Finland's best restaurants

What is it? A fairytale fine-dining destination hidden inside a moody, red-brick manor on the shores of Lake Vanajavesi. Located just outside Hämeenlinna – and an easy hour’s drive from Helsinki – this ‘castle-like’ estate feels worlds away from the capital. Once the private playground of industrial tycoons, it’s now home to one of Finland’s most ambitious kitchens.

Why we love it? Head chef Tuomas Vierelä (formerly of Michelin-starred Olo) has reinvented the manor’s historic dining room with a masterfully balanced, modern Nordic menu. Ditch the à la carte for the four-course surprise menu; it’s where the kitchen truly flexes its muscles with playful, hands-on dishes like Jerusalem artichoke soup with fennel-pollen brioche or beef tartare with towering rice cakes. Because Vierelä tweaks the menu last-minute based on the morning’s freshest local haul, the experience is often as much of a surprise to the waiters as it is to the guests.

Time Out tip: Go all in: pair the surprise menu with the wine package and book a room at the Vanajanlinna Resort to avoid the drive back. The breakfast is also curated by Vierelä, with 90 percent of the spread made in-house. It’s a rare chance to see a fine-dining chef tackle the most important meal of the day; think of it as the ultimate encore to your dinner.

What is it? Turku’s most beloved restaurant, awarded both a Michelin Star and the Michelin Green Star for sustainability.

Why we love it? Many people travel to Turku just to eat at Kaskis. The restaurant’s heart and soul are its owners, Erik Mansikka and Simo Raisio — one of whom is always in the kitchen, leading their skilled team. Kaskis is a masterclass in balance and ambition: elegant interiors, meticulously crafted dishes, inventive drinks and warm, easy-going service all come together perfectly.

Kaskenkatu 6a, Turku. Kaskis menu €129, wine pairing €99.

What is it? Aiming for perfection but never taking itself too seriously, this restaurant has held its Michelin star for 15 years. Every dish on Olo’s menu is meticulously considered, but the real star is the masterfully seared scallop – the kind that makes you understand what scallops are truly meant to be.

Why we love it? Dinner here is a three-hour culinary journey where each course feels like a new adventure. Your guide for the evening is head waiter Sam – poised, witty and always ready with a clever quip or two. The tasting menu never repeats itself: each of its nine or so dishes offers a unique experience, yet together they form a perfectly balanced whole. And by the end of it all, you can’t help but sigh: what a feeling – which is fitting, since olo means exactly that in Finnish: feeling, or sense of being.

Pohjoisesplanadi 5. Open Tue–Sat 18.00–00.00. Menu €175, with wine pairings from €276.

What is it? Finland has its fair share of speakeasies, but Apaja takes the idea a step further – it’s a secret restaurant. Small, intimate and beautifully understated, it’s hidden so well you’d never stumble upon it by chance.

Why we love it: To reach Apaja, you step through a low doorway in a quiet backyard, like entering a rabbit hole; and what awaits inside is a kind of culinary Wonderland. The six-course menu changes with the seasons, featuring ingredients foraged, fished or hunted nearby. In summer you’ll find fresh greens and herbs; in winter, pickled vegetables and rich game from local hunters and fishermen. Everything is thoughtful, local and deeply connected to nature.

Huhtamäenkatu 3 C, Tampere. Tasting menu €78. Closed Sun–Tue.

What is it? Aanaar is a fine dining restaurant set on the banks of the Juutua River, surrounded by the stark beauty of Lapland’s wilderness. Its spirit is both northern and refined. You can choose between three- or five-course dinners, or opt for something lighter from the à la carte menu.

Why we love it? Aanaar turns the nature of Lapland into culinary art, without pretension or gimmicks. The changing northern seasons are reflected on the plate: reindeer, whitefish, mushrooms, herbs and even pine bark appear as beautifully composed dishes that tell the story of the land. Here, even the king crab counts as local produce, since the Arctic Ocean is only a couple of hours away.

Wilderness Hotel Juutua, Saarikoskentie 2, Inari. Three-course menu €72, five courses €95. Open nightly.

