Molde, located on the Northwest coast of Norway, has a nice variation of restaurants. So where should you go? Here are the restaurants we prefer - our list of top places to eat in Molde.
Breakfast in Molde
Early bird gets the worm. Up early? Good for you. Treat yourself with a solid breakfast before you start conquering the world.
Head over to Fole Godt. They open early, and serve fresh sandwiches and pastries. Even croissants and pain chocolat for you francophiles. Fole Godt is a bakery, and they bake it all themselves. Positioned in the end of Storgata, it's a 5-10 minute walk (depending on how slow of a walker you are) from anything donwtown. Oh, and the coffee is good too. Since you're still reading: Fole Godt means super duper yummy in local dialect.
Scandic Seilet Hotel has one of Norway's best breakfasts. Look it up (or just click here). Scandic is a Scandinavian hotel chain, and they take their breakfasts seriously. The hotel is literally built on the water, so you can enjoy spectacular views through the floor-to-ceiling windows in the hotel restaurant.
Scandic Seilet's breakfast buffet. The picture is from scandichotels.no, and is obviously taken by a pro photographer. That said, the level of deliciousness portrayed here is pretty accurate.
Brunch in Molde
Looking for a nice place to eat brunch? In the words of Shakespeare: "Brunch is the King of Meals". You're right. Shakespeare never said that, but he should have. Brunch is awesome.
Said Fole Godt is a good spot. See description under breakfast tip above.
Awkwardly located in downtown Molde's shopping mall - (there are several malls in Molde. This is the one downtown) - you'll find Den Gode Smak. They open at 10 every day besides from Sunday. Sunday is an off day in most of Norway so don't plan your Norwegian city explorations on Sundays. Think deserted western movie ghost towns. Now, Den Gode Smak is both a gourmet shop, and a restaurant. They sell great local foods, and soups, salads and sandwiches made with these local foods. Good coffee and teas are crucial for any brunch, and they have that.
Although inside a mall, they have a pretty cozy dining section with large windows, and the Molde fjord right below where you're sitting. The view of the famous Molde panorama with 222 mountains is spectacular from here.
Lunch
Both Fole Godt, and Den Gode Smak described above, are good lunch options.
If you're in Molde for work, and there's several of you eating - call Molde Fjordstuer and ask them if they can open up for lunch. Their kitchen is great, and their fish soup served with white table cloths make up a nice frame for a business lunch. The restaurant is on the town's guest docks, has floor-to-ceiling windows, and the view is great.
Want to make your own lunch? Go to Torget - the town square - where you'll find old school food market wagons. Visiting in the summer - buy a basket of fresh picked - locally grown strawberries from either Krohn or Skåla. Drågen has organic locally cured smoked salmon and trout - incredibly tasty! Walk over to the bus station and buy fresh fish, seafood and local fish dishes at the local seafood store Horsgård & Co. The website isn't much, and the store doesn't look very fancy. The goods, however, are great, and unlike most supermarkets, the employees actually know what they're selling, can tell one type of fish from the other, and can give you cooking advice.
Dinner in Molde
Molde used to be a small fisherman's village, and you can still see fishing boats at the docks and on the fjord early in the morning. The best fish in Molde is probably served at Molde Fjordstuer. They have meats, and local cheeses as well, but the fish dishes are the main attraction. There's even some exotic seafood dishes there: Fancy cod tongue or whale meat? This is your destination. STOP - don't get all sensitive about the whale meat. You're in Norway now - open up your senses to some exotic traditions and live a little.
Molde Fjordstuer, interior and view. Picture from classicnorway.com
Molde Fjordstuer is walking distance from the city centre, and located right next to the football stadium. Or soccer stadium, for you yankees.
Speaking of fish, if you've got your own cooking setup, you can get fresh fish at the traditional fish store Horsgaard & Co, mentioned above. The website isn't much, and the store doesn't look fancy. The food, however, is great, and unlike most supermarkets, the employees actually know what they're selling, and can give you cooking advice. http://horsgaard.no/index.htm
Interior and view at Glass. Picture from facebook.com/Glass-Restaurant-Bar
Glass (means glass in Norwegian as well), offers modern italian style pizzas, salads, as well as some main courses with fish and meats. Good vibe and often packed with people, large portions, great fish dishes, cool interior. Like most restaurants in Molde, located on the docks, in the city centre. Walking distance from anything. Awesome view of fjord and mountains. Check it out.
For Molde's most spectacular view go to Vardestua. Located on the mountain behind Molde, they serve local homestyle food. You'll be eating with the locals, and in clear weather it will be one of the most spectacular views you've had with your dinner. Thursdays are particularly popular, when they serve the region's most beloved traditional dish: potetball. Want the full experience? Eat it with syrup and a glass of fermented milk. There you go! We might be making a lot of people angry here, but we believe Vardestua makes the best svele in the area. Svele is a local pastry, a thick pancake-esque thing filled with either brown cheese or a mix of sugar, butter and whipped cream. You'll love it. Since it's located on a mountain, the snow decides when it's open and closed. Late spring, summer, and fall: Yes. Late fall, winter, and early spring: No. You'll get there either by walking, (it's a nice hike), you can ask a taxi to take you, or if you have your own car you can drive. There's no toll on the road.
Syd (means South) is located right next to Glass, and is run by the same people. They have perhaps Molde's richest wine menu menu, and serve pintxos - the basque version of tapas. Check it out.
Vegan and vegetarian, and other special diets.
If you eat fish and seafood, Molde has lots to offer. Most restaurants mentioned will have great options for you. Warning to both vegetarians and non-pork eaters: beware that some of the restaurants love sprinkling bacon, chorizo and the likes on the fish dishes. Incredibly tasty if you're up for meats, less so if you're not. Be sure to tell the staff that you don't eat meat.
For strict vegans, Molde is less attractive, (like the majority of small towns around the world). You'll find lots of salads, but besides that, this isn't going to be the most exciting gourmet destination. Sorry. If you're rigged to do your own cooking, the supermarket Coop Mega (a 20 minute walk from the city centre), has lots of frozen meat substitutes like veggie burger patties, soy sausages, facon (fake bacon), chicken filets made of egg proteins and mushrooms, and more. They also have a good selection of organic fruits and vegetables. Knock yourself out.
For allergies, ask before you order.