Balthazar beer wine & whiskey — Restaurant in Tromsø

I have been twice at this place. 1st experience: regular rude bar tender, overpriced beer. 2nd time: we arrived late as my friend finished ca 0.30 at work. Still I managed to buy myself 1 beer at 0.45 and a bag of chips, then a last beer before 1.30 (law for selling alcohol on weekdays,) from a far from kind bartender (-again), and it was ok, he did his job right. I am fast talker, but slow drinker, 2 am arrived, (they have to close), I still had 80% of my glass, I paid 160 nok (15 usd) for, so I told him I would then take it out and leave the glass at the entrance if they have to close. That was not an option as one Briitish accent speaker regular customer let me know: He just came then when he overheard the conversation, took the glass from the table, saying: “darling, this is it” The bartender then took the (my) glass of beer from him and spilled it in the sink. A value of 13 usd. First of all, I mean, based on what do you call me darling? Then why an option of take away (plastic glass) is not available if I already can not take it outside? Then, they literally pushed me out of the place, the regulars were still hanging inside after closing time several minutes more. (I have pictures on my phone I took through the window-thinking about the beer I (or most of it) I could have drunk for my 15 usd. Btw, I also saw some of them arriving after 1.30, but they still got served drinks, as “preordered”. (I am pretty sure this is by Norwegian law, the bartender was referring to, or oops, maybe not?) I was kicked out like an animal, threated like a criminal, despite not being drunk or initially violent, just wanting to have the product I paid for, but even in the door closing on me I was told I should leave if I ever wanted to come back. Obviously, this is not the case, I will avoid this place the rest of my life, and I can just truly recommend you the same: AVOID Balthazar in Tronso. They have only one local beer - a pilsner on tap (while Mack Ølhallen at least 30 as far as I know), and if you are looking for human soul for service at the same opening hours, not the “wiiiiide” variety of beers, then definitely go for Verdensteatret.:) Story of the night between 6 and 7 October-the 2nd and main one.

PS1: You can see rhat I am not a regular oppinion-giver, but I felt this situation so unfair and unjust, I had to wtite this no matter what and if they reply. PS2: I am writing this the same night that this took place, just right after that-,you can check the dates, so based on my -I think fairly clear- language and spelling you can understand that this above is exactly what has happened. (This comment is necessary as I just recently stumbled upon a review in a bit similar case where the “high-end” company literally threw all back to the customer based on accusations that could have been also...

During my visit to Balthazar, I had the pleasure of experiencing not just great beer, but true craftsmanship in curation, thanks to the remarkable taste and knowledge of their in-house sommelier, Ørjan.

Every recommendation was a perfect match — from crisp, refreshing lagers to rich, complex stouts — each brew was thoughtfully chosen to highlight both quality and character. It’s clear that the team has an exceptional palate and a deep passion for the craft.

What stood out most was the balance between bold choices and subtle elegance. There’s a refined, almost artistic sense of pairing and presentation here that elevates the entire experience beyond what you’d expect from a typical microbrewery.

For anyone who appreciates good beer guided by even better taste, this place is a must. Hats off to Ørjan — your good taste makes all...

Second day in Tromsø and it’s time to search out some craft beers. This is a cracking little locale. Has a good selection of mostly foreign craft beers on tap and bottle. I came only for the beers so cannot comment on the wine. I can’t fault the beer selection and enjoyed the few that I had on my first visit. There was a nice chilled low-key chatty vibe going on my first visit with some great tunes supporting the ambience. Staff were very approachable. I don’t understand a word of Norwegian, but I could listen to the locals speak...