Etoile Bar, Grand Hotell, Oslo

Etoile Bar - a bar with a view!

Their slogan on their home page is "Welcome to Etoile - informal and trendy" - a very correct discription.

Been there a few times now, during the afternoon after work and at night. The perfect place for seeing firework shows, hearing street musicians from Karl Johan, enjoying the sun disappear behind the high surrounding buildings, studying the neon advertisement signs on the roof tops, and sitting with tourists, professionals and some trendies.

After shopping, work, drink with friends or colleagues - nice place, relaxed but a bit pricy.
After dinner, drink with your date - you are able to sneak a kiss by the tables outside, lighted by all the neon advertisement signs.
Night cap - be careful of the stairs down to the toilets...one fall and you won´t go back up.

Atmosphere nice, black and red, large windows, wonderful view of Karl Johan and the town hall.  

You have to order your drinks at the bar yourself - a minus in my book. Does not fit the rest of Grand Hotells service level. Drinks are small, very icy and pricy, and on a slow night, the bubbles in the champagne are just as slow.

Before midnight your shoes stick to the floor and the toilets really smell bad. A complete turn off.

Service: 2/5 - What service - this is self service. But the young batrtender from Sweden smiles and has a sence of humor.
Drinks: 2/5 - small, ice and pricy.
Environment/Atmosphere: 3/5 - since they have outside seating, more shoud be done to allow guests to sit on soft cushions and keep warm.
Prices: 1/5 - for what you get, the drinks are very pricy.
Location: 5/5 - perfect - down town - and a nice place to show off Oslo with.
Age of guests in party: 35 - 45.

13/25 points.