We had a truly wonderful experience at the hotel and at the restaurant! We went in early October, a…read morelittle after off season started though it was beautiful. The location is absolutely gorgeous, it is right by the water and we had a view out of the window. The room is small but very comfortable, and the heated floors In the bathroom were a great touch. They had recently renovated and added on, and it was very nice in the lobby and the patio. We used trolltunga active to do the hike, and it was so much fun! They were excellent. After the long hike, we ate dinner at the restaurant that night and it was absolutely delicious! We got local ciders from a neighboring town, and the pizza. So great! Would recommend to any and all!

A fantastic place to stage your Trolltunga hike, just on the outskirts of Odda. From here, you're…read moreonly a 25 minute drive from the trailhead. The hotel itself is very basic. You'll get your own private bathroom, but it will be bare bones, the bed was more like a cot and had very little support. However, the views are priceless. Every morning I would wake up to another worldly fjord with waterfalls. The restaurant food was amazingly great. The pumpkin soup was perfect, well spiced and stomach warming. The steak was cooked to a perfect medium well sauced and beautifully garnished. Overall, I would definitely recommend.

Restaurant review: We enjoyed our first meal at Ullensvang…read moreGjesteheim so much we ate there again! Other restaurants in town were either over priced or had weird hours so Ullensvang Gjesteheim became a reliable option for us. The serve both Scandinavian and Thai food with lots of local beers and ciders. The shrimp Thai dish we had on our first visit was over-peppery so on our second visit we asked for less pepper and the dish was perfect. You can eat your meal inside, outside, or take it to go. I'd definitely recommend Ullensvang Gjesteheim for a delicious, casual, and well-priced meal in the Ullensvang / Lofthus area.

Note: This review is for the restaurant only. We stayed elsewhere down the road and this was…read morerecommended to us by our local host as a place to eat. It should not be classified as a $$$$ restaurant IMO, as it had extremely reasonable prices when you consider that Norway is a very expensive country. The guest house Ullensvang was easy to locate on our drive. It's a beautiful red building right off the narrow fjord road. There is a small parking lot in the rear that is reserved for guests, so no need to worry about where to park. In mid-September, nearing the off-season for hiking, we didn't have any trouble getting a spot. The restaurant is downstairs in the main building, but still has lots of windows and natural light inside. We came for dinner the night before hiking Trolltunga, thinking it'd be a good idea to stock up on carbs and not stress about cooking anything ourselves. Outside was a little stand selling local fruit, and a few other goodies - but get something before dinner if you're so inclined as they were packed up by the time we left later in the evening. The menu might seem a little odd at first...Thai and Scandinavian, say what?! But the couple who runs the restaurant reigns from each place and knocks their own cuisine out of the park. The last page of the menu was great as a reference key for any type of allergy. There were notations for shellfish, nuts, different seeds, and gluten. I really think the restaurant is knowledgable about their ingredients and would be able to ensure any allergy request was met based on this page. In diving into the menu, I will say that some of the translations from Norwegian to English aren't as descriptive of the traditional Norwegian dishes, so we did do a little looking up to see what the components were (more than just a basic translation). My husband and I decided to order something from both sides of the menu. When in Rome! (Or Århus?) He chose the traditional Hakkasteik while I selected the Kaeng Keaw Wan Khai. Both portions were larger than expected - definitely a good value! The green curry was most definitely spicy, as described on the menu, and tasted very fresh. There was a great balance of veggies mixed in and plenty of rice to soak up that delicious sauce. Originally there was a thought of, "Hey, this would make great left overs. I should really take some home for later", but who am I kidding? I cleaned that plate. The Hakkasteik wasn't as much to my taste, but I knew it probably wouldn't be my favorite dish ever based on the description. It was an excellent take on a traditional Norwegian dish though, and my husband loved it. The Hakkasteik comes with a wafer thin cracker crisp that you can put the meat mixture on. This gave the dish some texture variation (a crunch) since it is a fairly uniform consistency otherwise. His dish was much heavier due to the blend of meats and barley, and VERY filling. My husband somehow finished the entire thing (by now I really shouldn't be surprised by this). We decided to make room for dessert and I'm so glad we did. We ordered the apple cake as the entire nearby region is filled with orchards. It was incredible. We kept joking (kind of?) about licking the dish for that sauce. While I didn't order anything to drink, my husband did have a glass of cider. I snuck a sip and it was absolutely delicious. I would have indulged in a glass had I not been driving. I'd definitely recommend being the passenger on a trip here! Overall, I'd 100% recommend this to anyone in the region and will definitely be back should we travel to this area of Norway again. We were so satisfied after dining here versus some of the other meals we indulged in during our trip that were just as pricey, but left me hungry.

