The honest review of The Thief

The Thief is the only one of its kind in Oslo — a determinedly modernist hotel with a credible art collection and the best harbor views in town.

Condé Nast Traveler·Jun 2026·

There's nothing quite like it in the Norwegian capital: the modernist architecture, the commitment to contemporary art, and that harbor positioning set it apart from every other luxury option in Oslo. It's a hotel with a genuine point of view.

I sat in the dining room watching tall sailboats glide past and Norwegian locals take their morning dip in the fjord — this hotel's position in the city is simply extraordinary.

The Tjuvholmen neighborhood surrounding The Thief is characterized by outdoor art installations, ferry landings, and a cluster of excellent restaurants, bars, and gelato spots — it's an interesting and exclusive pocket of Oslo that feels a world away from the typical business-district hotel. Watching the city from this vantage point is genuinely wonderful, whether from the room or the restaurant. It's the kind of location that makes you want to linger.

We paid over €500 per room and couldn't get basic service — I should have taken the name as a warning.

I won't go into every detail, but the service failures were numerous enough to sour the entire experience. At these prices, you have a right to expect the fundamentals to work. For anyone considering Oslo's luxury options, there are alternatives worth exploring before defaulting here.

The rooftop drinks and dinner on our first evening were fabulous, and the view from our room alone made the price feel justified.

The location really is particularly outstanding — so many restaurants and shopping options right on the doorstep, and that waterfront setting gives the whole stay a different quality from a standard city-center hotel. We genuinely enjoyed every breakfast and found ourselves looking forward to them. It's one of the best hotel experiences I've had in Oslo.

I was hoping to make this my home for six months of business travel and ended up checking out after one night never to return — the gap between the five-star billing and the actual experience was genuinely striking.

I discovered my room door was broken with the frame patched in duct tape — not exactly reassuring as a solo female traveler right next to the elevators. They moved me quickly enough, but no apology and the replacement was a downgrade. Then housekeeping ignored my Do Not Disturb sign and had already unlocked my door at 9:30pm for turndown service while I was in the bathroom. The gym felt dated and understaffed, and small things like the absence of a teaspoon despite a tea and coffee setup showed a lack of attention to detail that you simply don't expect at this price point.

Two nights of being woken up six to eight times each — the noise from the alley-facing rooms made what would have been a lovely stay genuinely exhausting.

Everything about the hotel itself was lovely: the rooms were beautifully done, breakfast was superb, and the staff were pleasant and accommodating. The problem was entirely outside the control of those rooms — a narrow alley beside the building channeled noise from residents, trucks, and garbage collection throughout both nights. The hotel had also disabled the ventilation controls so the only way to get fresh air was to open the balcony door, which made shutting out the sound impossible. I'd return, but only in a water-facing room.

I stayed here for a single night and honestly felt it was fun to experience, but I walked away feeling the room simply isn't worth what they charge.

The hotel has a genuinely luxurious feel and the breakfast was exceptional — both the à la carte and the buffet were included, which is a nice touch. The bathroom was beautifully done and the staff were service-minded and helpful throughout. But the bed was remarkably hard, and when I tallied up what we'd paid for one night, it didn't quite add up. I'm glad we did it once, but we won't be back.

We were celebrating my husband's birthday and this hotel absolutely delivered — room 728 was quiet and comfortable, the spa was sumptuous, and the rooftop bar's vinyl record setup is genuinely one of the coolest touches I've encountered in a hotel.

The views from our room were gorgeous, and the mirrors were placed so cleverly that the water felt like it was part of the room itself. The spa had a gorgeous pool, a proper steam room and sauna — it all felt genuinely luxurious, not just a checkbox wellness offering. The whole team tied it together; they were professional in a way that felt effortless rather than stiff. Breakfast was, as everyone says, legendary.

We only had an overnight layover, and the spa alone made the trip from the airport completely worthwhile — I arrived exhausted and left genuinely restored.

The staff walked us through the pool, sauna, and steam room with real enthusiasm, and I can say honestly that I felt pampered rather than just serviced. They even put together breakfast boxes for us to take to the airport the next morning — I didn't even ask. The restaurant menu was limited and the food was just passable, but the spa more than made up for it. I want to come back in summer when we can actually explore the neighborhood properly.

From the moment I walked in to the moment I checked out, every single aspect of this stay was brilliant — and I don't use that word lightly.

The rooms are a perfect blend of comfort and style, impeccably designed and quiet in a way that makes you feel like you're staying inside a high-end art gallery. What really elevated everything was the staff — the receptionist I'd briefly chatted with actually surprised me with a complimentary gift bag simply because she said I was sweet. That one gesture told me everything about this hotel's spirit. The food was exceptional at every meal, breakfast through dinner, and I'd book again without a second thought.

Sylvester in the restaurant is simply one of the best hospitality professionals I've encountered anywhere — he remembered our table, had the milk warmed for my tea, and his colleagues kept the standard up even on his day off.

After a genuinely rough travel day, Isabella at the front desk greeted us so warmly that the stress just evaporated — she even upgraded our floor without us asking. The waterfront location is charming and quieter than you'd expect for a place this close to Oslo's center. We found ourselves looking forward to breakfast every morning, not just for the food but for the whole ritual of it. We'll absolutely be back on our next Oslo trip.

The rooms are beautifully designed but showing wear, and being charged extra for the pool when you're already paying premium rates stings.

We had to load and unload our own luggage with no bellman in sight, which set a slightly dispiriting tone from arrival. Breakfast was undermanned so seating and service were slow, and our poached eggs arrived completely raw — a basic kitchen failure. The superior room was a good size and the design was attractive, but the standard rooms felt cramped and underlit. The additional fee for the spa pool on top of these rates felt like a step too far.

The room is small — I won't pretend otherwise — but the location is the best in Oslo and the staff are the kind you find in New York or Paris boutique hotels.

It reminded me of a sophisticated urban property you'd find in New York or Paris: stylish, knowledgeable staff who genuinely want to help, beautifully appointed rooms even if they're compact, and a sense that the neighborhood around the hotel is part of the experience. The breakfast is extensive and everything is fresh. The rooftop bar is a really fun way to end an evening. I'd happily stay again.

I first stayed here in 2017, came back recently after years away, and was genuinely relieved to find it's still just as good — some hotels lose the plot over time, but The Thief hasn't.

The rooms are still modern, fresh, and spotlessly clean, and the rooftop bar remains a highlight with its views and atmosphere. The spa is on the smaller side and can feel crowded, but it delivers a genuinely relaxing experience. What truly sets this place apart for me — and I've stayed at a lot of Oslo hotels — is the breakfast. The variety, quality, and attention to detail are just outstanding. I'm already looking forward to the next visit.

I've stayed in hotels around the world, and this is genuinely one of the best — a staff member named Juliane went so far above and beyond that she secured us a last-minute reservation at a restaurant that had no availability.

The property is stylish and artsy, our room was gorgeous with stunning views, and every detail was executed well. But what I'll remember most is Juliane — she gave us a personal city guide and then somehow pulled off a reservation at a full restaurant. That's the kind of concierge work that's increasingly rare. I don't throw around 'one of the best stays ever' lightly, but this one earned it.