An optimistic update and an exciting summer ahead of us
When the winter finally loosens its grip, the sun warms the streets and green leaves and flowers pop up everywhere, Oslo transforms. Once again, we prepare to welcome travellers from the wide world, and show that our beloved city is so much more than what the tourist guides and pamphlets might say. And though all of Oslos boroughs are unique and have qualities of their own, dare we say that it is in Grünerløkka you really find this city’s soul.
This once old working-class community is now the creative heart of Oslo, and even though the pandemic hit us hard, we’ve turned a crisis into an opportunity and proved that Løkka, (as it’s known locally), never gives in and always rejuvenates.
Always something new
In high streets and side streets, we see the optimistic spirit of entrepreneurs and creators and new ventures popping up like spring flowers!
If you need some help navigating the streets and parks, this year’s toursitmap is available from Oslo Visitor Centre next to the central station and in various shops and eateries all over Grünerløkka.
Speaking of eateries, Visit Løkka is proud to welcome:
- Braud Toastbar, Thorvald Meyers gate 47
- Best Friends Pizza, Thorvald Meyers gate 26
- Løkka Deli, Olaf Ryes Plass 3
- Mano Pizza, Markveien 46
- Eftir, café & second hand, Markveien 35
- Konoji, Japanese bar & streetfood, Trondheimsveien 16
- The Little Pickle, European/British, local & sustainable, Jens Bjelkes gate 9
- Zarathustra Meyhane, Meze, Thorvald Meyers gate 80
- Cultivate Food, delicious vegan and vine, Helgesens gate 18
A string of interesting shops and boutiques has also opened in Grünerløkka the last few years. Fittingly for such an original area, they offer unique concepts and products::
- Rimfrost, locally designed streetwear, Rathkes gate 2
- Grün, interior store, Sofienberggata 2
- HGZ arkitektur+bok+objekt Architectural book shop, Schous Plass 1
- FOGG gildeskål, high-end clothing, inspired by the arctic, Thorvald Meyers gate 46
- Carousel, flower studio and Murano vintage glass, Grüners gate 14
- Life Foodstore Grünerløkka, organic and ecologic groceries
- Lekestue, interior and toys boutique for kids, Thorvald Meyers gate 18, inngang i Sannergata
- Oslovelo Bodega, vintage, second hand, art, vinyl etc., Seilduksgata 23
- PAST workshop, Livid jeans, vintage, secondhand an tailor. Markveien 54
- UFF, secondhand. Thorvald Meyers gate 74
- Ganni, Danish postmodern concept. Markveien 56
- & Other Stories, design clothing and accessories. Thorvald Meyers gate 38
Festivals
Summertime is festival time and Grünerløkka is of course no exception. We kick of the season with the return of the very popular PiPfest! June 16th-18th Sofienberg Park will fill up with thousands of festival goers and the already confirmed line-up hints to some legendary days in Løkka’s favourite party-park!
The week after, Løkka-Lykke street art festival repeats last year’s success. Throughout week 25, artists from near and far will bring their skills and paint to monotonous city walls, making Løkka even more colourful. To warm up, have a look at last year’s efforts on the official after movie. We want more of this!
- Musikkfest Oslo, 4. juni
- Urban Moves Oslo, Dansen Hus, 15-19 juni
- PIPfest, Sofienbergparken, 16-18 juni
- Oslo Comics Expo, Schous plass 17-18. juni
- Løkka Lykke gatekunstfest, 20-26 juni
- Oslo Pix filmfestival med Løkkadagene, Grünerløkka, 29. aug – 4. sept
- MIRAGE – Art og The Realfilmfestival, 12-16 Oktober
New this year is the film festival Oslo Pix, establishing itself in the axis between our two local cinemas, Ringen to the north and Vega to the south. August 29th-September 4th, you can enjoy quality movies in both these venues, but there will also be special screenings in various bars, parks and churches. An outdoor screening is also planned in Schous square. The last weekend of Oslo Pix corresponds with this fall’s Løkka Market Days (Løkkadagene), September 3-4th.
But why stop there? Another film festival lands on Grünerløkka this fall. Mirage-Art of The Real is a documentary-festival focusing on visually strong and artistic documentaries. It takes place October 12th-16th. https://www.mirage.no/
Things to do
Among the more regular activities in Grünerløkka, there are guided tours on various themes. Street Art Oslo, one of the organizers of Løkka-Lykke, offers guided street-art tours every week. https://streetartoslo.no/tours/
Oslo Guide Bureau offers a guided river walk every Sunday. On this walk you’ll get an intimate knowledge of Akerselva river’s history and how it, in many ways, built the Grünerløkka we have today. https://www.osloguide.no/faste-turer/historisk-elvevandring
If you want to experience the river in a more adrenaline filled way, Mad Goats can take you on an urban rafting adventure, all the way from Nedre Foss to Bjørvika where the river meets the sea! https://madgoats.no/akerselva-river-tour/
Or if you want to be sporty in the most relaxing way, how about a round of minigolf! http://minigolfparken.no/
Last, but certainly no least, we congratulate our friends and partners at the Museum of Natural History. May 6th, after a four year long, major refurbishing, the museum again opened its geological wing. Crystal caves and dinosaur skeletons are just some of the more than 2500 objects on display at the museum, showing that even when it comes to science, Grünerløkka can compete with the best!.
It is wonderful to finally look forward to a spring, summer and fall where Grünerløkka again will be in full bloom. Løkka is back, more playful, creative and welcoming than ever, come along so you can prove that it’s here you really find the soul of Oslo!
Contributing writer: Cressida Downing
