The nicotin addicted`s own place - Høybråten Cognac & Cigarbar
From the 1st of June 2004 it was no longer allowed to smoke in bars and restaurants in Norway. In Mona Lisa Huset N. Virani predicted this could happen, and made an alternative for smoking guests:
A big group of media showed up when he opened his new terrace,- that he quite ironically chose to name after the minister of Health. "Høybråten Cognac & Cigarbar" in Grensen 10 is soon the smokers preferred oasis. In Høybråten the guests are warm and comfortable, it`s like the banning of smoking never excisted. Has Virani done magic? First of all he read the law and created a terrace none of the control-instances can question. Høybråten is technically under the open sky, but legally "insulated" with glass-walls and awnings. The heat in the floor gives around 40 degrees by your feet, and the gas heating lamps in the ceiling has 1500-2000 w. It costed four million Norwegian kroner to upgrade the outdoor terrace to make it a Restaurant for smokers. In addition to that, Virani uses around 1 million kroner on heating yearly.
High pulse
When you step in, you will be shown to a table by a waiter. The menu starts 9 in the morning and offers a large portion of egg and bacon. You can also chose between different lunch-dishes for under a hundred kroner or go for a cheap main course. Early afternoon you will find the pace hectic, like in an Italian Restaurant. Høybråten` is 66 metres long, and during the day you will probably see someone you know in the streets. Lots of guests are arriving; regulars, artists, authors and people of all ages and professions. Some celebrate birthdays, some smoke water-pipe. But even if some of the guests smoke, - the air is as clear and fresh as in the streets. With it`s 280 seatings "Høybråten Cognac & Cigarbar" is a relatively big outdoor Restaurant, but sometimes guests have to wait indoor to get a smoking table.