewhat different, as a buzzing pedestrianised hub for contemporary art and one of the capital’s coolest spots for cultural connoisseurship – very much safe, and just 15 minutes from the city centre. The Thief hotel is a nine-storey extension of this cosmopolitan vibe, full of contemporary design, bright rooms furnished in gold and granite, and floor-to-ceiling windows that overlook the impressive Oslofjord.
Seafood, local and continental produce rule the restaurant’s menu, while its bar takes inspiration from the island’s Astrup Fearnley Museum. There are just a dozen inventive cocktails at Thief Bar, each referencing a modern artwork from the museum, including creations by Damien Hirst, Cindy Sherman and Jeff Koons.
