Nightclubs
Compagniet
is vastly popular with the 25-40 crowd, with lots of '80ies music. This is the place to get back in circulation after the divorce/break-up.
Strut
caters for the 20-somethings, with a retro theme. Make sure you wear cool clothes.
Level44
is for the mature audience, and is the place to dance swing and rock'n'roll. Popularly named "Jurassic Park", the crowd is way beyond being cool for coolness' sake, and concentrates on having fun. Don't go there if you're too cool, you'll just spoil the atmosphere.
Bars and pubs
Bastard Bar
Is located in a cellar next to the Nerstranda shopping centre. It offers one or two live concerts each week, jam every other tuesday and shows English, Norwegian and European football. The only food offered are sausages with mustard. Bastard has a collection of international beers as well as Tromsø's own Mack.
Grand Baren
caters for the more mature audience, and combines style and informality. Their heated smoking terrace with a view might tempt you to pick up the habit.
Ãlhallen
both well-known and much cherished by the population, undoubtedly linked to the Mack beer.
Tromso Jernbanestasjon
Tromsø Jernbanestasjon is a bar in Tromso, and established itself early as the cool place because of its completed thematic decor - especially since there is no train to Tromsø. There are waiters in conductor uniforms and reported regularly trains to places like Murmansk Kautokeino and the speaker system.
Cafes
Kafé Verdensteatret
is a friendly, sophisticated, ultra-modern place in the 1916 cinema "Verdensteatret", the oldest functioning cinema in Northern Europe. The sandwiches are good, but the main reason to come here is to hang about for a glass of wine and endless conversation. Friday and Saturday night, the place turns into a cool, crowded hangout. Mixed crowd, mixed ages.
PÃ¥ Byen
is for the 20' or 30' somethings, usually well-dressed. Their sheltered outdoor terrace with winter heating circumvents the smoking ban. Have some pasta with the after-office crowd, or taste some wine in the evening.
Meieriet
is a young place, with lots of beer types and a good value menu.
Skarven
is another long-timer, and serves good food, including loads of fish an welcome respite from the feta cheese and olive fare of the other cafés, and loads of beer way into the night in a 1920's margarine factory. The crowd is grown-up and well-heeled, but just as loud as the rest.
Blå Rock
is the place for burgers, lots of international beer, rock'n'roll and concerts. A piercing in your ear or somewhere else will make you fit in.
Grom cafe
The city's best burgers and very good lunch for a nice price, come and enjoy.
Kaffebønna
serves no alcohol, but serves up smart coffee, Italian ice cream, pain au chocolat and plenty of sandwiches. Minimalist décor and cool staff occasionally too cool.
Flyt
sports a sport's theme, with off-piste skis decorating the walls, and cool recordings from the slopes entertain on every flat screen. Go there for a burger in the afternoon, or to hang around with the extreme sporters at night.
Driv
is the Student House. An ambitious concert programme, quiz nights etc. Excellent place for the 18-30 years old, but far better in winter than in summer. Look out for their "Fucking North Pole Festival" in April if you curse in a foreign language, it doesn't count.
oddities
The Chinese restaurant Il Mare doubles as a Latino dance hall on Saturdays. The crowd falls into three categories: the Latino community that always knew how to salsa, the salsa class Norwegians with more sedate hips counting their steps and the curious onlookers. ¡Que empiece la fiesta!
Despite Tromsø being a tolerant and open minded city, no gay place has managed to stay afloat. Open gays are possibly too well integrated, and closeted gays may be too visible in this, after all, small city. However, gay parties are occasionally organised. Check out: (http://www.llh.no/troms/). The first gay festival, Homsø, took place in October 2007.