Rica Grand Hotel

Rica Grand Hotel
Karl Johans Gate 31
Oslo 0101, Norway

The Grand Hotel first opened its doors in 1874. The Louis XVI revival style building, with its hint of Nordic art nouveau and characteristic clock tower from 1913, is right on Karl Johansgate, Oslo's main street, and stands as a symbol of a first-class hotel with tradition, atmosphere and style.

The Grand Hotel has been the talk of the town since the days of playwright Henrik Ibsen. Many celebrities have stayed at the Grand Hotel over the years, from heads of state to pop stars. With all their special desires and demands, they have helped make the hotel what it is today. The Grand Hotel has a unique atmosphere which has developed over many generations of hospitality.

Each room at the Grand Hotel has its own special character and style. The rooms and suites facing Karl Johan all have balconies, where many famous personalities have stood and waved to the crowd outside. The hotel has a total of 500 beds in 238 rooms and 51 suites. All of the elegantly appointed rooms have en-suite baths, most with bathtubs. In addition, each room has a TV, a telephone with a direct outside line, a trouser press, a hairdryer, air-conditioning and a mini-bar. Half of the rooms are reserved for non-smokers, and many also have parquet floors.

Food and drink are important at the Grand Hotel. At Restaurant Julius Fritzner, you can enjoy the best of the Norwegian kitchen, with a menu that changes according to the season. Limelight Bar is the ideal place to enjoy an aperitif before dinner. This elegant lobby bar is a natural meeting place for hotel guests. Restaurant Julius Fritzner attracts business people as well as those who appreciate the finest food the modern Norwegian kitchen can offer.

The Grand Café received its first guests on August 14, 1874 and was the main restaurant at the hotel for many years. The café has been a favorite haunt of artists and intellectuals for generations. For many years, playwright Henrik Ibsen sat at his regular table at the Grand Café every day at noon. Other frequent guests included writers Hans Jæger and artists Oda and Christian Krogh, and Edvard Munch. The large mural at one end of the café was painted by their son Per in 1928 and was installed in 1932. It portrays the café and its guests as it was in 1879.

The beautifully decorated swim-ming pool, with daylight streaming through the win-dows, is set at a comfortable temp-erature and gives you the feeling of swimming outdoors. There are chaise lounges alongside the pool, where you can relax before or after your swim. Just outside the pool area is a lounge with all kinds of refreshments, which also can be served poolside. The fitness center has weightlifting equipment, including a treadmill and a stationary bicycle, as well as a sauna and solarium.