Britannia Hotel
Trondheims storstue siden 1870, restaurert for 1,2 milliarder i 2019. Huser Michelin-restauranten Speilsalen, Jonathan Grill og legendariske Palmehaven med sine palmer og marmorsøyler.
History
Opened in 1870 as Trondheim's first luxury hotel. Closed in 2016 for a massive renovation costing over 1 billion NOK, reopened in 2019 as one of Norway's most exclusive hotels.
People
Andreas Myhre, a farmer's son from Stjordal, opened Britannia Hotel on June 14, 1870, for eight British salmon lords and two American guests — hence the name Britannia. His wife Cecilie Ingbertine Debes took over operations after his death. Odd Reitan (founder of Rema 1000) purchased the hotel in 2015 through E.C. Dahls Eiendom and invested approximately 1.2 billion NOK in the restoration (2016-2019). Christopher Davidsen, who won silver at the Bocuse d'Or 2017 in Lyon, founded Speilsalen at the reopening in 2019 and led the kitchen to a Michelin star. Hakon Solbakk is the current head chef at Speilsalen.
Lokalhistoriewiki / Britannia Hotel / NRK / Bocuse d'Or Norge / Nidaros
Atmosphere
Palmehaven, designed by architect Morten Anker Bachke and completed in 1918, is a 500-square-meter winter garden in Moorish style with natural light through a glass dome, fountains, living palm trees, marble columns, and rich ornamentation. The room quickly became Trondheim's most important social meeting place for artists, musicians, and intellectuals. The palms and tropical plantings have been a signature since opening — an exotic oasis in the heart of a Nordic city at 63 degrees north.
Lokalhistoriewiki / Riksantikvaren / Visit Trondheim / Britannia Hotel
Culture
Britannia runs an active art program with rotating exhibitions throughout the hotel. Hakon Bleken (1929-2025) was the first featured artist in 2019, with 90 works across three floors. Britannia Hall houses Norway's third-largest wall painting on canvas (4x12 meters), a triptych created by Hakon Bleken and Hakon Gullvag. Palmehaven serves as a concert venue through the Artist in Residence concept, where well-known musicians stay at the hotel and perform intimate acoustic concerts over multiple evenings. The hotel also hosts art exhibitions, food events, and cultural evenings year-round.
Britannia Hotel / haakon-gullvaag.no / NRK / Visit Trondheim
Has four restaurants and bars, including Speilsalen which has one Michelin star. Jonathan Cooking Club offers informal fine dining.
Architecture
Palmehaven, the hotel's iconic winter garden, has a glass roof from 1918 and is inspired by European grand hotels. It is listed by the Directorate for Cultural Heritage.
Location
Britannia Hotel is located at Dronningens gate 5, in the center of Trondheim in the heart of the city's most exclusive shopping district. Nidaros Cathedral is approximately 500 meters away (under 5 minutes walk). The Stiftsgarden Royal Residence is a few minutes walk. Trondheim Central Station (railway) is within short walking distance. The hotel occupies a corner position on Dronningens gate and Apotekerveita, in the historic midtown within Trondheim's peninsula — surrounded by restaurants, shops, and cultural institutions.
LHW / Visit Trondheim / Britannia Hotel / Booking.com / Expedia
Practical
Speilsalen (Michelin star since 2020) requires advance reservation. Palmehaven serves breakfast daily and Afternoon Tea on Saturdays (1pm-4:30pm, last seating 2:30pm) and Sundays (1pm-5pm) — an accessible entry point to the Britannia dining experience. The hotel has 257 rooms, a spa, four restaurants (Speilsalen, Palmehaven, Jonathan, Brasserie Britannia) and two bars. The wine bar holds a collection of 2,500 different labels. Britannia is a member of The Leading Hotels of the World — the northernmost member hotel in the chain.
Insider
Palmehaven is the most affordable way to experience Britannia — Afternoon Tea costs 695 NOK per person (children's price 385 NOK). The hotel was heritage-listed by Riksantikvaren on May 28, 2025, the first hotel north of Dovrefjell to receive such protection. The listing covers the facades along Dronningens gate and Apotekerveita, Palmehaven, Speilsalen, and a telephone booth and staircase designed by modernist architect Arne Korsmo in the 1960s. Look for the Korsmo telephone booth in the lobby — a rare example of his work in a commercial interior.
Riksantikvaren / NRK / Britannia Hotel / Troendelag fylkeskommune
Opening Hours
- Monday: Open 24 hours
- Tuesday: Open 24 hours
- Wednesday: Open 24 hours
- Thursday: Open 24 hours
- Friday: Open 24 hours
- Saturday: Open 24 hours
- Sunday: Open 24 hours
Local Tip
Speilsalen fikk Michelin-stjerne bare ti måneder etter gjenåpning. Palmehaven er den rimeligste innfallsporten til Britannias matopplevelse.
