The Bar Industry in Bergen: Current Status and Future Perspectives

The bar industry in Bergen has shown both challenges and opportunities in recent years. With 58 registered companies in the municipality, the industry is characterized by a mix of established businesses and new players. In 2026, the industry employed 593 people, an increase of 24.6% compared to 2025. At the same time, sales showed strong growth in 2022 and 2023, followed by a decline in 2025. The industry is spread across several districts, with the most activity in Bergen city center, but also presence in Fyllingsdalen and Ulset. Some companies have been involved in bankruptcy, highlighting the industry's vulnerability to economic fluctuations. For entrepreneurs, Bergen can still be an attractive place for bar operations, especially with a focus on innovation and central location.

Economic Trends

The table below shows the development of sales and number of employees for bar businesses in Bergen over time:

Sales experienced a sharp decline in 2020, but recovered with a 59.2% increase in 2021. The most significant increase was recorded in 2022, with a 59.2% rise. The number of employees showed stable development until 2025, followed by a sharp increase of 29.3% from 2024 to 2025. This indicates an improvement in the industry after a period of decline.

Registered Companies in the Industry

In Bergen, there are 58 companies registered in the bar industry. Most companies are organized as AS (34 companies), indicating a dominance of this organizational form. Among the most well-known companies are:

• Norsk Restaurant As (26 employees, 20.6M in sales, 2.2M in EBITDA)
• Torget 3 Restauranthus As (25 employees, 26.9M in sales, 6.6M in EBITDA)
• Kb Serveringsdrift As (59 employees, 0 in sales, 0 in EBITDA)

There is also one bankruptcy registered in the industry: Stereo Bergen As (0 employees, 12.5M in sales, -1.5M in EBITDA). This shows that the industry can be vulnerable to economic fluctuations, especially for companies with low margins or high operating costs.

Distribution of Business in Bergen

Bar operations in Bergen are most concentrated in the central areas of the municipality, with 31 companies and 560 employees in Bergen. Other districts with activity include:

• Fyllingsdalen: 1 company, 28 employees
• Ulset: 1 company, 18 employees
• Rådal: 1 company, 8 employees

This shows that the industry is strongly tied to Bergen city center, with less activity in the periphery. There is no reported activity in Rådal and Ulset, except for one company registration in each area. This may indicate limited potential for developing bar operations outside the city center, unless there are special conditions that make the areas attractive to customers.

Dynamics in the Industry

The industry has been marked by both economic challenges and improvements. One bankruptcy has been registered in the industry: Stereo Bergen As (Christies gate 14, Bergen), with an EBITDA of -1.5M and 0 employees. This shows that companies with low margins or high operating costs can be vulnerable to economic fluctuations. On the other hand, companies such as Norsk Restaurant As and Torget 3 Restauranthus As have shown good economic performance, with high EBITDA margins and stable sales. This indicates that it is possible to achieve profitability in the industry, especially for companies with efficient operational models and good market positioning.

Outlook for Entrepreneurs

For entrepreneurs in Bergen, the bar industry can still be an attractive sector, especially with a focus on innovation and central location. In recent years, the industry has shown strong growth in the number of employees and sales, especially in 2022 and 2023. This indicates an improvement in the industry after a period of decline. Entrepreneurs should, however, be aware of the competition and economic challenges, especially for companies with low margins or high operating costs. It may be beneficial to focus on unique offerings, efficient operational models, and good market positioning to ensure profitability.

Outlook for the Broader Industry (Bar/Club)

The broader industry (bar/club) in Bergen has 66 companies, showing that there are more businesses in this category than in the single bar industry. Sales in this industry showed strong growth in 2022, with an increase of 54.9% compared to 2021. The number of employees has also shown an increase, especially from 2025 to 2026, with a rise of 21.7%. This indicates that the broader industry has a stronger economic development than the single bar industry. Among the key companies in this industry are:

• Upstairs As (26 employees, 17.4M in sales, 9.4M in EBITDA)
• Sjøboden Bergen As (30 employees, 24.0M in sales, 4.2M in EBITDA)
• Bergen Apollon As (23 employees, 22.1M in sales, 2.1M in EBITDA)

These companies have higher sales and EBITDA than many companies in the single bar industry, indicating that they have better economic results and more efficient operational models.

The bar industry in Bergen has shown both challenges and opportunities in recent years. With a strong increase in the number of employees and sales in 2022 and 2023, as well as a significant increase in the number of employees in 2025, it indicates an improvement in the industry. However, there has also been registered bankruptcy and low margins for some companies, showing that the industry can be vulnerable to economic fluctuations. For entrepreneurs, Bergen can still be an attractive place for bar operations, especially with a focus on innovation and central location. SmartGrunder can help entrepreneurs find suitable addresses and develop strategies to ensure profitability in the industry.