What is it? This tiny restaurant in the small town of Lohja is both a destination restaurant and a chef’s table in the truest sense. There are only eight seats, and people travel from across Finland just to eat here. And honestly, can you think of many other reasons to visit Lohja? (Alright, there’s at least one – Finland’s most beautiful tree, so called Paavola oak.)

Why we love it? When chef Mikko Utter moved with his family to the small, unassuming town of Lohja, opening a fine dining restaurant probably wasn’t the obvious next step. But he did it anyway, and people started coming, from all over Finland. His restaurant is as personal as it gets: Utter bakes the bread, pickles the vegetables, makes the cheeses and cured meats, cooks every dish and serves them himself. He even finds time to chat with guests between courses. Dinner here feels less like eating out and more like being welcomed into your friend’s home – if your friend happens to be one of Finland’s most talented cooks.

Kauppakatu 16, Lohja. Seven-course menu €85. Bookings open at the start of each season and sell out fast.

What is it? The buffet at Tertti Manor is a true feast for the senses – a lavish spread of around fifty dishes, all made on site. Expect organic vegetables from the manor’s own garden, meat from nearby farms and fish caught in Lake Saimaa, seasoned with herbs grown just outside the kitchen door. 

Why we love it: Set in the heart of Finnish Lakeland, Tertti is one of the best places to discover the region’s lakeside food traditions and its deep respect for nature’s bounty. It might sound pricey for a buffet, but it’s worth every euro. Dining here, surrounded by the elegance of the old manor house, feels like a special occasion in itself. For many Finns, a visit to Tertti has become a cherished summer or Christmas tradition.

Kuopiontie 68, Norola. Lunch buffet €54.

What is it? The best Mexican food in Finland is found in Turku’s old market hall. Run by a chef and a philosopher, this tiny café is worth visiting for lunch or an early dinner. Opening hours are short – until 6pm on weekdays and 4pm on Saturdays – so plan your visit carefully.

Why we love it: Chingón is Mexican Spanish slang meaning, roughly, ‘damn good’, and that’s exactly what this place is. A Mexican friend of mine swears it’s the only spot in Finland that truly tastes like home. He even travels from Helsinki to Turku regularly just to eat here. The menu is simple but perfect: quesadillas, enchiladas and tacos made with real care and flavour.

Turku Market Hall, Eerikinkatu 16. Closed on Sundays. Quesadillas €7, enchiladas €11.

What is it? Halfway between Jyväskylä and Pieksämäki, this roadside grill in Hankasalmi has become a pilgrimage site for burger lovers. Devotees have voted Grill Room the best burger joint in Finland two years running, in 2024 and 2025. The place is so popular there’s even a traffic light by the entrance – when it’s red, orders are piling up and you’ll need a little patience.

Why we love it: Grill Room’s smash burgers are crisp-edged, juicy and perfectly balanced. Each one comes with just the right ratio of caramelised, flat-seared beef, melted cheese and sauce; no gimmicks, no nonsense. The ingredients are top quality, the portions generous and the atmosphere delightfully unpretentious. This is the kind of place that proudly keeps the Finnish roadside grill tradition alive and sizzling.

Ysitie 362, Hankasalmi. Open Sat–Thu 11am–8pm. Burgers around €12, fries €5.

What is it? Farmor’s Café is the Finnish archipelago at its most idyllic. It’s located on the small island of Högsåra, just a short (and free) ferry ride from Kasnäs at the tip of the Kimitoön island. The café operates in a former pilot’s cottage dating back to the late 18th and early 19th centuries.

Why we love it: Set in a lush garden surrounded by apple trees and flowers, Farmor’s Café serves food that tastes like pure Finnish summer by the sea: fresh fish, savoury pies, crisp salads and legendary desserts (the strawberry cake alone is worth the trip). Time seems to slow here: the air is scented with herbs from the garden, and dishes arrive decorated with flowers picked on the island. In mid-July, the café bursts into life when the party band Spruce comes to play, turning this tranquil hideaway into a joyful seaside celebration.

Högsåra village road. Open in summer.