Hotel Ullensvang in Lofthus

A Personal Gem in Hardanger
I stayed for two nights in May to experience the blossom season in Hardanger, one of the most beautiful times of year in this part of Norway. Ullensvang Gjesteheim gave me exactly the kind of stay I appreciate: personal, peaceful and far more charming than a large hotel.

I had double room number 1, with a private bathroom. The room was a adequate size, while the bathroom was spacious, clean and practical. Housekeeping was excellent throughout. The 150 cm double bed was comfortable and gave me two very good nights’ sleep, helped by the fact that the guesthouse was wonderfully quiet, especially at night. As shown in my room photos, this is not a place to book for a spectacular view from the room, but it is a place where you feel calm and well looked after.

The service was one of the real strengths. Online booking was smooth, check-in was easy, and the owner, a modest Norwegian gentleman, came over to speak with us several times during the stay. I really appreciated that. The staff in the dining room and breakfast area also gave warm, attentive service, making us feel valued as guests.

Breakfast was impressively good for this type of relatively simple accommodation, with a well-presented selection and coffee refilled at the table. Dinner was the biggest positive surprise of the stay. The chefs and servers delivered excellent Thai food, alongside Norwegian and Hardanger-inspired dishes. Paired with a recommended local cider, it became one of the highlights of the trip. Main courses at around NOK 225–270 felt very reasonable for such an attractive tourist area.

What could be improved?
The room lighting was a little harsh and would benefit from warmer bulbs. The bedside lamps were not very suitable for reading in bed. There was free Wi-Fi, but I did not test the speed, so I cannot comment on its performance.
At NOK 1,490 per night for a double room with breakfast and private bathroom, I found this to be fair value in Hardanger in May. I would happily return and strongly recommend Ullensvang Gjesteheim to travellers who value peace, warmth and genuine hospitality.

If you go
1. Book well in advance, as this is a popular place with few rooms.
2. Choose a room with a private bathroom if your budget allows.
3. Eat dinner at the guesthouse — the Thai food is especially worth trying.

Regards
Svein-Magne Tunli from Bergen, Norway

We stopped in for food. It was amazing. Such an unforgettable experience. On our way back through we knew we had to stay. It's one of the most magical places we've been. Everyone was so friendly and helpful. Place was clean. Food is outstanding. I wish everyone could experience the atmosphere here.

Loved the space of the cabin to let us spread out some. Two rooms are upstairs and one down.
The living room area has a couple of couches and windows around that let a nice breeze circulate. (This was such a relief after the heat and stuffiness Scandic stronger in Bergen)

There is a small kitchenette with a microwave, refrigerator, dishwasher and cooktop. We did not use the latter as the pans were pretty beaten up for the smooth surface.

Parking was done and had charging stations (the slow kind), which was fine for overnight topping off the rental.

Staff were wonderful. Would definitely stay here again.

Beautiful vacation spot
Great view, nice room, friendly staff and delicious buffet dinner. The hotel offered parking with ev charger, unfortunately there were additional costs associated with the parking. The pool was great, steam sauna was ok. The hotel left a great impression overall.

Delightful stay at the Ullensvang Hotel—an oasis of beauty and tranquility! The fjord is unbelievably stunning and the property is both pristine and elegant. So many beautiful rooms throughout the property where you can sit with friends or quietly by yourself reading a book. Very thoughtful design that is highly grounded in historical context. The food was terrific as well. Stayed an entire week and didn’t want to leave. The town has a lot to offer-hiking, bakery, bistro, pizza restaurant with outdoor seating on the pier, cider farms, and ferry boats, as well as other accessible excursions, etc.

Great location with the best view. Only regret was not staying more nights in this fabulous hotel

Absolutely stunning and idyllic sanctuary with serene river and fjord views! The service and food were exceptional! Super fast and super delicious! The beef spring rolls and noodles with chicken were excellent.
Perfectly cooked and well balanced! Delightful staff and positively charming ambience and setting! Would go back in a heartbeat

We didn’t stay here so this review is about the restaurant. We had take away one night and the Thai food was good! You can order before 9 pm and we were able to pick up the food at 9:30 pm. The portions of the take away are good sized, 2 dishes are enough to feed a couple and have some left over. The next day we ate dinner at the restaurant. The setting was lovey, the service was great and the food was delicious!!! We thoroughly enjoy the cod and the brisket was one of the best we have had. The owner, his wife and the staff were attentive and nice to talk to. 10/10 would recommend eating here while in Lofthus.

The hotel was wonderful, amazing location with fantastic view of the fjords. Love the old traditional Norwegian details around in the common areas. The breakfast spread was super nice. We had a cider tour from the hotel lobby to one of the fruit farms in the area where we got to try 4 different ciders they had produced themselves. Also a few options for food around the hotel. We had pizza at lofthus expedition just a little walk from the hotel.

The only disappointing thing was that there was no shampoo left in the shower, very little conditioner and the shower soap was very watery. I will make sure not to forget my own hair product if I stay here again.

Scenery was awesome! Bedding and shower was very average. Food was excellent.