On Brakøya, the island’s last shopkeeper sold groceries, hardware and silk underwear. His name was Eilif, and the shop served the small farms on the surrounding islands of Raftsundet. For more than a century, this was a place people came to for the things they needed. When the shop closed in 1981, Eilif and his wife Johanna left the island.

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Between Lofoten and Vesterålen, Brakøya is now welcoming visitors again. The old main house has been restored, with its original floors retained and rooms that differ from one another. Alongside it, newer buildings accommodate life by the water. The dining house and bathhouse are separate from the main house, so moving between them means stepping outside, even for the short walk to supper.

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The sea remains part of daily life here. It is the approach to the island, the source of ingredients for the kitchen and the water at the foot of the bathhouse steps. Fish, produce from nearby farms and herbs from the island’s garden shape what is served. There is no fixed menu.

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We spent time on Brakøya before bringing it into the Casa Mente collection, getting to know the people who host it and experiencing the food, the activities and the small comforts of staying here. The mountains and the sea are close at hand, while a private chef and a small host team look after life on the island. The whole place is held for the people you come with.

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That combination gives Brakøya its place within Casa Mente. There is room to experience this stretch of Northern Norway in your own company, with the comfort and care that allow you to settle in. Knowing the island ourselves, we shape each stay around the people coming, leaving room for them to find their own connection to it.