Beta Mode On: Hobo Oslo, Opening in a Year, Throws a Construction Site Christmas Party

Set to open in October 2025, Hobo Oslo couldn’t wait to welcome its first guest. Earlier this November, they hosted a Christmas party for a small group of 50 guests at the hotel’s construction site. The party, a so-called “beta test,” is part of an event series that all Hobo Hotel’s initiate ahead of opening. The goal: to develop, together with the local community.

A not-yet-constructed hotel is not an obstacle to throwing a party. At least not if you ask Hobo Hotel. With unfinished walls and building materials as a backdrop, Hobo Oslo—set to open in the Norwegian capital in October, 2025—threw its first beta test: an unconventional take on the classic Norwegian julebord, a kind of Christmas buffet and party.

Offering a glimpse into what Hobo Oslo will be all about, guests were greeted by an atmosphere that was raw and at the same time intimate, setting the tone for Hobo’s view on hospitality. True to its core, Hobo will be an ever-evolving meeting place shaped by the energy of its city’s community. In the same vein, this Christmas Party wasn’t your standard holiday mingle. Instead, guests got to be the first ones to taste Hobo’s ability to blend high-quality food, cultural relevance, and a touch of rough-around-the-edges charm into something unique.

Sharing Hobo’s Culinary Philosophy

The evening was as much about connection as it was about co-creation. Guests were served dishes crafted by Hobo’s Culinary Director Sebastian Petterson, an award-winning chef who brought his signature style to Oslo. From unexpected flavor combinations—like a warm mulberry cocktail with a fresh cheese cream topping—to perfected julebord classics like pickled herring and kale salad, the menu made room for guests to both try and feedback on what will be the philosophy of Hobo Oslo’s kitchen. This was paired with a sustainability-led drink menu, including local choices like natural wines from Telemark in Norway.

The venue itself was intentionally left unfinished. Acting as a reminder that Hobo is always in “beta mode,” the rawness of the building site was made the focal point of the night. The location for the party was what will become the big courtyard restaurant and bar in the heart of the hotel. Having previously been an anonymous outdoors lot, the new locale has been encased by a steel beam and a glass roof, turning into an indoors space that will be alive from early morning to late night.

Beta Mode in Action

Beta mode is one of the Hobo concept’s absolute cornerstones. The Christmas party marked the first of several beta tests planned for Hobo Oslo’s official launch. Each event will offer new opportunities to experiment, refine, and collaborate with the local community, ensuring the hotel opens as a true reflection of the city.

Hobo’s beta mode philosophy encourages a constant play of trying and failing. This approach creates a more dynamic experience for guests, and a hotel that evolves organically alongside its neighborhood. The Christmas party brought together Oslo’s movers and shakers to shape the early narrative of what Hobo Oslo can—and will—be.

The Hobo Spirit in Oslo

Since the launch of Hobo Stockholm in 2017, and Hobo Helsinki in 2024, the brand has been less about being a place to stay, and more about being a platform for culture, creativity, and community. Hobo Oslo is set to follow in those footsteps. With an irreverent approach to hospitality, Hobo’s vision is to become a cultural hub; this a big task, and one that starts well before the first guest checks in.

The Christmas party was just the beginning. Hobo Oslo has more beta tests designed to offer glimpses into the hotel’s offerings. As the countdown to October 2025 continues, Hobo is showing Oslo that opening a hotel is as much about building a facility as it is about building a community.