Bergen Harbour's Kjottbasaren Food Hall
To the north of Bergen harbour's Fish Market in Torget Street on the corner with Bryggen, which means the wharf street you will see an attractive ornate gabled brick built building set back from the road. The top of the roof line is constructed to resemble the crenulations on a castle wall.
White carved stone has been used so the building looks as if it has been decorated like a cake with an icing sugar topping. This is Bergen's Kjottbasaren Shopping Center and food hall. In the summer there is seating on the pavement that belongs to the cafe restaurant.
If you do sit outside check which way the wind is blowing because occasionally the smell of the Bergen fishmarket can be blown your way. This might put you off your cream cake and coffee you just ordered. In the winter and bad weather you will find seating inside in the warm, where you can enjoy a drink and a snack.
You are surrounded by small boutique stalls that sell handmade chocolates, cheeses, meat, cakes, local breads as well as tourist souvenirs. Originally the building served as the meat market. It was constructed in 1872 and restored in 1990. On the ground floor you there are two restaurants. On the upper floor there are smaller stalls and shops. I like trying different meats and sausages.
In the north of Norway it is too cold for cows to be outside all year round so the farmers herd reindeer instead. You can buy lots of different reindeer meat products. It may seem strange that you are eating one of Rudolph's friends but to the Norwegian's it is as normal as eating beef, chicken, lamb or ham. It is more expensive than the others but it tastes good.
Also look out for wild boar sausages and pate. The Kjottbasaren Shopping centre can be found at Vertlidsalmenningen 2. If you are travelling with young children and you cannot convince them to eat reindeer, there is a McDonalds on the other side of the road.
I normally avoid these types of fast food joints on holiday. The only good use for them is that they normally have free clean toilets. The Bergen McDonalds is unusual. It is not housed in a modern premises. It is in an elegant Victorian white building and the exterior has been preserved.
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