our history

Welcome to Lothes Mat & Vinhus – a historic restaurant in the very heart of Haugesund, overlooking the beautiful Smedasundet strait.

Our story began in 1989, when Finn Lothe founded Lothes Mat & Vinhus with a vision of creating culinary experiences based on the finest ingredients Western Norway has to offer. Since then, we have maintained a strong focus on quality, hospitality, and genuine food passion.

We are located in a distinguished former pilot station building dating back to 1850, where the original character has been preserved both inside and out. Over the years, the house has been filled with stories, charm, atmosphere – and even our own ghosts.

At the core of our philosophy has always been local ingredients. We work closely with skilled producers and suppliers from the Haugalandet region and Western Norway, allowing the seasons to guide our menus. Fish and shellfish from the sea off the western coast, meat from local farms, and carefully sourced ingredients that have lived a good life form the foundation of our dishes.

Over more than 35 years, we have evolved from a restaurant into a broader hospitality house, offering private events, catering, food and wine courses, and other concepts. At the same time, we have remained true to what has always mattered most: creating memorable experiences around the table.

We are proud members of De Historiske and Smak av Kysten. Our story is built on respect for tradition, love for quality ingredients, and a desire to give every guest an experience they will remember long after the meal has ended.

Lothes consists of several concepts, each with its own identity. In addition to Lothes Mat & Vinhus by Smedasundet, we also operate Dattera til Lothe and the historic Høyevarde Lighthouse Hotel on Karmøy. Together, these venues allow us to offer everything from intimate dinners and private events to weddings, conferences, and unique experiences in spectacular surroundings.

Høyevarde Lighthouse is one of the most distinctive places in the Haugalandet region. The lighthouse station was originally established as early as 1700 and has served as an important landmark in the Karmsundet strait for centuries. The present lighthouse complex dates from 1858 and includes the lighthouse keeper’s residence, customs house, boathouse, sea house, and an old bakery. The entire area is surrounded by approximately 60 acres of natural landscape and carries a rich and fascinating history.

For more than 35 years, we have hosted weddings, anniversaries, Christmas parties, confirmations, and other celebrations. Our private event venue in Haugesund is located alongside Lothes Mat & Vinhus and Dattera til Lothe, and accommodates between 20 and 100 guests. The venue was fully renovated in 2018 and features a private entrance, bar, lounge area, and a west-facing balcony with a beautiful view of Smedasundet.

We tailor events to our guests’ wishes and offer everything from informal buffets to exclusive multi-course menus with carefully selected wine pairings. Our goal is always the same: to create memorable experiences around the table.

No matter which of our venues you visit, you will encounter the same philosophy: respect for ingredients, passion for craftsmanship, and a genuine desire to give our guests an experience they will remember long after their visit has ended.

SUSTAINABILITY

For us, sustainability is about the choices we make every day. We aim to create great dining experiences in a way that takes into account people, the local community, and the environment around us.

That is why we prioritize local and seasonal ingredients whenever possible, and work with suppliers and producers who share our commitment to quality, responsibility, and sustainability. In season, we harvest and forage from nature when conditions allow, and many of the herbs that end up on our plates come from our own herb garden. We also offer several plant-based dishes on our menu and aim to make it easier for our guests to choose meals with a lower environmental footprint.

In our daily operations, we place great emphasis on responsible resource management to reduce our environmental impact. We actively work to reduce food waste through careful planning, mindful purchasing, portion control, and the best possible use of the ingredients we work with. We continuously implement energy-saving measures and have invested in new energy-efficient windows, improved insulation in the building, and the use of LED lighting to reduce energy consumption. We sort waste, reduce unnecessary packaging, and focus on reusable alternatives instead of single-use plastics wherever possible. In addition, we use environmentally friendly cleaning and laundry products whenever suitable options are available. At the same time, we are constantly looking for new solutions to make our operations more sustainable.

Sustainability is also about the people around us. We aim to contribute to a healthy working environment for our employees and to a vibrant local community through collaboration with local suppliers, producers, and other partners in our region.

We know that sustainability is not a goal that can be fully achieved, but an ongoing process. That is why we work every day to improve, reduce our environmental impact, and make better choices for the future. Our goal is to create memorable experiences for our guests while taking responsibility for the environment and the society we are part of.

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