This is a classic, American-style bar but thoroughly modernised. The staff are highly professional and the martini was delicious.

Pier 42 is a hotel bar, located just off Strandgaten in central Oslo, close to the waterfront and central train station.

Having just enjoyed a fairly rousing evening at the stunning nearby Opera House, I thought I would drop in for an calming silver bullet.

The venue is is a part of the Amerikanlijen Hotel, and most, but not all of the patrons were well-heeled but casually dressed foreign visitors when I visited. It seemed particularly popular with US travellers.

The hotel takes its name from the transatlantic shipping line Der Norske Amerikanlijen, which transported a great many Norwegians to America, many of whom arrived in New York to disembark specifically at Pier 42, which is where this bar takes its name. The hotel itself was converted from the shipping firm’s headquarters and reopened in 2019.

It’s a reliable combination of classic hotel bar style with Norwegian excellence and quality.

The staff were attentive, smartly attired, highly professional and charming. The music was lounge and light jazz.

The menu has a number of art-inspired cocktails but martinis are on the menu and that was all I wanted to try. If you like your cocktails this is definitely for you, but if you like a classic martini you are excellently catered for as well.

When I ordered the drink I was asked all the reassuring questions.

It was stirred with ice, the glass had been kept in the freezer and the lemon peel was carefully expressed into the glass.

Olives were served on the side.

The gin was Bareksten from Stavanger and the vermouth was Carpano Dry from Italy. I was provided olives on the side. Lovely.

Norwegian alcohol laws are fairly strict and you are not allowed to serve a drink with more than 40ml of spirits. This feels very different from a classic New York serving size but the law’s the law. A typical pour in the country is also usually in a conservative coupe glass rather than a V-shaped martini classic. With that in mind, I might prefer the V-shape of an akvavit glass for this size of pour, particularly as it would evoke a Nordic theme for foreign guests.

Or alternatively I might petition the Norwegian government and request the passing of a national martini law, whereby the 40ml rule can be broken so long as the drink has been chilled to a certain temperature and the venue has a specific professional martini license. Pier 42 would certainly qualify.

For 205 NOK (around £15 or 18-19 USD) for the drink this is good value for a country with high prices and the American Bar overall was highly professional, attentive and good quality, with observant attention to detail and just the right level of conversation to make you feel welcome without intruding on the elixir of quietude. You certainly won’t be in a rush to board a ship to New York as a result of your martini experience here.

Skål!