If you are traveling and jet-lagged and need some coffee early in the morning, don't expect to find…read moreany here.  It is not available in your room and not available in the lobby and not available anywhere nearby.  You'll have wait until 7:00 AM when the restaurant opens.  That being said, everything else about the hotel is perfection: the room, the interior decor, the Fjord views, the service, the food- perfection.   You'll enjoy your stay here.  Just be sure to sleep in late if you like coffee. (If you're not a coffee drinker, they will bring you hot chocolate @ your table for your to-go container, and you'll be happy as a clam!) Oh, there is one tiny negative: the toilet paper, you'll come nose to nose!

A short walk from the water at the port, this small cafe offers a place to sit to enjoy some…read morepastries, sandwiches, soup, and drinks that include homemade apple juice for which they are known. There is table dining as well as takeaway. Chairs are available inside and out. We got one of their premade pesto sandwiches and a wonderful cherry cake called kirsebaerkake. Of course, we got a glass of apple juice and specified the one made in-house. All of it was delicious. That dessert was amazing.

I would give it 100/10 if I could. This place is fantastic. Came for dinner after Trolltunga hike…read more Very hungry. Didn't have a booking and still sat us. Had the most delicious dinner; split between 2 ppl Smash Burger and the Ravioli daily special and fudge brownie local chocolate. The service was amazing, love the ambiance and food is absolutely delicious. Will likely come back for breakfast in the morning.

Historic hotel in a stunning location without a public road, only reachable by train. The dining…read moreroom has large windows with beautiful views of the lake and hills. Wifi is not reliable, but this is a remote area, and be aware of that. Since it is usually not very warm, there is no air conditioning. In the summer for a few weeks, they also have pesky non-biting flies, so you cannot open your windows too wide. Staff was very cheerful, and helpful. Location is right next door to the train station, so you should not have any problems walking with your luggage to the hotel. Be aware there are a few steps to get into the lobby, and your room may be down a flight of stairs. I do not believe they have an elevator. Overall, a little rustic, but a stunning setting, and a wonderful place!

A wonderful hotel in a most beautiful surroundings…read more As soon as you arrive and have a chance to walk thru the patio and garden on the back to the water, you are stunned by the views of Hardangerfjord. Peaceful water and mountains. I cannot believe how still the water is. Slopes with houses dotted here and there, and birch trees... Standing in awe... Rooms at Brakanes are charming, it is quiet here. Staff is friendly and accommodating. Small gift shop on a first floor offers all your regular souvenirs. Some cute clothing, too! Their restaurant is nothing but outstanding. Every course is a masterpiece. I can honestly say, venison here is the best you would find anywhere, it just melt-in-your-mouth perfection. What's around: There are many hike trails and runs in Ulvik, the ones you will remember forever. Run around the fjord in early morning hours is particularly peaceful. If you visiting in Spring, there are cherry trees in bloom! Small cafes along the water are delightful for quick bite of to sit and relax.

Charming hotel facing Hardanger fjord in the quaint town of Ulvik…read more Service: Staff is friendly & helpful. Pointed out local activities and provided extra room key on request. Room reservation comes with 'be active' vouchers for activities in Ulvik; however, not provided automatically on check-in. Received immediately on request. Food: Enjoyed buffet dinner and breakfast at restaurant. Wide selection and buffet items refilled often, clean plates/glasses. Most items were tasty. Water pitchers refilled often, used cutlery swapped, and used plates bussed quickly. No complaints. Rooms: Cosy and clean. Majestic views of Hardanger fjord from private balcony. Bathroom had good water temperature/pressure. Wake-up call provided as promised. Bottom Line: Picturesque views alone warrant 5 stars. Combined with the availability of vouchers, cosy rooms, and good food this place is a solid 5.

A beautiful hotel located just in front of the falls. I enjoyed a salmon sandwich (not pictured)…read moreand this incredibly delicious fish soup. They also over coffee, salads, and homemade cakes, and ice cream.

What an absolutely beautiful old hotel! We took an excursion from our Viking ocean cruise, drove…read morethrough the most beautiful scenery to this hotel, located in front of the Voringsfossen Waterfall. Although we didn't stay at the hotel, we were treated to tea and coffee with delicious homemade apple cake, a Norwegian tradition. We toured around this gorgeous location, and met several lovely locals who were employees. Such kind people, gorgeous old hotel, great food in the most stunning of scenery you've ever seen. I would LOVE to return and stay a few days just to really soak in this hotel and it's beautiful surroundings!