The Bar Industry in Oslo: Companies, Statistics, and Outlooks

The bar industry in Oslo is an important part of the city's service and cultural sector. With 199 registered companies in the industry, data shows a dynamic, but also challenging industry. In recent years, the industry has experienced both strong growth and significant declines, especially during the pandemic. Although there has been a gradual recovery after 2022, bankruptcy statistics show that the risk of decline remains. For entrepreneurs, this can be both a challenge and an opportunity, especially in a city like Oslo, where cultural and social needs are well-researched.

Economic Trends

The bar industry in Oslo has experienced significant variations in both sales and number of employees over time. Sales figures reached their peak in 2019 with NOK 808.5 million, followed by a sharp decline of 40.5% in 2020. After a gradual increase in 2022 and 2023, sales figures have begun to decline again in 2024. The number of employees has followed a similar trend, with a decline of 17.1% in 2021 and an increase of 21.1% in 2022.

Table: Sales and Employees Over Time

This shows that the industry is heavily dependent on external factors such as the pandemic and economic fluctuations. Although there has been an increase after 2022, recent years show that the industry remains unstable.

Companies in the Industry

In Oslo, there are 199 companies registered in the bar industry, with the dominant organizational form being AS (105 companies) and a smaller share of ENK (2 companies). Below are some of the most well-known companies in the industry:

• Proud Mary Oslo (Nedre Vollgate 19): 103 employees, founded in 2022, no sales.
• Parkteatret Bar As (Olaf Ryes plass 11): 70 employees, founded in 2005, sales of NOK 32.8 million.
• Barcode Street Food As (Dronning Eufemias gate 14): 41 employees, founded in 2021, no sales.
• Jaeger As (Grensen 9): 37 employees, founded in 2010, sales of NOK 26.2 million.
• Vaterland Bar & Scene As (Brugata 9): 36 employees, founded in 2017, sales of NOK 19.0 million.

Organizational Trends

Most companies in the industry are ASs, which suggests that having a company form that provides greater flexibility and liability separation is advantageous. ENKs are rare, but those that exist have higher EBITDA margins (22%) compared to ASs (9%). This could be an important consideration for entrepreneurs evaluating organizational form.

Geographic Distribution

The bar industry in Oslo is heavily concentrated in the city center, with 107 companies and 1683 employees in Oslo. This shows a high level of activity in the city's central areas, which is logical given the high rent prices and cultural expectations in these areas. Specific sub-areas in Oslo are not specified, but it is likely that companies are distributed across various neighborhoods such as Grünerløkka, St. Hanshaugen, and Sentrum.

Table: Geographic Distribution

This shows that Oslo is the most important area for the bar industry, with a high level of activity and a large number of employees.

Bankruptcy Statistics

In recent years, 6 bankrupt companies have been registered in the bar industry in Oslo. These companies have a combined EBITDA of NOK -951.0K and a combined operating income of NOK 16.1 million. The most well-known bankrupt companies include:

• Alléen As (Bygdøy allé 21): No sales, no employees.
• Tikipop As (Thorvald Meyers gate 32): Sales of NOK 3.4 million, EBITDA of NOK -1.3 million.
• Noor Invest As (Grønland 14): Sales of NOK 10.4 million, EBITDA of NOK 289.0K.

Table: Bankrupt Companies

This shows that bankruptcy risk in the industry is present, even though there are a number of companies that achieve positive EBITDA margins.

Outlook for Entrepreneurs

For entrepreneurs considering starting a bar in Oslo, it is important to be aware of recent trends. Although the industry has shown a gradual increase after 2022, there has been a significant decline in 2024 and 2025. This suggests that the industry remains unstable and dependent on external factors such as economic fluctuations and pandemic effects.

Key Factors for Success

• Location: Oslo is an important city for the bar industry, but competition is strong. It is important to choose a location that satisfies both customers and operating costs.
• Financing: With a high degree of bankruptcy in the industry, it is important to have solid financing and a good financial plan.
• Diversification: Diversification of services (e.g., combining bar and food) can be an advantage to increase income and reduce the risk of decline.

SmartGrunder can help entrepreneurs find suitable addresses in Oslo for the bar industry, where it is possible to utilize the city's cultural and social needs.

The bar/club industry in Oslo is a broader category than the bar industry, with 245 companies compared to 199 in the bar industry. Sales figures for the bar/club industry have shown a similar trend to the bar industry, with a sharp decline in 2020 and a gradual increase after 2022. The number of employees has also followed a similar trend, but with less variation.

Table: Sales and Employees in the Bar/Club Industry

Peer Companies in the Bar/Club Industry

Below are some of the most well-known companies in the bar/club industry:

• Cockney As (Bogstadveien 50): Sales of NOK 16.7 million, EBITDA of NOK 4.5 million, 10 employees.
• House Of Freter As (Waldemar Thranes gate 24): Sales of NOK 20.2 million, EBITDA of NOK 3.7 million, 15 employees.
• Young Food As (Youngstorget 1): Sales of NOK 24.0 million, EBITDA of NOK 3.6 million, 18 employees.
• Eventyrbrua As (Tøyenbekken 6): Sales of NOK 65.6 million, EBITDA of NOK 3.5 million, 43 employees.
• Old Irish Pub Norway As Avd Majorstua (Kirkeveien 64A): Sales of NOK 46.7 million, EBITDA of NOK 2.8 million, 64 employees.

This shows that the bar/club industry has a broader variation in company size and type, which can be an advantage for entrepreneurs seeking to diversify their services.

The bar industry in Oslo is an important part of the city's culture and service sector, with both opportunities and challenges. In recent years, the industry has experienced significant variations in sales and number of employees, which suggests that it is heavily dependent on external factors. Although there has been a gradual increase after 2022, there has been a significant decline in 2024 and 2025, showing that the industry remains unstable.

For entrepreneurs, this can be both a challenge and an opportunity, especially in a city like Oslo, where cultural and social needs are well-researched. It is important to be aware of recent trends, as well as to consider location, financing, and diversification of services. SmartGrunder can help entrepreneurs find suitable addresses in Oslo for the bar industry, where it is possible to utilize the city's cultural and social needs.