LystPå Restaurant & Vinbar

The story

Crafted with passion, served with love

Where Northern Norway Meets the Table

Located in Torghallen, right on the main square in central Bodø, LystPå Restaurant & Vinbar brings together two distinct culinary traditions under one roof: the clean, ingredient-driven flavours of Norwegian and broader European cuisine, and the comfort of authentic Neapolitan pizza. It is a combination that feels both considered and genuinely inviting.

The wine programme has earned LystPå a Wine Spectator Award of Excellence for 2025 — recognition that reflects the seriousness with which owner and wine director Michal Mlynarczyk approaches the cellar. Operations manager Agnieszka Stankiewicz keeps the floor running with the kind of warmth that makes the place feel as easy for a weeknight dinner as for a longer, more celebratory evening.

The Food

The dinner menu leans into the Arctic larder with conviction. Wolffish comes from Salten, tørrfisk (dried cod) from the island of Værøy, reindeer from Saltfjellet, and whale from Lofoten — a roll call of northern Norwegian provenance that gives the cooking a strong sense of place. Starters such as pan-fried scallops with pumpkin purée and mussel bisque, or whale tataki with teriyaki beetroot and citrus gel, show how local ingredients are handled with a light European touch. Main courses follow the same logic: the reindeer is paired with potato terrine, mushroom, lingonberry and Jerusalem artichoke chips; the grilled tørrfisk arrives with brown cheese and mustard sauce, a nod to distinctly Norwegian flavour combinations.

A four-course tasting menu is available alongside à la carte, with wine pairing packages ranging from a standard selection to a "Legendary" package — a sensible structure for guests who want to let the sommelier lead. Desserts include a sticky toffee pudding finished with Ardbeg whisky caramel, and handmade petit fours from Craig Alibone Chocolate.

On Sundays the kitchen pivots entirely to Neapolitan pizza, while the rest of the week both the Nordic dinner menu and the pizza offering run side by side — a practical and crowd-pleasing arrangement.

The Setting

The restaurant sits in Torghallen in the heart of Bodø city centre, making it easy to reach whether you are a local or passing through Norway's newest UNESCO-listed city. The atmosphere, in the restaurant's own words, is defined by "warmth and hospitality" — a place where food and drink are meant to create memories rather than simply fill a table. Catering and private events are also part of what LystPå offers, extending that same approach beyond the restaurant walls.