What started as a bar quickly turned into a hotel when the founders met at a diving event in Stokkøya – an island off the coast of rural Norway – and decided to build a base to make it easier to soak in the surroundings. So adventure and nature are at the foundation of this community-driven, good-times-having destination. As is the food – wood-fired, flame-grilled seafood specials that lure in serious eaters, locals and those from afar, but it’s a real mix of people: from solo travellers to people working on the move and families. Pick from cosy cabins or bigger houses with views; you’ll inevitably get to know the other guests at breakfast, daring each other to try the fermented seaweed (we like it).