Review: The Thief

Tell us about this place. What makes it worth our attention?
Oslo was always a little behind the curve when it came to boutique hotels, and The Thief is the only one of its kind, with a determinedly modernist approach, a credible art collection, and the best harbor views in town.

So where did it come from?
Opened in 2013 by high-rolling Norwegian hotelier Petter Stordalen alongside the Renzo Piano-designed Astrup Fearnley museum, which sits like a sleek catamaran on the harbor and lends The Thief much of its artwork—Richard Prince’s "The Horse Thief" in the lobby, Camilla Løw, Chris Gianakos, and others elsewhere.

What are the rooms like?
Lots of detail, lots of texture, from wool slippers and blankets to white marble bathrooms, twilight greys, mussel-blues and burnished oranges; large windows for harbor air. Pieces by Tom Dixon and Patricia Urquoia; two whole rooms curated by Peter Blake and Lee Broom.

Are there any especially good food options on site?
The rooftop restaurant is a high point in summer; cocktails are some of best in the city, notable for their quirky, bespoke containers. Plenty of shellfish, lamb, and root vegetables in the main restaurant. Breakfast included, with lots of homemade jams and pastries.

How do the staff treat you?
The concierge knows Oslo inside out, and can direct you to the latest art-studio spaces. Everything is overseen by dreadlocked, London-born Dominic Gorham, who also heads up the live music sessions and can tell you his favorite places to fly-fish.

Based on your observations, who else tends to book rooms here?
Cool-hunting urbanists and Scandi start-up entrepreneurs with Roxy Music and Todd Terje on rotation in their Bang & Olufsens, and an Anne Holt thriller in their Sandqvist satchel.

And what's the surrounding area like?
It’s set on the new build Tjuvholmen islet, on the eastern side of town, which can feel a little empty at night but comes into its own at weekends, when roving families come on art walks—and in the summer for its lido action. The Akker Brygge waterfront, with restaurants and bars, is a short walk away. Oslo’s other five-stars cozy up in the old town and are quite conservative by comparison.

What else should we know about this place?
Show hardy Oslovians your Scandi credentials by taking a quick dip in the fjord, then warming up your bones in The Thief’s hammam. And there’s a Riva for summer island-hopping.

Sounds delightful. Be honest: Is there anything you'd change?
Apart from lowering the prices for cocktails, some more accessible information about the artworks would be handy.

So why would you recommend this one to a friend?
Undoubtedly Oslo’s most attractive contemporary hangout for summer, watching color-shifting cloudscapes and islands blur like a Munch canvas from the rooftop terrace. In winter you may feel a little exposed out here on the waterfront.