Visitors to Oslo shouldn’t miss Ambassaden, a Best of Award of Excellence winner with one of Norway’s largest wine cellars. The events space and food-and-wine destination occupies the iconic triangular building that housed the former U.S. embassy by Eero Saarinen (who also designed the Gateway Arch and the TWA Flight Center at JFK International Airport). Situated at the southwest corner of the Palace Park and surrounded by other embassies and historic buildings, Ambassaden lets diners experience Oslo at its finest.
There are three dining venues to choose from inside Ambassaden. Vinland, a brasserie, prides itself on its porterhouse, which is cooked in the restaurant’s custom Southbend broiler. At Frances, a street-level coffee shop and wine bar, diners can pair a glass of wine with small plates like chicken liver parfait and ham croquettes. Eero, a rooftop cocktail bar and lounge, serves wood-fired small plates to enjoy with the stunning panoramic view of the city, park and Oslo fjord. In the adjacent 22-seat restaurant, chef Charles Taylor serves a 7-course tasting menu, with wine pairings, that changes daily.
Diners can order from the main wine cellar at all venues, though Frances and Eero have smaller, tailored menus. Ambassaden also offers co-working and event spaces, including private dining rooms.
Wine director Francesco Marzola oversees the list, with over 3,500 selections and 32,000 bottles in the cellar. He told Wine Spectator that he built the program “with the idea of making wine accessible” and is especially proud of the extensive by-the-glass program. Well over 100 selections are available, many by the half-glass, and all are poured via Coravin. Here’s your chance to sample mature M. Chapoutier Hermitage, Domaine Faiveley Corton-Charlemagne, Joh. Jos. Prüm Riesling and even Château Lafite Rothschild without splurging on a full bottle.
Though there are plenty of famous wines on offer, Marzola is serious about his committment to value: “From the beginning, the philosophy has been to create a deep, interesting and fairly priced wine program, where no matter your budget, you can always find great wines! For me, a well-built wine program offers difficulty in the choice of what to drink, because you should have the craving to drink them all.”
Marzola’s program offers wine lovers plenty of pleasure-in-difficulty while choosing a bottle. The 166-page main list is strong in Burgundy, vintage Champagne and mature Bordeaux, and the wines of Germany and Austria are especially well represented. Magnums and double-magnums abound. The list manages to be both encyclopedic and adventurous: If you somehow can’t find the producer you’re looking for, you’re sure to find a new favorite.
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