Best lunch spots in Oulu

Why we love it? Alfred’s lunch never disappoints. The daily menu features a meat, chicken or fish option, plus a vegetarian dish that often includes the same components as the non-veg version. Whichever you choose, a delicious experience is guaranteed – the perfect midweek pause. Candles often flicker on the tables, accompanied by tiny floral bouquets. Starters are laid out buffet-style, with a generous salad selection, olives, kimchi, marinated red onion and heavenly house bread. The main course arrives as a beautifully plated dish. It’s just the right size for lunch, though you can opt for a larger portion if you’re extra hungry. To finish, there’s Alfred’s own signature coffee, fragrant loose-leaf tea and homemade biscuits that will win over even the most hurried diner.

Time Out tip: Alfred is a popular lunch spot, so it’s best to arrive right at opening or after 12.30. Table reservations are available outside the busiest hours.

Address: Pakkahuoneenkatu 24

Opening hours: Lunch served Mon–Fri 10.30–13.30

Expect to pay: Lunch €14.50

What is it? An Indian restaurant whose lunch buffet has been ranked among the best in Finland.

Why we love it? Lunch at Garam Masala is a full-on journey to India. The dining room glows with warm colours, ornate lamps and metal tableware, with Indian music setting the mood. The buffet includes a generous salad bar, eight different hot dishes, naan and papadum, yoghurt-based raita and dessert. Each table also has two types of chilli sauce: one sweet, one fiery. There’s meat, chicken, fish and vegetarian options, all perfectly spiced – flavourful yet fresh. The naan arrives warm, served straight to your table, and the dessert – a silky, pudding-like mango creation – is a highlight. Coffee and Indian milk tea follow, and for a final touch, there’s mukhwas, a sweet, aromatic seed mix with anise that leaves your mouth refreshed.

Time Out tip: The restaurant is right next to the railway station – perfect for a quick, satisfying lunch between train connections.

Address: Kajaaninkatu 27

Opening hours: Lunch served Mon–Fri 10.30–14.30

Expect to pay: Buffet lunch €14.50

What is it? A hotel and restaurant housed in a historic former retirement home.

Why we love it? You can’t help but pause to admire the lobby in De Gamlas Hem as you arrive – even at lunchtime, the candles are glowing. The rustic dining room features timber walls strung with decorative lights and old ovens now serving as ornaments. Every table has a small bouquet of flowers. Lunch includes a choice between a homely Finnish buffet or a vegetarian dish served to the table. Vegetarians are especially well looked after here – their plates are carefully composed and full of flavour. The home-style buffet is consistently excellent, accompanied by a diverse salad selection and fresh rieska flatbread from local Lännentila bakery. For dessert, there’s tea or Record Coffee’s Vaalia kahavi, a coffee blend roasted exclusively for De Gamlas Hem, plus something sweet such as pancakes or biscuits.

Time Out tip: The hotel-restaurant offers free parking, and if the lot is full, there’s also complimentary street parking nearby.

Address: Kirkkokatu 54

Opening hours: Lunch served Mon–Fri 10.30–13.30

Expect to pay: Lunch €13.70

What is it? A Chinese restaurant and lounge in a prime spot inside the Pekuri Patio complex.

Why we love it? When you walk into Golden Flower’s bright, high-ceilinged dining room, you might not immediately guess you’ve entered a Chinese restaurant. The space combines dark wood, lush greenery and sheer white panel curtains that create calm, semi-private corners. The lunch menu features traditional Chinese dishes alongside house specialities, and the origins of all meats are clearly listed – the chicken and pork are Finnish. Starters come from a circular buffet offering both Asian and Western-style salads, spring rolls and soup. Mains are beautifully plated and served to the table. The fried dumplings with chilli dipping sauce always take us back to Chinatowns around the world. The dishes are fresh and carefully prepared, with heat levels you can adjust yourself thanks to the chilli paste on each table. Even the drinks are thoughtfully chosen – try the refreshing mint and lemon infused water.

Time Out tip: You can reserve a table for lunch via the restaurant’s website – it’s worth it, as seats fill up fast during peak hours.

Address: Kauppakortteli Pekuri, Kirkkokatu 16

Opening hours: Lunch served Mon–Fri 11.00–14.00

Expect to pay: Traditional dishes €13.70, chef’s specials €15.90

What is it? A noodle bar focused on Thai flavours, located on one of Oulu’s busiest streets.

Why we love it? You can smell the delicious aromas as soon as you step inside – and you can see straight into the open kitchen, where the woks are sizzling. Lunchtime gets busy, but there’s plenty of seating these days. There’s no separate lunch menu, but dishes are offered at a discounted price during lunch hours, plus one daily special. As the name suggests, noodles are the main event here, though there are a few rice dishes too. All noodle dishes can be made vegan and gluten-free on request – and they’re the best in town. Our go-tos are the Thai classics pad thai and tom yum noodle soup, perfectly balancing tang and heat. You can choose your own spice level, or skip the chilli altogether. Each table has coriander, lime, fish sauce and other seasonings so you can customise your meal. Lunch includes coffee or tea and a small biscuit for dessert.

Time Out tip: Don’t miss the seasonal mushroom dish made with Finnish forest mushrooms – it’s fantastic when available. And if you can’t finish your meal, grab one of the takeaway boxes from the side table and pack it up easily.

Address: Merikoskenkatu 9

Opening hours: Lunch prices available Mon–Fri 10.00–14.30

Expect to pay: Dishes from €12, daily lunch special €13.70

What is it? A seaside restaurant with panoramic views over Nallikari beach and the sea.

