Charming Nordic Center in Oregon Features Unique Art, Cozy Brunch, and a Whimsical Troll

The five Nordic countries of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden all rank high among the 14 happiest countries in the world. So who couldn’t use a touch of Scandinavia in their day? That’s the idea behind Nordia House, Portland State University’s center celebrating Scandinavian culture. Opened in 2015 by Nordic Northwest, a nonprofit run by the university, Nordia House was built to preserve and share the rich history of Scandinavian culture brought to the Pacific Northwest by immigrants during the 19th century. To them, the brisk weather, temperate evergreen rainforests, and the region’s coastal fjords felt like a home away from home.

Norway is considered one of the best European countries to visit for culture, charm, and food, and Nordia House delivers a similar slice of hygge. Designed using the Scandinavian principles of simplicity and harmony with landscape while making use of natural materials, the main Nordia House center offers modern comfort in the form of breezy art galleries and a koselig cafe. Plus, there’s a friendly troll in the garden, and the historic Swedish home next door looks to be out of a tale by Hans Christian Andersen.

Broder Söder, Nordia House’s delicious brunch venue, is probably its most popular drawcard. Open till 3 p.m., 7 days a week, this breezy cafe’s menu features classic fare like smörgåsbords, open-face smørrebrød sandwiches, savory potato crepes, and sweet Danish pancake balls. There’s also a huge selection of coffees, teas, and aquavit (Scandinavia’s answer to gin) if you’d like to enjoy the afternoon tradition of fika.

Nordia House’s main center offers interactive exhibitions and art shows, and this is good news since Portland is considered one of America’s dreamiest cities for art lovers. Past installations include Finnish sauna displays, tastes of Nordic Christmas, Norse silversmithing, and Icelandic textiles. And now through 2026, visitors can stand dwarfed beneath a whimsical giant troll. Made of repurposed wood, Ole Bolle was designed by Danish environmental art activist Thomas Dambo. The troll is one of six mythical custodians of nature, currently scattered throughout the Northwest as part of a public art project.

For a slice of storybook charm, trot over to the must-see Fogelbo. The historic log home, built in 1940, offers a glimpse into traditional Swedish design and a wealth of Scandinavian antiquities. Nordia House docents and Sir Ross Fogelquist of the Order of the Polar Star — who still lives at Fogelbo — offer tours throughout the year (on select Fridays and Saturdays only).