The days are getting brighter, and the Sunnmøre Alps are becoming a vast playground with summit tours, ski centres, and refreshing fjord air. To top it all off, you can treat your taste buds to a gourmet pop-up experience in Stranda’s town centre. Renowned chefs will arrive to use local ingredients, creating unforgettable flavours.
Exciting Pop-Ups in the Stranda and Geiranger region
Vinter
Last updated: 02.12.2024
PopUp Norway at Stranda.|© Eline Karlsdatter Fladseth
PopUp Norway is gearing up for an exciting season, as chefs and waiters pack their bags to transform local flavours from the fjords and mountains into winter delicacies at Stranda. Come and experience the scent, taste, and feel of winter mountains blending into springtime fjords.
Jannet Aksnes, founder and CEO of Popup Norway. | © Haakon Hoseth
“We're packing our bags with wine, waiters, interior designers, and most importantly, chefs who will craft unique experiences using local produce and great stories,” says Jannet Aksnes, founder and manager of PopUp Norway.
Writing for the travel magazine Condé Nast Traveller, Toby Skinner has named Stranda one of the best ski destinations in Europe. The mountains of the Sunnmøre Alps are breathtaking, as are the fjord views and the experiences awaiting you.
From 28 February to 29 March 2025, the fjord and mountain village of Stranda will offer something truly special. The former bank and town hall, “Skinkerådhuset”, will be transformed into an inviting restaurant featuring top-class chefs and exquisite menus.
Jannet Aksnes and her team at PopUp Norway love travelling nationwide and creating top-notch restaurants in new and unexpected locations.
“We’ll bring chefs, waiters, interior designers and wine. The village provides a beautifully decorated venue, local ingredients, stunning scenery and, in Stranda’s case, a rich industrial history and wonderfully welcoming inhabitants,” says Jannet enthusiastically. She has also gathered locals to share the village’s industrial history.
Enjoy premium local fish in beautiful surroundings.
“Our restaurant will become a meeting point for visitors and residents alike. That's been the case everywhere we've been, from Svalbard in the north to Otternes in Aurland in southern Norway. With new chefs and exciting offerings each week, there’s always something new to experience,” explains the food and tourism enthusiast.
Take a break at Stranda and Strandafjellet
Top chefs will come to Stranda, bring their ideas and favourite ingredients, and be inspired by the natural surroundings, local stories, and regional produce to create exceptional dining experiences in this fjord-side village in the Sunnmøre Alps.
“It’s when the chefs meet local producers that the magic happens – leading to the finest dishes,” says Jannet.
Something happens to chefs when you can be close to the soil and the ingredients. | © Fjord Norway
This is how the PopUp in Stranda works
- “Skinkerådhuset” will be turned into a restaurant from 28 February to 29 March
- From Monday to Saturday at 7 PM, a four-course menu will be served
- On Saturdays, from noon to 4 PM, Afternoon Tea will be offered
- Special highlights: Two weekends (6–8 March and 20‒22 March) with guest chefs creating and presenting a 7–10-course menu
Where to stay
High standard cabins and apartments
An alpine landscape with fjord views
Stranda is nestled in the heart of the Sunnmøre Alps, offering fantastic skiing conditions whether you are up for a guided summit tour or a day at a ski centre where you can race down powder-covered slopes with views of the fjord.
“Stranda is not just about dining; it's a prime skiing destination,” Jannet explains. While in the Sunnmøre Alps, you should not miss the chance to glide through the snow. Both Strandafjellet and Fjellsætra boast world-class ski resorts with stunning fjord views and trails for every ski level. For powder skiing enthusiasts, there are plenty of off-piste opportunities. Experienced guides can also help you find the perfect summit tour tailored to you and your group.
The guide adapts the tour to the weather and the experience of the participants. | © Uteguiden
The taste of land and air
A short drive south of Stranda’s town centre lies the Skarbø farm, where Kristine Skarbø's family has cared for the landscape and the livestock for eight generations. The crisp fjord and mountain air have sustained both the people and the produce here.
“It's fantastic that chefs are highlighting the exceptional ingredients that travel just a short distance from our farm to the table at Skinkerådhuset,” says Kristine, farmer and producer of cider and cheese at Skarbø Gard.
Kristine wanders between the apple trees at home on Skarbø. The nutrients in the soil create apple blossoms, which turn into juicy, sweet and sour flavours. | © Oddgeir Visnes / TIBE
“Here at the farm, we take pride in seeing our work through from soil to table. The taste of our apples and milk directly results from this unique landscape. Chefs use our cider, juice, and cheese to create even more remarkable dining experiences,” Kristine explains.
She is excited to showcase the region’s bounty and let visitors experience the fjord landscape. Jannet from PopUp Norway is equally enthusiastic. “The chefs will enjoy working with these unique, local flavours: the ham, fish, cider, juices, cheeses, and even the famous Grandiosa pizza,” Jannet smiles.
PopUp has come together to serve the best of Sunnmøre produce. | © Eline Karlsdatter Fladseth
Chefs are given a few days to get acquainted with the ingredients and meet local producers before finalising their menus. Often, they are inspired by what they see and taste upon arrival and adapt the dishes to make them even more appealing to guests. Meeting local producers like Carlos, Kristine, and others who cultivate, harvest, and fish in Stranda helps them discover the best ways to highlight these special ingredients.
This winter, several local farmers, foragers, and fishermen will supply first-class ingredients featured at PopUp Stranda. Join us for Afternoon Tea, a four-course menu using the finest local produce, or a 7–10-course tasting menu created by an exciting guest chef.
Let the fjord and light guide you to Geiranger
Take the ferry from Hellesylt, or the winter cruise from Stranda or Ålesund, into the heritage fjord. | © TIBE/ visitalesund.no
Heading along Storfjorden towards Stranda, you will arrive at Geirangerfjord's UNESCO World Heritage site. The ferry terminal at Hellesylt is just half an hour from Stranda. The car ferry from Hellesylt to Geiranger also operates during the winter months. The journey from Stranda to Geiranger has never been more accessible – and before you board the ferry at Hellesylt, you can stop by Hellesylt Boutique & Bar for a delightful shopping experience. You can also leave your car behind and take a day trip to Geiranger aboard the fjord cruise connecting Ålesund, Stranda and Geiranger.
Even in winter, the fjords and mountains reveal their magical beauty. For food lovers, there are plenty of treats to discover, such as a distillery, a chocolate factory, and other culinary experiences within this World Heritage area. It is not just the flavours and aromas that will captivate you. During the Geiranger Light Art Festival, Norwegian and international light artists will create stunning installations, video art, and light displays on buildings and nature landscapes in the World Heritage village.
