Prima Fila

The story

Crafted with passion, served with love

Where Italy Meets Norway, in the Heart of Oslo

Right on Fridtjof Nansens plass, steps from the harbour, Prima Fila Ristorante occupies a handsome space in central Oslo with a clear sense of purpose: bring the Italian kitchen to Norway without leaving Norwegian ingredients behind. The result is a dining room that feels genuinely rooted in both traditions — not a replica of somewhere else, but a place that belongs exactly where it is.

Gambero Rosso, Italy's most authoritative food and wine guide, awarded Prima Fila a fork in its 2024 edition — a recognition that carries particular weight for an Italian restaurant operating outside Italy, where the standard of comparison is unsparing.

The Food

Guests consistently single out the pasta — carbonara and lasagne draw repeated praise — alongside a seafood soup described as rich and perfectly prepared, and a grilled salmon that speaks directly to the quality of Norwegian waters. The kitchen works with generous portions and high-quality ingredients, and the focaccia has its own admirers. Tiramisu and espresso round out a menu that is classic in structure but careful in execution.

The Italian kitchen here is not a shorthand for comfort food alone; it is taken seriously, from the sourcing of raw materials to the plating. The crossover with Norwegian produce gives the menu a local character that distinguishes Prima Fila from more formulaic Italian restaurants in the city.

The Room and the Team

The atmosphere is warm and relaxed without being casual to the point of carelessness. Reviewers from Oslo and abroad — writing in Norwegian, English, German, and Turkish — return to the same words: attentive, welcoming, professional. The service is personal enough that individual staff members are thanked by name, a detail that says something about the culture of the place.

Private dining is available for groups, making Prima Fila a practical choice for celebrations and corporate events as well as everyday lunches and dinners.