Lovely Losby Manor - A historic hotel near Oslo

Welcome to Losby! You must be Catrine! Your friends have already arrived and are waiting for you in the lounge. That was the first thing I heard as I stepped through the doors of the stylish Losby Manor. Although there weren’t many guests that day, the welcome was incredibly warm and friendly! This warmth, service, and personal touch were evident in every interaction we had at the hotel. Truly top-notch service.

New meets old

Losby offers a blend of old and new in its interior. The entrance and rooms are what you might call “timelessly modern,” with classic elegance and a typical fine hotel feel.

The old section, my favorite of course, is everything you’d expect from a historic hotel and more.

I love historic hotels and have visited several, including Walaker, Engø, Utne, Søstrene Storaas, and not to forget the gem, Britannia. The latter is no longer part of the “Historic hotels” in Norway, but worth a visit regardless.

Losby adds a twist to the historic. In the basement, you’ll find both a wine cellar and a modern bar with shuffleboard and a surprise. No need to feel bored here.

Christmas gift

Here’s a “hot” gift tip from me: Give an experience you’d enjoy yourself! That way, someone you care about gets a lovely activity, and you get to do something you’ve always dreamed of.

We started our stay with a delightful Afternoon Tea in the old hunting lodge from the early 1900s. Sitting in deep, red velvet sofas by the fireplace, we felt like old lords of the manor, attended to by skilled staff from the moment we arrived.

As tradition dictates, the treats came in three tiers. We started with savory bites at the bottom. We enjoyed three different sandwiches: cucumber with cream cheese, smoked salmon with egg salad, and smoked ham with honey mustard.

Hyggelige servitører med afternoon tea-fat

We had two types of tea to choose from, both freshly brewed. We also opted for some prosecco to make the lunch even more bubbly.

Bubbles of course!

Prosecco pairs perfectly with the sweets on the upper tiers. The scones, made from Gunvor Kolstad’s recipe, were more like sweet buns than traditional English scones but tasted delicious with Røros cream and homemade strawberry jam.

On the top tier, we found small, sweet temptations: French macarons in various flavors, passion fruit mousse on a chocolate base, a mini lemon tart, and classic madeleines. More than enough for lunch.

We indulged in tea, as much as we wanted, with bubbles in our glasses and delightful food while enjoying the surroundings. The room, just a few steps down from what looks like a ballroom, has dark brown paneled walls, bookshelves, and a massive fireplace. Large windows overlooking the garden keep the room bright despite the dark woodwork. The red velvet sofas and oriental rugs make the room cozy and inviting.

A Deep Dive into History

Since we were at this beautiful historic hotel and I collect experiences from historic hotels, we took the opportunity to spend the night. After tea, I explored the house, taking in all the details. The old part of the hotel is steeped in history.

Losby’s history dates back to the mid-1800s. The Meyer family owned the estate and built a manor, known as the hunting lodge, where they hosted fashionable guests, including royalty, for hunting and festivities. The gatherings at the manor were renowned. We can easily imagine fashionable guests enjoying themselves at Losby.

The owner was Jacob Meyer, but today, his son Thorvald Meyer is perhaps more famous, with a well-known street in Oslo named after him. The estate was used as a vacation home until 1893 when Thorvald’s nephew Lorentz Meyer moved in to his wedding giftet property with his wife Kathrine.

They had no heirs, and when Kathrine died in 1958, the house was emptied by the 18 heirs and stood locked and vacant until 1985. It’s almost unbelievable that no one wanted or could take on the enormous property for 40 years. Even with new owners in 1985, it took nearly 15 years of waiting for permits and extensive work to turn Losby Manor into the hotel it is today.

A basement full of surprises

Fortunately, we can now enjoy Losby. The manor is just 20 minutes from Oslo city center and is connected to a large golf course, surrounded by beautiful hiking trails in both summer and winter. The hotel is often used for meetings and conferences and has much to offer its guests.

We ventured down to the stairs while waiting for dinner. There, we met bartender Jack from England, who was happy for some company. There weren’t many guests during the winter holiday. He offered us a taste of his signature cocktail while we tried out the shuffleboard lanes.

Secret room

But Jack had more in store. “Want to see something exciting?” he asked. We didn’t need to be asked twice. He walked over to the large bookshelf that spans the entire room and, with a touch, opened a secret door. Behind it was a large, dark room almost filled by an enormous table. Mirrors and old pictures adorned the walls, which were covered in dark wallpaper. The room can accommodate about 20 people and is perfect for “secret” board meetings or smaller gatherings like a confirmation or a large family dinner.

But the basement holds more. The “wine cellar” is within a large room that looks like an old summer parlor on one side, with tapestries depicting landscapes, while the other side has modern velvet sofas and floral cushions. Another great spot for large family gatherings or work events.

From here, you enter the actual wine cellar. There’s a large table where you can have wine and beer tastings, surrounded by shelves filled with the house’s wine bottles. I can easily imagine an evening here with good food and wine.

Golf

Losby is connected to a golf course and has an indoor golf facility in the winter. The plan is to expand the basement area to include a spa and wellness section. There won’t be a pool, but I have no doubt that the people at Losby will create an inviting and beautiful wellness area where you can relax after a round of golf or a ski trip.

We had dinner at the restaurant that evening. Here too, we were greeted by skilled staff and excellent service. We savored a delightful three-course menu while gazing at the torches placed on the snow-covered terrace.

After a good night’s sleep in comfortable beds, we enjoyed a lovely breakfast in a cozy “kitchen” before taking a stroll around the grounds in the fine winter weather.