Björn Svensson’s Restaurant FAN: here he goes again!

Should you ring the buzzer at Bydgøy allé 9 in Oslo, you might expect to enter someone’s home. Instead, you will be enveloped by a feast of flavours at star chef Björn Svensson’s latest – “and hopefully last” – restaurant, FAN.

At Restaurant FAN in Oslo, there is always plenty to do, though perhaps this is expected from the restaurant of a chef like Björn Svensson. One of Scandinavia’s most prominent chefs, he has experience from establishments such as Bagatelle, Eli Bulli, and Gordon Ramsay in London. In 2000, Svensson was nominated for Young Chef of the Year, and five years later, he opened the doors to his very first restaurant, Oscarsgate. This would not be his last, with Faun, Galt, and Schlägergården opening over the next 17 years.

“Some of the restaurants were too small for me, some too big, and Schlägergården was simply too far from central Oslo,” Svensson Explains. And of course, after two decades and four restaurants, a break was surely the only thing on the horizon, right? Wrong. Svensson and his team closed down Schlägergården in 2023, but soon after returned to the food scene again, echoing the famous words of another iconic Swedish group: here we go again.

“The name FAN comes from the Swedish curse word, and because this is my fifth restaurant, the name essentially means not another freaking restaurant, so I’m hoping it’s the last one,” Svensson chuckles.

With a lasting impact on Norway’s culinary scene — and a Michelin star from each of his restaurants — both longtime devotees and new admirers flock to the restaurant at Bygdøy allé 9 in Oslo, eager for a feast of exclusive flavours.

Home, sweet home

Located in a classic Frogner apartment, guests have to ring the bell to enter. Once inside, guests are welcomed into what might as well be someone’s home. In addition to the typically clean and minimalistic Scandinavian interior, the lights are dimmed and the atmosphere warm. There is a buzz in the air – an intimacy and chatter similarly experienced over someone’s dinner table, perhaps. “It’s a small restaurant. We only seat 30 to 40 guests, so we can focus on making their experience the best it can be,” says Svensson.

In addition to bringing successful recipes from his last restaurants, Svensson and his team focus on the best flavours and textures. High-quality raw produce play in important part in the FAN kitchen, so guests can expect nothing less than excellent. The seafood is sourced from Norway and Sweden, and with the coming of spring and summer, Svensson explains that we are entering a particularly flavourful season.

“We work with seasonal ingredients, so coming up we can expect crayfish, scallops, and caviar, as well as asparagus, truffles, and more! Here at FAN, we also often go into nature to harvest what we can ourselves,” he says. “There’s also plenty of pickling and fermenting in our kitchen, which adds to the many flavours.”

Whether it is the service and guest experience or the quality of the meal, FAN really does put the cherry on top. Diners can expect a welcoming, carefully curated dining experience when entering Svensson’s apartment restaurant.

FAN has a set six-course menu, but guests can supplement their meals with exciting extras such as poached king crab or Löyrom, Västerbotten pie with sour cream. In addition, there are brilliant drink pairing options for everyone – a non-alcoholic juice menu, and of course a wonderfully thought-through wine selection. Whether a business dinner, date night, or a nice family outing, there is something for everyone!

The most fun thing about FAN, however, is the evident passion and enjoyment that saturates the place both out front and behind the curtains. When talking to Svensson, there is a clear background of culinary ruckus and fun, embraces, chuckles and lively chatter, as well as a kitchen in full swing preparing for the evening’s service long before it starts. “This is what I love doing the most in the world, and I love doing it with my staff. In addition to giving our guests a good time, the most important thing for me is creating a good work environment for the team,” says Svensson.

Whether you are new to the world of Björn Svensson or have followed him through his four separate Michelin stars (an achievement no one else in Norway has managed before), Restaurant FAN is bound to leave an impression.

Web: www.restaurantfan.no
Instagram: @restaurantfan.no

Visit Restaurant Fan
Bygdøy Allé 9, 0257 Oslo, Norway