Picolo recommends · Hotel in Stavanger, Norway
Eilert Smith Hotel
A handful of rooms in a 1930s-style block by the harbour, where the restaurant downstairs is reason enough to book the trip.
Morning light falls on pale walls and oak floors, and the lounge is so quiet you can hear the pages of the newspaper. Eilert Smith is a small hotel in a functionalist building, a short stroll from the boats in Vågen, the inner harbour of Stavanger.
The rooms are few, the art is chosen rather than bought by the metre, and the staff learn your name quickly. In the same building is the restaurant that put this address on the map for food lovers well beyond south-west Norway.
Picolo’s verdict
Why we chose Eilert Smith Hotel
We chose Eilert Smith for travellers who care about design and want a serious dinner without a taxi ride. It is calm, considered and small enough to feel personal from check-in to checkout.
It is not built for children or groups, and there is little in the way of a pool, spa or big lobby to fill a rainy afternoon. Book the restaurant early, because hotel guests are not guaranteed a table.
What you get
- A small number of individually styled rooms
- Acclaimed restaurant in the building
- Breakfast in a calm setting
- Personal service
- Steps from the harbour at Vågen
A day at Eilert Smith Hotel
- Morning
- Coffee in the lounge while the harbour wakes up outside.
- Midday
- A walk among the white wooden houses of Old Stavanger.
- Afternoon
- A boat out into the Lysefjord from the quay in town.
- Evening
- A long tasting menu downstairs, then straight up to bed.
Location
Vågen, Stavanger, Norway
Open in MapsQuestions about Eilert Smith Hotel
Is Eilert Smith Hotel suitable for families?
It is better suited to couples and solo travellers. The hotel is small and calm, and families will find more space and facilities at the larger hotels near Breiavatnet or Forum.
Do I need to book the restaurant at Eilert Smith Hotel separately?
Yes, it is wise to reserve a table when you book the room. The restaurant draws diners from far beyond Stavanger and evenings fill up early.
Where is Eilert Smith Hotel in Stavanger?
It is in the centre by Vågen, the inner harbour, close to Skagenkaien. Old Stavanger, the cathedral and the quays with fjord boats are all within an easy walk.
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Updated 6 Nov 2026All articles
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