In short: Tripplo’s analysis covers a sample of 64 guest reviews of The Thief. Guests in the sample highlight Location, Food & restaurants and Service & staff. The most common complaints: Expensive, even by local standards. Unreliable temperature control that leaves rooms too hot or too cold.
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Located at Tjuvholmen in Oslo, we welcome you to a unique hideaway where we steal you away from everyday life. Be inspired by our 102 handpicked artworks, or enjoy a flavourful meal at THIEF Restaurant. Get a unique music experience at THIEF Bar or THIEF Rooftop (open only in the summer), or find calm in the soothing atmosphere of our THIEF Spa facilities.
Featuring rooms with a in-built sound system and private balcony, THE THIEF is a design boutique hotel on Tjuvholmen in Oslo. The promenade of Aker Brygge is within 5 minutes’ walk. The hotel offers in-room spa treatments, a spa centre and free around-the-clock gym access.
Rooms at this stylish hotel feature a Nespresso machine, a mini-bar and a rainforest shower in the private bathroom. THE THIEF has 24-hour room service and free WiFi throughout the property.
THIEF Spa includes a Turkish hamam bath, sauna and swimming pool. Guests can also unwind at THIEF Rooftop Restaurant & Bar, where a spectacular view of Oslo and the Oslofjord sets the scene for food and drinks that taste even better in the open sky.
All guests receive free entry to the Astrup Fearnley Museum of Modern Art, while the hotel is only a 15-minute walk from the centre of Oslo and the National Gallery.
The nearest bus stop is at Vika Atrium 400 metres away, and the National Theatre train station 1.5 km away provides links to Oslo Gardermoen Airport.
Tripplo’s hotel summary
Tripplo’s analysis · Updated 21 October 2026 · How we review hotels
The Thief is for travellers who want Oslo's waterfront at its most polished. It stands on Tjuvholmen, a few minutes from the restaurants of Aker Brygge, with 102 artworks in the hotel and free entry to the Astrup Fearnley Museum. Guests come back to the location again and again, and they speak warmly about the breakfast, the attentive staff and rooms that are clean, well designed and full of small comforts. The spa, with its pool, hamam and sauna, adds a calm counterpoint to the city. The main drawbacks are practical. Several guests struggled to get the room temperature right, and prices are high even by Oslo standards. Spa sessions need to be booked in advance, the gym is modest and the rooftop opens only in summer. Couples and design lovers will find a stylish, well-run base by the fjord; travellers on a tighter budget can find better value elsewhere.
Guests score it 8.7 out of 10 — the average across the 6 hotels we list in Oslo is 8.9.
- The location is what guests praise most. The hotel sits on the water at Tjuvholmen, with the restaurants, bars and shops of Aker Brygge a few minutes away and the city centre within easy walking distance.
- Breakfast comes up again and again as a highlight, described as excellent and of high quality in every way.
- Several guests found the air conditioning slow to cool or warm the room, or the thermostat awkward to use, and some ended up opening the balcony door at night. One guest also found the duvets on the small side.
- Value for money is where guests are most critical. Many accept that Oslo is expensive, but extras such as laundry add up.
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- Pros and cons in every category guests mention
- The complaints that come up again and again
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Should you book it?
The Thief is worth booking for couples who want a stylish waterfront base with a spa — but pick somewhere else if you are looking for good value above all.
Book it if you want
- Couples who want a stylish waterfront base with a spa
- Art and design lovers who want free entry to Astrup Fearnley
Pick somewhere else if
- You are looking for good value above all
- You want to be in the middle of the old city centre
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What guests actually say
Tripplo’s analysis uses a sample of 64 guest reviews. Texts may be shortened. Mentions are counted after automated classification and describe the sample, rather than every guest’s experience.
The sample follows how Booking.com and Google sort reviews, which puts satisfied guests first, so criticism is under-represented. Read the drawbacks below and the latest reviews on Booking.com before you book.
Food & restaurants
- +An excellent, generous breakfast buffet with high-quality dishes
- +A rooftop bar and restaurant with a great atmosphere
- +Good cocktails and a lively bar
- –Breakfast can be crowded, and some found the choice limited
- –Breakfast ends early on weekdays
- –Room service is slow or unavailable late in the evening, with a limited menu
”High-quality dishes, great service at breakfast and decent coffee, which is rare even in luxury hotels.” — guest, translated
Service & staff
- +Friendly, helpful staff and an excellent concierge
- +Room upgrades and an evening turndown service
- +Especially warm and attentive staff in the breakfast room
- –No help with luggage, and reception can feel impersonal or inattentive
- –Reception and room service can be hard to reach by phone
- –Some rooms were not cleaned until late in the day
”The reception staff were not very attentive and mostly did not greet us. The lady at check-in, however, was very friendly.” — guest, translated
The rooms
- +Spacious, well-designed rooms with quality fittings
- +Very comfortable beds
- +Thoughtful touches such as heated bathroom floors and an evening turndown
- –Unreliable temperature control that leaves rooms too hot or too cold
- –Some rooms face offices or a playground, with little privacy or view
- –Curtains that do not fully block the light, and small duvets
”The room was excellent, well thought out with places for your things. Loved the heated floor in the bathroom.” — guest, translated
Condition & cleanliness
- +Clean, with high-quality fittings
- –Housekeeping and upkeep can slip, with worn towels and bathrooms not properly cleaned
- –Faults such as a leaking shower or a toilet door that will not close
- –A dirty ventilation intake in one room
”The towels were very old and worn, and the bathroom was not clean.” — guest, translated
Location
- +A beautiful waterfront spot by the fjord in Aker Brygge
- +An easy walk to the city centre, museums and plenty of restaurants and bars
- +A quiet, car-free area away from the crowds
- +Parking available
- –A little away from the very centre
- –Taxis and ride-hailing cars cannot pick up right at the door
”Great location with wonderful views of the waterfront, within walking distance of many sights and a broad choice of restaurants.” — guest, translated
Noise levels
- +A calm neighbourhood free of noisy traffic
- –Some rooms overlook a noisy playground
”The calm, and no noisy cars or motorbikes in this neighbourhood.” — guest, translated
Value for money
- +Some felt it was worth the price for the service and location
- –Expensive, even by local standards
- –Extra charges for the spa, sauna, minibar, laundry and even toiletries
- –Parking is expensive
”It's expensive, but probably standard for Oslo.” — guest, translated
Pools, beach & aquapark are mentioned too rarely in the sample for an honest picture — we don't guess.
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Frequently asked questions
How far is The Thief from Oslo Airport Gardermoen (OSL)?
The Thief is approximately 39 km from Oslo Airport Gardermoen (OSL) in a straight line, calculated from map coordinates. This is not a road distance or transfer time; check the route and transport options before booking.
How do guests rate The Thief?
On Booking.com it scores 8.7/10 from 386 guest reviews.
How many stars does The Thief have?
The Thief is a 5-star hotel.
What amenities does The Thief offer?
The Thief offers spa, indoor Swimming Pool, free Wifi, fitness Centre, 2 Restaurants and bar.
Weather & sea temperature — Oslo
Right now: 8°
Prices for your dates
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Landgangen 1, Frogner, 0252 Oslo, Norway