SVANEN Cocktailbar — Restaurant in Oslo

I’ve been a regular at Svanen and have always enjoyed your bar. Recently, I visited with a friend to celebrate your recognition as the World’s 50 Best Bars (finally).

However, my experience tonight was disappointing. Upon entering, the bartender (identified as Rumen) greeted us but immediately shifted his attention to his friends who were in line behind us. Although there was an empty table in the front, we were told it was reserved. Shortly after, Rumen seated his friends at that same table (as shown in the photo below).

When I asked him about it, he said they had made a reservation. As a regular guest, I’m aware that Svanen does not take table reservations after 20:00. When I pointed this out, he replied, “Oh, they just sent me a message.” (Lie again, as he was surprised to his friends when they were lining behind us). He was unprofessional, dishonest, and unfair. So we left and went to Himkok instead.

I understand that your staff may wish to accommodate his friends, but the way this was handled, with dismissiveness and attitude, was not in keeping with the level of service I expect from Svannen. I’m sharing this feedback constructively, as I’ve always valued Svannen and enjoyed coming here. However, if this type of service continues, you will soon lose your regulars and fall out of world best 50.

Edit: Your reply to this review blatantly fabricated a story and accused us of things we did not do. To your suggestion, we sent the incident, with documentation and photos, to the World’s 50 Best Bars team, and you were CC’ed. The photo will not be deleted, as every face is mosaic and privacy...

Thanks for your reply. However, your response is deeply disappointing and, frankly, dishonest. We did not “ignore the sign” or “rush to a table”. Rather, we waited patiently in line to be seated, like your bartender’s friends who were behind us in line. What actually happened is that your bartender Rumen prioritized his personal friends, seated them ahead of us.

Instead of addressing your mistakes, you chose to post a defensive and insulting reply, fabricating a story to justify it. Looking at your replies to other guests, this seems to be a recurring pattern: dismissing legitimate criticism and trying to discredit anyone who shares a negative experience, rather than addressing the issues raised. The level of unprofessionalism in a public statement says far more about your culture than my review ever could.

And honestly, I’ve already shared this incident, with documentation, directly via email to your management as well as to the World’s 50 Best Director of Content and the Nordic Chair. Venues that mistreat guests this way and then attack them publicly for speaking up do not represent the standards expected of a bar on that list.

I hope this serves as a wake-up call. We are not the problem. Dishonesty, favoritism, and arrogance behind the bar are.

P.S.: Your bar was half empty for a season on a Saturday night. You’ll keep losing regulars who helped you reach where...

Been going to Svanen for years and always enjoyed it, drinks were always great, staff always lovely. Good vibes. Today that was not the case. I ordered a green fizz and it was undrinkable. The creme de menthe taste was so artificial and the drink color looked some type of kool aid. Its a very difficult cocktail to screw up. The waiter not only did not check on us and how the drinks were any time after serving, but when it came down to pay, he saw the full glass with ice in it, not even two sips drank and didnt ask. I spoke up and told him it tasted bad. Instead of asking how come, what did i not like, if he can do something to make it better, all i heard was ‘thats not our cocktail, thats a signature one’. Sure, but that doesnt change the fact that it was done poorly. Terrible experience and service. 190 kroners down the drain. Not coming back again.

Edit: i sent an email as requested, for the refund which your waiter shouldve offered from the getgo. Got the money back. To set the record straight, there was no language used other than the drink tasted like a$$. Your waiter did not bother checking at any point if the drinks were ok. Stop blaming the customer. Had you thought you were not in the wrong, you wouldnt send the money back. Good luck. The...