On a sunny Sunday in late August, April and I went on a day trip to Hidra, where we had lunch at Isbua in Kirkehamn. Isbua is a well-known restaurant in the area that I’ve wanted to try for a long time, and we couldn’t have picked a better day to go. The sun was shining, the air was warm, and we got a table right by the water. We ordered a mix of dishes to share: moules frites, fried shrimp, and the most delicious scallops served with pumpkin purée. Everything tasted wonderfully fresh, like it had just been pulled straight from the sea.
Hidra is famous for its seafood, and that’s also what you’ll find on the menu at Isbua. The restaurant is housed in an old icehouse, which was originally built to store large blocks of ice. Before modern refrigeration, the ice was packed around freshly caught fish to keep it cold until the catch was shipped onward. Inside, the rough stone walls and heavy wooden beams remind you of the building’s history. Outside, the terrace stretches out toward the water with a small dock just below.
To get to Hidra, you take the ferry from Kvellandstrand to Launes. The crossing only takes about seven minutes, it’s free of charge, and the ferry runs frequently around the clock. From Launes it’s just a short drive to Kirkehamn, where Isbua sits right by the water.
Isbua, Reinferdalsveien 35, 4432 Hidrasund, Norge
