FRI Bar sits on Øvre Holmegate, the famously colourful pedestrian street in central Stavanger known locally as Fargegaten. Opened in 2015, the bar has established itself as the city's best-known queer venue and a genuine community hub for LGBTQ+ locals and visitors alike.
During the day, FRI Bar operates as a relaxed café serving homemade soups, fresh juices, cakes, and sandwiches. Once evening arrives, the atmosphere shifts: the space becomes a speakeasy-style cocktail bar with a lively programme of events running throughout the week. Regular fixtures include karaoke nights and DJ sets, and the venue also hosts pub quizzes and occasional live music, with the owner himself known to perform. The bar's eclectic interior, complete with chandeliers, adds to the distinctive character of the place.
FRI Bar is explicitly inclusive and welcoming to people of all backgrounds, with a particular emphasis on creating a safe and affirming space for the LGBTQ+ community. It is widely recommended by queer travellers visiting Norway and features in national guides to LGBTQ+-friendly destinations across the country. The heated outdoor terrace is a popular spot in warmer months, so arriving early is advisable if you want a seat outside.
The venue is part of the broader appeal of Fargegaten itself, one of Stavanger's most-visited streets, lined with colourful painted wooden houses, independent boutiques, and cafés.
Address:
FRI Bar – Fargegaten
Øvre Holmegate 27
4006 Stavanger
Norway
Great place for a drink and plenty of fab Lervig brews on tap. The excellent person running the bar was really patient and great with us, even when my husband cheekily enquired about owning a glass from my favourite (Lervig) brewery for me… Thanks for great service! This will be our Stavanger go-to.
I really liked this little cozy place. An amazing brownie and really nice hot chocolat.
Pleasant music and friendly staff. Got what we ordered and on a rainy day we really appreciated the woollen blanket.
Nice place. Mediocre drinks, small and expensive. Waiter a bit too overeager running around the bar with his credit card terminal. Feeling a bit pushy.
visiting this quaint neighborhood, but this bar had no customers. It has a bit of a weird vibe with a trance music and dark and gloomy inside. It’s so uncharacteristic for the neighborhood cause it feels like you’re going to a dance club. We were going to have drinks outside, but the bartender seemed preoccupied on her phone. We decided to go somewhere else. We went towards the port instead.
