Here’s our list for anyone who loves food and seeing new places, from local festivals to restaurants that are far from the beaten path.
Oasis of good food and flavourful drinks
Photo: Tiina Tahvanainen
Just a stone’s throw away from Kastelholm, a stately medieval castle on the shores of Finland’s autonomous Åland Islands, you can find Smakbyn (Taste Village), an inspiring restaurant in the archipelago countryside, where you can enjoy a good meal and refreshing drinks made of local ingredients. You can also take part in cooking classes or visit the local distillery.
Organic products direct from the producer
Photo: Vesa Tyni/Otavamedia
Almost every city or town in Finland has a market where small producers sell freshly baked products, berries, root vegetables and fish. Younger sellers, in particular, speak English and will be happy to tell you about their products. You can identify Finnish products by the words “suomalainen” or “kotimainen.” Find inspiration for your food!
See and taste the Lapland wilderness
Photo: Sami Repo
At the top of Ounasvaara, a fell located outside the northern city of Rovaniemi, the Sky Kitchen restaurant offers wonderful views and food inspired by the Lapland wilderness. The menu combines northern purity, frost, sun and soundscapes into a trendy package.
Tampere’s own tribute to good food
Photo: Sara Pihlaja/Otavamedia
Tamperrada – inspired by the Tamborrada Festival in Spain – is Finland’s biggest food festival. For five days, restaurants in the Tampere region serve delicious local versions of small Spanish snacks called pintxos.
Smaku introduces local tastes of Porvoo
Photo: Henriikka Seppälä
The city of Porvoo, about 50 kilometres (30 miles) east of Helsinki, hosts Smaku, a food festival that offers signature dishes from various local restaurants in the form of small treats. Each establishment creates a tasting version of at least one appetiser, main course or dessert, and visitors can vote for the best dish. The festival culminates in a food feast at Porvoo Art Factory on the final day.
Warm-hearted service
Photo: Pasi Leino
Kaskis, chosen as restaurant of the year in 2018, is located in the southwestern Finnish city of Turku. Kaskis specialises in organic and local food featuring many plants found in the wild. Some are gathered by the chefs themselves.
History and gastronomy
Photo: Teemu Lautamies
Once a base for clearing and storing naval mines, Lonna Island is an attraction in itself, but it also happens to have one of the best summer restaurants in Helsinki. You can reach Lonna by ferry (the same boat also goes to the island fortress of Suomenlinna) from May to September.
Enjoy food in historical surroundings
Photo: Fiskars Village
Fiskars Village, founded in the 17th century, is known today as a centre of Finnish art and design. The village has a strong culinary tradition with a varied local and organic cuisine. Fiskars Brewery produces artisanal beers.
Feel at home in the beautiful archipelago
Photo: Rasmus Palmgren
Farmors Café (Grandmother’s Café) is a picturesque summer café on the island of Högsåra off the southwestern coast. Surrounded by a lovely garden, the old red cottage is an idyllic summer delight where visitors can enjoy freshly baked cakes and tasty summer dishes.
From waste to food
Photo: Restaurant Loop
Loop Restaurant in Helsinki produces high-quality vegetarian dishes from surplus raw materials collected from merchants and producers. Loop donates 70 percent of the retrieved food to charity. The restaurant also helps unemployed young persons and immigrants enter the workforce. Loop serves lunch every weekday and brunch on weekends.
Local food from a wise old owl
Photo: Robert Kurki
The Pöllöwaari (Old Owl) restaurant in the central Finnish city of Jyväskylä offers lovingly prepared menus and à la carte dishes made from top-quality, seasonal ingredients. The restaurant is located in the Boutique Hotel Yöpuu.
Experience food, art and design
Photo: Julius Konttinen
The Food & Art Festival is held in the beautiful surroundings of Ruissalo, an island outside of Turku. The festival is a multisensory event where art, design and gourmet dishes meet in a intimate atmosphere. Visiting chefs from around the world conjure up dishes for everyone to enjoy.
By Marina Ahlberg and Selja Tiilikainen, ThisisFINLAND Magazine 2019
