Food & drink · Balestrand

Ciderhuset (The Cider House)

Tucked among apple trees a short walk from Balestrand's pier, Ciderhuset is a family-run gem that turns the region's centuries-old fruit-growing heritage into award-winning ciders, orchard lunches and — in high summer — an unforgettable Cider Makers Dinner paired course by course with locally grown produce.

Norway's oldest fruit-growing country

Balestrand sits in Sogn, one of Norway's oldest and most productive fruit-growing regions. The combination of sheltered fjord microclimate and rich glacial moraine soil creates ideal conditions for apples and plums, and commercial fruit cultivation here dates back to around 1850.

The Eitungjerde Høyvik family, who run Ciderhuset, grow their own fruit and craft everything from light, sparkling veranda ciders to richer, more complex varieties. The cidery has earned international recognition for quality, and a tasting here is as educational as it is delicious.

What to eat and drink

From late June to late August, Ciderhuset serves à la carte lunch daily from noon to 4 pm. Dishes draw on Mediterranean inspiration but are built around hyper-local ingredients — think orchard fruit reductions, fjord-caught fish and garden herbs. The evening Cider Makers Dinner (minimum 15 guests, bookable in advance) opens with a welcome drink and mezze-style snacks before a choice of meat, fish or vegetarian main.

If you don't drink alcohol, the family also produces delicious natural apple juices using fruit from the surrounding Sogndal and Vik valleys. Children and non-drinkers are genuinely well catered for.

The guided orchard experience

Beyond the restaurant, Ciderhuset offers guided cultural walks through the orchard, where you learn about the significance of apple-growing in local community life and the techniques behind small-batch cider production. Groups of 15 or more can book a dedicated tasting and tour; solo travellers often join organised small-group experiences through local operators.

Booking ahead is strongly recommended in July and August, when spots fill quickly. The setting — a working orchard overlooking the Sognefjord — makes this one of the most photogenic lunch stops in Western Norway.

Watch