Restaurants in North Central Finland
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Sokeri-Jussin Kievari
An Oulu classic, this timbered local on Pikisaari was once a sugar warehouse and has outdoor tables that have good views of the centre. Although the renovated interior has lost a bit of the original character, it’s still an attractive spot to eat, with no-frills traditional dishes, including reindeer.
reviewed
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Wanha Lyhty & Kellari
This cellar restaurant is a testament to the nautical history, bedecked with model ships and ropes, but the traditional Finnish food is first rate. Upstairs the more casual bar does irregular live music.
reviewed
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Matala
One of a clutch of upmarket restaurants around the kauppatori, this consistently delivers on food, service and, of course, location; outside seating puts you in the middle of things but the awning affords you a little privacy. There are various degustation menus (€48 to €83) using typical northern Finnish ingredients; delicious Arctic char, or veal sweetbreads with globe artichoke are examples from the regularly overhauled à la carte menu.
reviewed
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Franzén
Opposite the cathedral, in a building dating back to 1829, this is one of Oulu's finest restaurants. The cuisine is French and Finnish, with fish (salmon, trout perch), reindeer and willow grouse featuring on the menu. The wine list is good and the decoration impeccable, and there's also a German-style beer cellar (Johanneksen kellari). Book ahead, as they may not open otherwise.
reviewed
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1881 Uleåborg
In an old warehouse near the kauppatori, this classy spot combines chic Finnish style with a traditional setting. The dishes subtly purr ‘Suomi’ to your palate, with Baltic herrings accompanied with crayfish sauce and new potatoes with dill and sour cream, or vendace terrine with whitefish and fennel salad, as well as a mouth-cleanser of traditional strawberry milk.
reviewed
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Umpitunneli
The ‘Dead-End Tunnel’ may be a road to nowhere but it’s a most enjoyable one, with a huge terrace, plenty of pissed-up locals adding entertainment value at weekends, and large plates of food, from creamy pastas to steaks and Tex-Mex. There are often live bands, or else the humppa (a fast Finnish dance, between a waltz and a foxtrot) music gets going. A classic.
reviewed
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Café Bisketti
This top double-sided spot transforms itself throughout the day. Think twice before getting that pastry with your morning coffee; they’re enormous, and might not leave room for lunch, when soup, salad, coffee and a pastry are €6.30, and only €7.80 with a tasty hot dish. In the evenings, the terrace is a decent spot for a people-watching beer.
reviewed
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À La Carte
Tornio’s best restaurant is in the Kaupunginhotelli and its elegant upmarket decor, quality food and this town’s lack of other options more than make up for scatty service and an uninspiring name. Dishes come generously proportioned and handsomely presented, with tasty smoked salmon and tender meats. Various ‘Lapp menus’ cost €27 to €48.
reviewed
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Ranch
In an alley off the main street, the painted windows here defy casual stickybeaking but conceal a pleasant interior. The food’s for meat-eating people with an appetite; big burgers and choose-your-weight steaks fried and served in the pan with crunchy vegetables and a mountain of potato. Good service and free corn chips add points.
reviewed
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Sirius
Located above the rapids, this restaurant is set in a characterful 1940s villa built as a residence for the local paper company. Choices range from salad table to a full buffet, and there are also delicious, classy daily fish or meat specials. There’s a great terrace out the back. It opens in the evenings for group bookings only.
reviewed
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Restaurant Josephine
For a quality sit-down meal, Josephine, in the Kaupunginhotelli, is a good choice. The menu is broad and excellent value, with tasty salmon, liver and other Finnish specialities alongside pan pizzas and pastas. There's also a 'Lapp menu', with several reindeer dishes (including boiled tongue) and a couple of set menus.
reviewed
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Martina
Warm and welcoming, this chain place has a huge menu for the whole family, with a range of pizzas and pastas as well as fish, salad buffet, and grilled chicken, meat and vegetables. You can create your own dish: main course, accompaniment and sauce, a happy thing if you’ve tired of the same old combinations.
reviewed
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Pikantti
This attractive spot has a stylish interior with white wooden fittings and lamps off-setting the lack of natural light. It offers an excellent lunchtime salad buffet, with options to include daily soup or hot dish specials. Dessert and coffee are included, and there’s pleasant outdoor seating.
reviewed
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Katri Antell
An Oulu institution, this cafe takes the venerability award; the first Katri was founded in 1880. The elegant chairs and hook-shaped couch make comfortable seats to enjoy a munkki (doughnut) and coffee, though all you can usually see from the terrace is a forest of bikes.
reviewed
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Café Alma
This fabulous place on the waterfront has a bright atrium dining area at the front and a sizeable terrace. Dominating the interior is a sizeable scale model of the ship Alma. There's a fine buffet lunch; the filled rolls and other snacks are also delicious.
reviewed
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Ristorante Pizz-Burger
Despite the name (get it?), this restaurant actually serves quite a bit more than just pizza and the like. There are also decent portions of trout or steak available, as well as pasta and salad. There's a filling lunchtime buffet, booth seating and a small terrace.
reviewed
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Baari Martai
In an unattractive industrial area not far from the tourist office, this place keeps lunching workers happy with excellent, very authentic hot dishes. Sautéed reindeer and fried vendace were the choices the day we last dropped in; there’s also a plate for kids.
reviewed
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Zakuska
This place, in the busy strip of bars and cafés, is one of the best-value restaurants in town and deservedly popular for its tasty Russian cuisine. The décor and music add to the 'east of Finland' atmosphere, the onion steak is good, as are the blini.
reviewed
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Café Avela
In a pretty wooden building opposite the bookshop, this unassuming little place is a small cafe and craft shop with a small selection of tasty home-baked cheesecakes and daily salads and soup, good value with a hunk of homemade bread for €3.50 to €4.50.
reviewed
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Neljä Kaesaa
The best central option is only open at lunchtime, when it doles out portions of warming and traditional Finnish comfort food like stews (sometimes with elk), or fried muikku (vendace). It opens extended hours during the music festival.
reviewed
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Ravintola Lokkilinna
This well-positioned yet secluded spot overlooks the dunes, making for an excellent summer terrace for a beer or filling lunch buffet. A new development promises to make this area busier so enjoy it before it gets too crowded.
reviewed
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Istanbul Oriental
This stylishly decorated place in the heart of things is a rather good Turkish restaurant with plenty of vegetarian options and succulent chargrilled meat. Service is excellent, though the food’s somewhat overpriced.
reviewed
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Andalucía
By the cathedral, this new tapas bar has quickly attracted a loyal local following. Tasty snacks plus various wines by the glass are on offer, and there’s an atmospheric cellar bar in this characterful 1829 building.
reviewed
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Orkidean Kukka
The best year-round eating spot in a town not overburdened with options is this attractive Vietnamese, which puts on a lunch buffet as well as tasty and good-value fish, chicken and beef dishes served with a smile.
reviewed
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Vanhankaupingin Ravintola
Set in a Neristan townhouse, this elegant spot does great Finnish cuisine. Try the reindeer entrée that’s set off with Lappish cheese or sample local seafood Arctic char with scallops.
reviewed
