Løvetann Café & Bistro: Colourful dishes at Bergen’s beloved café & bistro

By Malin Norman | Photos & Videos: Løvetann Café & Bistro

In the Nordnes district of Bergen, the cosy Løvetann Café & Bistro serves fresh, varied and tasty dishes, all made from scratch. Thoughtfully sourced, beautifully presented, and utterly delicious!

In the safe hands of owner Joanna Cichowska, also a trained chef and barista, Løvetann Café & Bistro is a haven for foodies, with an open and welcoming atmosphere – loved by visitors from the far corners of the world, as well as loyal customers from its own neighbourhood.

“Bergen has such a nice vibe, people are so friendly here,” smiles Joanna. “Often, our customers come up to us after a meal to say thank you. And locals tend to chat with visitors from further afield in our café – it’s amazing to see the level of kindness.”

The menu is simplicity done right, with flavourful dishes tempting the tastebuds. Just listen to these delicious picks: colourful Hand of Fatima with homemade falafel and three types of humus, homemade walnut pasta, chicken tagine slow cooked to perfection with Moroccan flavours, and salmon labneh toast on homemade sourdough bread.

The whole team is involved in the creation of the menu, which changes regularly and by season, with the owner explaining: “Our main focus is on free-range and local produce, and mostly vegetarian and vegan food, but we also serve a variety of meat dishes – so that everyone can choose a meal they will enjoy.”

Løvetann Café & Bistro: Colourful dishes at Bergen’s beloved café & bistro

Bergen Spiser, Going Up North, quizzes, and more

Løvetann also hosts quiz evenings, concerts and other events. A recurring gig is with local rock band Going Up North, which draws an audience a few times per year. The café & bistro also takes part in Bergen Spiser, a restaurant festival that shows off the city’s culinary scene. “It’s like doing a restaurant crawl, rather than a pub crawl,” smiles Joanna. “Restaurants have a fixed price, and you can hop from one to the next and complete a whole meal that way.” Later this autumn, she hopes to be able to offer open-air cinema, serving food that’s featured in the chosen movie.

Løvetann Café & Bistro: Colourful dishes at Bergen’s beloved café & bistro

Beautifully located on a hill, Løvetann has a view of the seven mountains surrounding Bergen. “In summer, you can sit on our terrace and have a beer called Fløyen, named after the mountain right in front of us, from local brewery 7 Fjell – with a view of the mountains.” The café and bistro also have a selection of directly imported wines from Gio Vin, a family winery in Puglia. Again, thoughtfully sourced and delicious.