Lily Country Club is a resort set among beautiful acres in rural surroundings 25 minutes’ drive from Oslo or 10 minutes from Oslo Airport Gardermoen. “With 507 spacious rooms and suites, everybody is welcome to our resort,” says Food & Beverage Director Christian Eriksson. The resort opened on the last day in May this year. Owned by Lily Hospitality Group, a division of Norwegian investment group Aker ASA, the estate is surrounded by a glorious 18-hole golf course offering a backdrop of the most magnificent sweeping rural views. Welcome to the new concealed gem resort in Oslo.
The resort is the perfect location for both business and leisure stays, close to highway E6 and Oslo Airport Gardermoen. The hotel offers shuttle to and from the airport. The car parking area is fee-based.
Business and leisure
The business facilities cater from six to 1,000 people and are equally valuable for weddings, anniversaries, celebrations, business conference meetings, team-building and corporate events. The largest conference hall has a capacity of up to 500 people seated by round tables. The main restaurant, Brasseriet, with beautiful views across the 18th hole at Miklagard golf course, is the perfect venue for lunch or dinner. It offers a formal á la carte menu as well as set menus.
You might also like to read:
Majestic Luxury in Norway: A Hotel With Fascinating History and Top-Class Food and Wine
Fine dining
The hotel’s 36 chefs have used all their experience to bring home the classic and well-known French and Italian classical tastes that combine and refine quality ingredients from the abundant local areas. “The Brasseriet has also become a restaurant for locals,” says Eriksson and adds, “We’re now planning to extend our offers with more eateries and bars to cater for guests staying for longer periods.”
For lunch, we had juicy chicken tights followed by a light dessert. For dinner we had a tree course meal. For starters we had ecological salmon graved with Løiten Linje Aquavit, burned cucumber emulsion on herbs, aquavit and dill, unhomogenized milk from Røros and fried crumbs from rye bread. The main dish was deer tenderloin with creamed chantarelles, baked potatoes, Brussels sprouts, lingonberry, pommes dauphine and port wine reduction with beurre noisette. For dessert we were served hazelnut & mandarin parfait filled with caramel & oreo crumble. Delicious! However, nothing can beat the abundant breakfast menu where the chefs from time to time prepare their own favorites to give your day the best possible beginning.
We enjoyed after drinks by the fireplace in Bar Lilibet.
You might also like to read: Magnificent Mountain Hotel in Norway
On Sundays in December there will be served traditional Norwegian Christmas food and on request guests will be offered sleigh rides.
In summertime visitors can also enjoy the spectacular view over the golf course from the Greenfield Terrace and being served food from the outdoor restaurant. Outside the Library Lounge you will find Courtyard Terrace – a Bellini and Spritz bar where sunbeds and lounge areas invite guests to relax and experience the atmosphere.
The Lily Spa
When it comes to relax, Lily Country Club welcomes you to the Lily Spa, where you can experience waves of rituals, senses and mystery indoors as well as outdoors. Lily Spa offers a truly holistic approach to making you look and feel fantastic. The spa is the best place to unwind and relax. Whether you’re on a spa break or just want to book for a consultation, professional therapists will be talking to you about the offerings that can be customized to your needs.
Guest rooms
The guest rooms at Lily Country Club feature an elevated, modern design that connects you to the energy of the surrounding community. Some rooms also offer a balcony, a private terrace or floor-to-ceiling windows with great views. It is possible to open up the window on all rooms for fresh air.
We stayed at room 5036 on the top floor. It is a standard room, but located at a corner of the building, the room offered wonderful views in two directions. All rooms include robes, slippers, coffee machine from Nespresso and other amenities.
You may also like to read: Hotel With a Hamptons Atmosphere in Norway
Oslo’s new hidden resort gem
The tradition of country clubs originated in Scotland, and first appeared in the US in the early 1880s. There they are often private, closed clubs with golf facilities. Lily’s philosophy goes in the opposite direction and shows the world how to make a proper clubhouse – open, genuine and Norwegian – a sustainable meeting place for everyone.
In former times, country clubs had a profound effect on expanding suburbanization and are considered to be the precursor to gated community development. Lily offers high quality content, impressions and comfort – but for everyone. You’ll have a break and find inspiration. Located right by hole 18 at Miklagard golf, an international championship course that has been named Norway’s best by Rolex Golf Guide, this is also an obvious choice for both old as well as new and curious golf enthusiasts.
The field is perfect for walks, but don’t be surprised if you’re met by a crowd of alpacas from one of the neighboring farms.
New Concealed Gem Resort in Oslo, written by Tor Kjolberg
All photos © Tor Kjolberg/Daily Scandinavian if not otherwise stated.
Feature image (on top): Photo by Nordic Choice Hotels