Must-see restaurants in Karelia

  • Ravintola Nuotta

    Karelia

    Two sizes of bliny (Russian buckwheat pancakes), topped with hot or cold salmon, trout roe, crayfish tails, or sour cream, pickled cucumber, red onion and…

  • Alamaja

    Karelia

    Right on the lake's shore at Koli harbour, this rust-red, double-storey timber building has two terraces overlooking the water (or, in winter, ice) and…

  • Parppeinpirtti

    Karelia

    Ilomantsi's one foodie highlight is this traditional house in the Parppeinvaara village, which does a real-deal pitopöytä (Karelian buffet) complete with…

  • Teatteri

    Karelia

    Locally sourced ingredients prepared in innovative ways are served in the town hall's art-deco surrounds and on its beautiful summer terrace. Dishes span…

  • Säräpirtti Kippurasarvi

    Karelia

    The best place to taste Lemi's famous lemin särä (roast mutton) is this family-oriented lakeshore restaurant, which serves nothing but the town's…

  • Ravintola Kielo

    Karelia

    At the high end of Karelian cuisine, Kielo's artfully presented miniature starters such as whitefish escabeche with mussel mayo or sugar- and salt-cured…

  • Local Bistro

    Karelia

    Run by upbeat staff, this hip new bistro does a bargain lunch buffet but really comes into its own from 2pm, when its à la carte menu offers dishes like…

  • Bomban Talo

    Karelia

    The mammoth wood cabin at Bomba Village contains the Sokos Bomba Hotel’s restaurant serving a Karelian buffet to the masses, with karjalanpiirakka (rice…

  • Wanha Makasiini

    Lappeenranta

    High-quality dishes at this cosy spot in a red-brick former gunsmith's workshop range from fresh fish to house-made sausages and seasonal delicacies like…

  • Kasino

    Lappeenranta

    Pork tenderloin with dill and sour-cream sauce, crumbed white lake fish with salmon roe, and perch with cider sauce are among the options served at this…

  • Wolkoff Restaurant & Wine Bar

    Lappeenranta

    This grand Old World restaurant utilises organic produce and seasonal ingredients to create gourmet Finnish cuisine with adventurous flavour combinations…

  • Buttenhoff

    Karelia

    Cooking up specialities from France (Burgundy escargot) and Russia (bliny – buckwheat pancakes – with caviar), this 1st-floor restaurant also creates…

  • Kahvila Majurska

    Lappeenranta

    If you can’t border-hop to a genuine Russian teahouse, this is as close as you’ll get in Finland. A former officers' club (check out the vintage furniture…

  • Kahvila Kolin Ryynänen

    Karelia

    In Koli village, this creative hub serves as an exhibition space and has an artist-in-residence as well as a sauna. Grilled lake fish and reindeer steaks…

  • Kahvila Annukka

    Karelia

    Breads, pastries and cakes are baked daily on site at this seasonally opening cafe, which also serves sandwiches and other light dishes along with…

  • Café Julia

    Karelia

    On the ground floor of the Buttenhoff restaurant, this charming cafe serves dishes like Finnish pancakes with smoked salmon and blackcurrants, but is best…

  • Kahvila & Konditoria Houkutus

    Karelia

    Houkutus does great coffee and even better cakes (the mint blackcurrant cake is a treat), along with savoury pastries such as quiches, meal-sized salads…

  • Lieksan Leipomo

    Karelia

    In a beautiful wooden building, this endearing bakery is a local favourite for filling lunch buffets featuring a daily soup (such as smoked reindeer) and…