Biologen – Askøy

When you drive across the bridge to Herdla, the pace slows down. At the very tip of this moraine island, with Hjeltefjorden on one side and Herdlefjorden on the other, you'll find Biologen housed in a brick building from 1922. Marine biologists and international researchers once worked here, and even royalty has visited. Today the building is a modern hotel where the original brick walls and deep window sills have been preserved, while the kitchen works with what the sea and island provide: seasonal fish and shellfish, and beef from cattle grazing just outside.

We went for three courses, and you can tell the chef has genuine respect for the ingredients. The wine cellar focuses on biodynamic and organic wines, pairing beautifully with the clean, local flavours. From the rooftop terrace you look straight out to the open sea. Make a weekend of it with an overnight stay, and start your morning with the breakfast buffet and a walk along the sandy beaches. Just 45 minutes from Bergen, yet it feels like a different world.