Opus XVI

Opus XVI is Bergen's most characterful luxury address, a boutique hotel in a listed building from 1876 that was built as a bank and still carries the grandeur of one. It stands on Vågsallmenningen, the open square that runs down to the harbour, so the Fish Market, Fløibanen and Bryggen are all within a few minutes on foot. The hotel is a member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World, and it takes its name from Edvard Grieg's A minor piano concerto, Opus 16, which is celebrated in an in-house exhibition. Inside, the former main bank hall with its columns and stucco walls is now the lobby, and the rest of the building has been carved into 65 individually designed rooms and suites that range from Classic rooms to signature suites. Some rooms look over Mount Fløyen, some over the square and some towards the Fish Market.

The location is the first reason to choose it. You are in the middle of the old centre, so you can walk to the harbour, to the Fish Market and its Mostraumen cruise departures, to the lower Fløibanen station and along the quay to Bryggen without using a bus. The main train and bus stations and the light rail to the airport are a little further, but a short taxi or a walk of about ten to fifteen minutes.

That makes it a good base for a short stay when the plan is to see Bergen on foot, and it means you can pop back in the afternoon when the rain starts, which in Bergen it often will.

The rooms are the second reason. They are not a uniform chain product. Each is designed individually, with a different layout and character, so it is worth asking for a room type that suits your trip. Rooms facing Vågsallmenningen give you the life of the square, while Fløyen-facing rooms look up the mountain. If you need quiet, ask for a higher floor or a room away from the square, because the centre is lively on weekend nights.

Suites add space and, in some cases, a signature theme tied to the building's Grieg link. Norwegian buffet breakfast and à la carte dishes are included in every room rate, which is a real saving in an expensive city.

The hotel also has a restaurant and bar, a fitness room, a local art exhibition and meeting and banquet spaces, among them the Harmonien room and Café Greco. Opus XVI suits couples celebrating something, travellers who want a hotel with a story, and anyone who values a central address and a distinct interior over a long list of resort facilities.

It is less suited to those who need a swimming pool or a spa, and to families on a tight budget. Parking in the city centre is limited and costly, so arrive by train or taxi if you can, and ask the hotel about its parking arrangements before you drive.