Hotel Intel: Neo-Nordic Thief reflects chic, artistic Oslo (2023)

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The Thief reflects everything that is chic and cosmopolitan in the exciting capital city of Oslo and that includes elegant contemporary décor, lofty gastronomy, sublime Scandinavian spa life and avant-garde art and architecture.

It was my first visit to Norway and I had imagined people plunging into icy fjords, plus lots of woolly sweaters, Viking ships and skiing.

Those classic attractions prevail, but The Thief is a leading light of innovative neo-Nordic hospitality and an example of the modern opulence of oil-rich Norway. The hotel even has a cameo role on Exit, the Scandinavian TV series about the extravagance of financial world hotshots, a sort-of Billions on steroids.

The Thief is an eco-conscious enterprise in a nation that is considered one of the greenest in the world. (Norway’s oil production is deemed relatively clean, e-cars represent about 80 per cent of recent sales, and such cruise companies as Hurtigruten Norway are transitioning rapidly to eco-operations.)

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Billionaire developer and environmentalist Petter A. Stordalen, head of Strawberry Hospitality Group, which owns The Thief, has established a program with local food and energy-efficient systems for heat, waste and water.

Art theme: The hotel gets its handle from its location on Tjuvholmen, aka Thieves’ Island, in the Oslo Fjord, once a haven for smugglers and robbers.

Today, it’s an ultra-gentrified district popping with upscale condos, superb restaurants, fashionable boutiques and rich culture at Astrup Fearnley Museum of Modern Art (hotel guests have free entry) and the outdoor Tjuvholmen skulpturpark. A walkway leads over canals to the Nobel Peace Centre, Oslo city hall and the new National Museum, which has an Edvard Munch exhibition — including The Scream — one of the world’s most viewed paintings.

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For more of the best of Oslo, segue to the Harbour Promenade, a nearly 10-kilometre linear park along the fjord that passes through districts like vibrant Bjørvika. Here you’ll see the Oslo Opera House and MUNCH, another museum with many of the master’s superb works, as well as special features for children, teens and the visually impaired.

The Thief’s collection, curated by former director of the National Museum Sune Nordgren, is a smorgasbord of photography, sculpture, digital art and Richard Prince’s “revalidations” (copies and new interpretations) of iconic works by Piet Mondrian and even the Marlboro Man photographs of Norm Clasen.

Interiors: Beautifully designed with a curved glass façade and floor-to-ceiling windows, The Thief glows day and night with light from the changing sky and reflections from the Oslo Fjord. The slate grey and ocean blue walls shimmer with gold, silver and bronze accents, and the sofas are covered in sumptuous jewel-toned velvets. It’s an intimate and sensual atmosphere.

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The 112 rooms and suites, layered with luxurious down bedding, are equipped with rain showers (some with baths), art-on-demand on TV, espresso machines and extensive mini-bars. Many have balconies, and some have two. Sweet details include Balmain toiletries, deluxe bathrobes and evening turn-down with herbal tea and chocolates.

Food/drink: The Thief Restaurant fuses Norwegian ingredients and French techniques, so the cuisine is market-fresh and the sauces delicate, all creatively presented on custom-made tableware and fine white damask tablecloths.

At dinner, starters might be beef tartare, organic smoked salmon, venison or langoustines with beurre blanc. Caviar plays a starring role, with even an affordable choice from Nordic waters. Main courses include sirloin steak, a tender pork cutlet or cod (Norway’s staple, cooked to perfection). Light and flavourful desserts are yuzu tarte, chocolate fondant with coffee and cherries, or Norwegian cheeses. Watch for beef Wellington on Wednesdays and lobster and bubbles on Tuesdays.

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Lunch is a feast of such Norwegian specialties as Skagen toast (Nordic shrimp), lobster or oysters, plus salads or burgers.

The Thief Roof Grill and Bar are social hubs with great views, as well as craft cocktails, a connoisseur’s selection of rosé champagne and wine, and a signature seafood platter.

I did spot a true-to-life 20th-century Viking in the lounge. Norwegian journalist, film-maker and explorer Ragnar Thorseth conquered the North Pole (via Nunavut), rowed solo across the North Sea and captained a replica of a Viking sailboat around the world.

Spa life: The Thief’s wellness experiences include a fitness centre (no charge) and a full-service spa (fees apply, $25-$38) that encompasses an indoor pool, Turkish steam, a Scandinavian sauna, massaging rain showers and beauty and body services. Signature treatments include the Ikou Balance and Calm Ritual, which will soothe travel stress. For a grand finale, Norway-style, The Thief is adjacent to a canal with a staircase if you are pumped for a dip in the Oslo Fjord.

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IF YOU GO

Oslo Tourism: visitoslo.com. Norway: innovationnorway.no.

The Thief: 47-24-00-40-00, thethief.com. Landgangen 1, Oslo, Norway. Member of Preferred Hotels & Resorts. Accessible.

Price: Rates fluctuate. May-to Sept.: from approximately $575 Canadian; Oct-April, from approximately $480, including buffet breakfast, evening turndown. Oct.-April can be lower.

rochelle@rochellelash.com