Why we love it? Lunch with the city’s best view? Yes, please. The light-flooded dining room makes the wine glasses on the tables sparkle in Ravintola Nallikari, but your eyes are drawn to the spectacular seaside panorama visible from every seat. The highlight of Nallikari’s lunch is its archipelago buffet – perfectly suited to the coastal setting – featuring several kinds of fish, hearty salads, grilled vegetables and soup, served with traditional archipelago bread. You can also opt for the full buffet, which adds a hot main course such as meat, chicken or fish. For a lighter option, there’s the soup lunch – still satisfyingly filling (the minced meat soup with mushrooms and beans is a favourite). Every buffet includes a small dessert, like a pretty pink berry pannacotta. In summer, the terrace is the place to be, with a refreshing sea breeze as your dining companion.

Time Out tip: The lighthouse building visible from the restaurant windows is one of Oulu’s most iconic landmarks – and a great photo spot year-round. There’s plenty of free parking, and a walk along the beach makes the perfect post-lunch activity.

Address: Nallikarinranta 15

Opening hours: Lunch served Mon–Fri 11.00–15.00

Expect to pay: Soup lunch €11.50, archipelago buffet €17.50, full buffet €23

What is it? Charming Hostel café Huvila offers lunch in a beautifully restored wooden villa.

Why we love it? Tucked among Toppilansalmi’s modern apartment blocks, this old villa café is a delightful surprise. Inside, you’ll find ornate fireplaces and carefully chosen vintage furniture – and the food is just as unique. This is probably the only place in town where you can get Shanghai tacos (Vietnamese-style filled pancakes) and salmon soup made with smoked fish. The weekly lunch rotation keeps things varied: lasagne early in the week, Nepalese lunch midweek and salmon soup with tacos towards the end. There’s always a vegan and gluten-free option. Our favourite Shanghai taco filling is the house-seasoned tofu – generous, flavour-packed, yet somehow still easy to eat by hand. The whole experience is fresh and vibrant, just like good Vietnamese cooking. Lunch always includes a colourful salad buffet and a small dessert, such as freshly cut fruit.

Time Out tip: The café’s Nepalese lunch stands out from the city’s other options thanks to its home-cooked feel – a light yet satisfying midday meal.

Address: Panimotie 1

Opening hours: Lunch served Tue–Sat 11.00–15.00

Expect to pay: Lunch €13.50

What is it? A Japanese restaurant specialising in ramen noodle soups and donburi rice bowls.

Why we love it? Hidden within the Pekuri shopping complex, Nekosama is a small Japanese gem that’s easy to miss – tucked a few steps below the other restaurants behind fabric banners. Inside, it’s calm, cosy and atmospheric, a peaceful pocket amid the buzz outside. At lunchtime, steaming bowls of ramen and donburi are carried to tables, topped with delights like popcorn-crispy karaage chicken or tempura vegetables and tofu. The rice is flavourful and perfectly sticky for chopsticks. The sauces – mayo and chilli – add depth without being overly spicy. Water is included, but an alcohol-free ginger beer pairs beautifully with the dishes.

Time Out tip: Combine lunch with some culture – in 2026, the Pekuri complex will host the PLAY exhibition, a collaboration between Fotografiska Tallinn and Oulu2026.

Address: Pekuri Patio, Kirkkokatu 16

Opening hours: Lunch served Mon–Fri 11.00–14.00

Expect to pay: Lunch dishes €12.70–€12.90

What is it? A family-run Greek and Mediterranean restaurant founded by an owner who lived in Cyprus for 20 years.

Why we love it? Step through Gaia’s doors and you’re instantly transported to the Mediterranean. Your eye catches the vibrant pink bougainvillaea and the matching oversized lampshades, while turquoise-hued abstract paintings evoke the dazzling Greek sea. Modern Greek music fills the room, setting the mood for the feast ahead. Gaia’s lunch dishes are hearty, familiar favourites: the melt-in-the-mouth lamb kleftiko and grilled chicken with herby feta sauce are rich and satisfying. Don’t miss the fluffy pita bread and tzatziki – they’re essential. Portions are generous, and any leftovers can be packed up to take away. Coffee, tea and biscuits are included for dessert.

Time Out tip: If nothing on the lunch menu catches your eye, you can order from the à la carte list instead. Enjoy a glass of wine, beer or even the house cocktail, the Metaxa Sour, with your meal.

Address: Hallituskatu 30

Opening hours: Lunch served Mon–Fri 11.00–14.00

Expect to pay: Lunch dishes €13.90–€20; non-alcoholic beer €6; Greek beer €8.50; glass of Greek wine from €9.50

What is it? An atmospheric events venue by Prunnitori Square that also serves lunch.

Why we love it? Soft lounge jazz greets you as you walk through the doors of Voimala. Many locals know it as a music venue, but it’s now also one of Oulu’s most inviting lunch spots. The historic, industrial setting adds character to the experience, complemented by music that perfectly suits the space. Lunch is a buffet of comforting Finnish-style dishes, laid out spaciously for a relaxed flow. The salad bar is generous and varied, with marinated vegetables, cheeses, fruit, dressings and assorted greens. The bread is oven-fresh with a crunchy crust – best enjoyed with a smear of rich browned butter. The hot dishes usually include a vegetarian soup plus a meat, fish or chicken option with sides. BBQ pulled pork with jalapeño potatoes delivers a satisfying kick, while the broccoli soup with white wine adds a delicate touch. Dessert is simple but sweet: coffee, tea, biscuits and a few sweets.

Time Out tip: Located right next to Ainola Park, Voimala is perfect for pairing lunch with a scenic stroll. And while you’re there, check out the latest events on the Voimala calendar.

Address: Kasarmintie 1

Opening hours: Mon–Fri 10.30–13.30

Expect to pay: Lunch €13.70