Mary-Ann’s Vinterhagen Restaurant & Peisen Bar — Restaurant in Spitsbergen

I made a reservation here and thought I had messed up big time! And not in a bad way 😉

I reserved a table on my last night in Svalbard and was greeted by the most beautiful restaurant I have ever set foot in! I sat down wondering what I had gotten myself into, the waiter came fully dressed in the most fancy of attire like something you would expect to see in a 10 star restaurant at the height of sophistication in a London upper class area. I felt like I had accidentally stepped into a New York millionaires club.

Looking at the menu I had been politely handed I chose a platter consisting of various meats only found in this part of the world, it seemed unbelievably reasonable in price but I was not used to Norwegian currency.

Before my starter I was presented with some local whale meat on a slab of stone in the way you expect from a top end restaurant.

My starter was served after I had completed the complimentary taster, I have to say. Both were absolutely divine! I felt like a fraud sitting there as a regular person. I was receiving the greatest service I had ever received in my entire 28 years of existence. Hence my introduction.

Eating here was as if I had transcended to being a millionaire in a high end restaurant. In good time my main course came after I had finished my starter and it was unreal! Arctic Salmon cooked to 100% perfection!

I sat there dreading the bill, I was expecting bankruptcy for the service I had received. I was expecting the kind of money a commoner like me could never afford.

But it came to around £50 in English money.... 10/10 for the love of whatever deity you believe in take the time to visit this restaurant when you are here. But most importantly remember to be respectful and polite as these people, they are part of the beautiful Longyearbyen and they are a culture of respect as well as care.

There is no dress code on the door, just bring a reasonable outfit dressed in smart casual as well as a pair of slippers to change out of your snow boots...

Mary-Ann’s Vinterhagen is the kind of place you don’t just stumble into—you arrive there, at the edge of the earth, where snow meets silence and the northern lights might casually flicker overhead. And somehow, right in the middle of that Arctic wildness, there’s this warm, glass-walled garden glowing like a secret.

The conservatory is a dream—lush greenery, candlelight, and a soft hum of conversation while the polar night wraps around the windows. It feels surreal in the best way, like dining in a greenhouse on another planet.

The food? Bold, honest, and full of character. We had reindeer steak that was rich and tender, paired with sides that felt rustic but elevated. Everything tasted like it belonged here—hearty, soulful, and made to be eaten after a long day of snow and sky.

But what truly made it unforgettable was the atmosphere—something between a fairytale and a frontier outpost. The staff were warm and welcoming, and made us feel like part of the story.

If you ever find yourself in Svalbard, go. It’s not just a meal—it’s a memory, carved into ice and glass, served at the top...

The Vinterhagen is within the grounds of one of the more quirky boutique accommodations on the island. We approached on foot through their small field of dead Christmas trees wedged in to wooden pallets, past a grounded ship and around a converted bus. Unfortunately it wasn’t clear exactly where the restaurant entrance was (which slightly added to the eccentricity of the place), and on accidentally entering by a door leading directly to the bar, I was told to go back outside. Weirdly enough our table was very close to that bar. Still although the tone of instruction seemed a little firm, is added to the theatre of the evening.

The interior was also delightfully quirky and a short jungle corridor took us through to the cloakroom, heavily guarded by a stuffed polar bear. The dining area itself was in a greenhouse and is was lovely to be around greenery.

The service was a little slow, but I’m used to the speedy pace of London. I really enjoyed the food. I’d go back again and purposely enter by the...