Oslo is famous for being one of the most expensive cities in the world to drink beer. With prices often sniffing at the 130-kroner mark for a half-litre, a pub crawl quickly becomes a luxury item. But there are exceptions.
We lace up our shoes and set out on the Post Route – a carefully planned itinerary through the city centre and Grünerløkka, designed to maximise good times and minimise cost per centilitre.
The goal? Seven venues, a food break, and a bill that makes your bank card smile.
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Why this particular route works
Before the stops themselves, it's worth explaining the logic. The route deliberately zigzags between the city centre and the lower half of Grünerløkka rather than committing to one neighbourhood – that's not an accident. Central Oslo has a handful of genuinely cheap pockets hiding among the expensive tourist-facing bars, while Grünerløkka's side streets away from Thorvald Meyers gate do the same. Stringing together the cheap outliers from both areas, rather than staying in one, is what keeps the average price down across the whole evening – and it means you're never more than a short walk from the next stop, since the two neighbourhoods border each other.
The food break in the middle isn't just about lining your stomach, either. Torggata sits almost exactly at the midpoint geographically, which makes it a natural hinge between the two halves of the route rather than a detour.
🍺 Stop 1: Bar Royal – The starting gun
Time: 13:00 Price: 59 kr
We start gently at what must be one of the city's best-kept secrets for an early beer. Bar Royal sets the standard immediately. The atmosphere is warm, and when the receipt shows 59 kroner, we realise this is going to be a good day. It's a rare treat to get your first beer for under 60 kroner in 2026.
🍺 Stop 2: Xin Chao Bar – An eastern breeze
Time: 14:00 Price: 59 kr
After a short walk, we arrive at Xin Chao. The place is perhaps best known for its Asian flavours, but the beer taps deliver the goods at the same friendly price as the previous stop. 59 kroner for a cold one keeps us well within budget.
🍺 Stop 3: Bab Touma – The route's wild card
Time: 15:00 Price: 56 kr
As the clock strikes three, we head towards Bab Touma. Many know this as an eatery, but for thirsty pilgrims on the Post Route it's a golden find. The price drops further to 56 kroner. Here it's all about soaking up the atmosphere before the journey continues towards "Løkka vibes".
🍺 Stop 4: Rebell – Rock and roll
Time: 16:00 Price: 65 kr
We move uphill towards Rebell. Here we're greeted by a rock-inspired interior and good vibes. The price jumps up a little to 65 kroner, but by Oslo standards this is still a steal, especially given the atmosphere. This is where the conversations start to flow more easily.
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🍔 Food break: Torggata
Time: 17:00 Price: 100–150 kr (food budget)
No pub crawl is complete (or safe) without food in your stomach. Torggata offers a mecca of street food. We put in an hour here to load up on carbohydrates. Whether you go for a kebab, a burger or falafel, you'll get far with a hundred kroner or two. (Note: The food isn't counted in the total beer price, but it's absolutely necessary.)
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🍺 Stop 5: The Alchemist – The chemist
Time: 18:00 Price: 54 kr
With new energy in our bodies, we set course for The Alchemist. The name sounds exclusive, but the price is the second-lowest of the evening so far. 54 kroner! It almost feels like they've miscounted at the till, but we're not complaining. Here, all you can do is enjoy it.
🍺 Stop 6: London Pub – The classic
Time: 19:00 Price: 68 kr
No night out in Oslo is truly complete without a stop at the institution that is London Pub. There's life and bustle here, history in the walls and always people. The price is the evening's highest at 68 kroner, but we treat ourselves for the sake of the experience. After all, we're almost at the finish line.
🍺 Stop 7: Old Irish Pub Nasjonal – Grand finale
Time: 20:00 onwards Price: 49 kr
We finish with a bang at Old Irish Pub by Nasjonal. From 20:00 to 23:00 they run prices reminiscent of the early 2000s. 49 kroner for a half-litre! This is where the Post Route really proves its worth. The music is loud, the mood is at its peak, and the wallet breathes a sigh of relief.
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💰 The verdict: What did the feast cost?
After 7 stops and 7 half-litres (food not included), the sums looked like this on the day we tested it:
| Place | Price | | --- | --- | | Bar Royal | 59 kr | | Xin Chao | 59 kr | | Bab Touma | 56 kr | | Rebell | 65 kr | | The Alchemist | 54 kr | | London Pub | 68 kr | | Old Irish Pub | 49 kr | | TOTAL | 410 kr |
410 kroner for 7 half-litres gives an average price of an incredible 58.50 kr per beer.
In a city where the average price is usually double that, the Post Route isn't just a myth – it's a stroke of economic genius for beer lovers. The route was tested on 14/01/2026, and at the time was Oslo's cheapest and most enjoyable route we'd found.
A note on the prices above: bar prices and happy-hour windows shift over time, and it's been several months since this route was tested. Treat the figures here as a strong starting point rather than a guarantee – check the live prices for each venue on PilsPosten before you set out, since one or two stops may have moved since January.
Adapting the route to your own night
If 7 stops feels ambitious, the route splits naturally into two halves at the Torggata food break – stops 1–4 make a solid standalone afternoon crawl, and stops 5–7 work just as well as an evening-only route starting around 18:00. Doing it in reverse also works if you'd rather finish somewhere central instead of ending the night in Grünerløkka.
Cheers and enjoy the trip! Remember to drink responsibly.
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Got tips for other cheap watering holes in Oslo? Send us a message on PilsPosten!