Stranger in Oslo....

I'm not sure if I've mentioned about my love for bakeries before. My husband can't seem to understand the obsession, but there's something about the aroma of freshly baked bread! Makes you want to dump your diet for a hot cuppa latte and fresh, soft, baked goodies. United Bakeries has this magical affect on me. My visit to Oslo is almost incomplete without a quick cup of coffee from here. For one, the atmosphere at this place is infectiously happy. It's the kind of place that can brighten your day immediately. A counter full of sinfully-delicious, french-inspired, sweet delicacies, all kinds of fresh bread, a chocolate fountain to load up your order of *boller*, a bowl of rich, raspberry jam to accompany your bread, sandwiches, salads, friendly staff to take your orders and ofcourse, coffee! A must-have at United Bakeries is without a doubt the hearty, mouth-watering, calorie-loaded raspberry tart. (Yes ladies, some carbs are a must) This place is a french-inspired craft bakery.
However, United Bakeries should not be your coffee-stop if you're in a rush. There's almost always a queue to place an order and a table cannot always be guarenteed. This is the kind of coffee shop you'd want to be at with your best friends, the kind of place you'd want to spend long hours at and most importantly, the kind of place you'd want to come to indulge in the best fruit & nut bread Oslo has to offer!

Address:
Karl Johans gt. 37-43
0162 Oslo
Tel: 22 41 27 53

http://www.united-bakeries.no/

This has by far been my favorite discovery of Oslo. Tucked away at the basement on Karl Johann, this little boutique is easy to miss. A few steps down into Søstrene Grene transports you to a world away from the hustle and bustle of Karl Johann. And oh the goodies it has! Introduced in Denmark by sisters Anna and Clara Grene, the store now has over 26 franchises all over Scandanavia.
Søstrene Grene is the kind of store which you can enter without any preconcieved list of products to buy. The store looks nothing short of a flea market- colorful and an extremely well-priced mix of fun products, non-fancy decor with an informal atmoshere. The Grene sisters travel all around the world, from Mongolia to Australia and buy products in bulk from manufacturers directly, hence the low pricing. The store manages to stock up on an insanely huge quantity of products due to the fact that they don't believe in product display. Some products are even just kept in bulk in cardboard boxes.
Here's a boutique that houses everything from kid's toys to wine glasses. The atmosphere inside is almost festive with every customer smiling away at a hidden thought. Bath and beauty products, dinner plates, coffee mugs, home decorations, party favors, food and drinks, paintings, canvas and color, make up and jewellery, stationary- Søstrene Grene have stocked up the entire world in their little store!

Address:
Søstrene Grene
Karl Johans Gate 12
Oslo
Norge

http://www.grenes.dk/