The visual opposite of its neighbour Skostredet Hotel & Spa, and deliberately so. Where the Skostredet goes calm and minimal, Charmante goes full 19th-century Parisian drama. Deep jewel tones. Patterned wallpapers. Velvet upholstery. 41 rooms, each uniquely decorated.
Velvet drapes, crystal chandeliers, provocative art on the walls, dim corridors that smell faintly of perfume. Hotel Charmante doesn't do Scandinavian minimalism. It does Belle Époque maximalism, and it commits fully. Walk in and you're somewhere between a 1920s French salon and a theatrical cocktail lounge. There's a "press for champagne" button at reception. They mean it. You'll either love this place or find it exhausting.
The rooms were converted from Bergen's original city apartments, and each one is different. Emerald green bathrooms with mirrored ceilings in one, dark mauve walls and vintage top hats on display in another. The walls feature glamorous photographs shot inside that very room. Touch-screen lighting, heated bathroom floors, and curated wine fridges instead of standard minibars. The beds are excellent. But don't expect to spread out. The decor and small windows mean the rooms run dark, something to be aware of if you're staying more than a couple of nights.
Dining
The breakfast is not a buffet. It's fully à la carte, served at your table in Brasserie Chérie: croissant Benedicts, trout sandwiches, omelettes, fresh fruit, barista coffee, and a glass of champagne if you want it. You order as much as you like from the menu. Each floor also has a coffee station with a Sjöstrand machine for early risers who need a cup before heading downstairs.
Bar Belle is on the fourth floor, and you need to be buzzed up by reception. Scarlet red decor, low-hanging chandeliers, fabric draped across the ceiling. The signature cocktails lean theatrical, matching the hotel's personality.
Brasserie Chérie is the attached restaurant, serving French classics with Norwegian ingredients. Cassoulet, bouillabaisse, local fish and seafood. The kitchen is led by Executive Chef Morten Tungesvik, who has Michelin-starred experience, and the menu follows a nose-to-tail philosophy using seasonal, locally sourced produce. It's popular with locals, not just hotel guests. Reserve when you book the room, especially for Friday and Saturday dinner.
Should you book?
If you enjoy the maximalist Parisian interior, go for it. Opus XVI on Vågsallmenningen is smaller, quieter, and family-run. The staff remember your name, the beds are better, and the whole place is designed for rest rather than spectacle.
Bergen Børs Hotel is also a short walk away. Børs is stronger on dining with three restaurants and a calmer, more Scandinavian design sensibility. It sits between Charmante's theatrics and Opus's quietness in terms of personality.
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