When your hungry and tired after travelling or spending a
day in your activities it can be a exhausting to think where to eat and reload
yourself. Restaurant scene in Rovaniemi is quite vivid despite the relatively
small population of the town. You can have a nice food experience in a typical chain
restaurant but we want to suggest to you some specialities you can find only in
Rovaniemi.
First some practical stuff: Word ”ravintola” stands for
”restaurant”, ”kahvila” is for ”cafe or cafeteria”. The water served from the
tab is fresh and nowadays considered
even cleaner than bottled water. Finland does not have a typical tipping
culture and leaving the restaurant
without tipping is not considered rude. After long, helpful and friendly
service it is yet thoughtful to remember the waiter or other staff with small
amount of euros.
Top 5 interesting restaurants in Rovaniemi
1. Restaurant Roka
Recently opened, small bistro style restaurant with
combination of Lappish, American and
Italian kitchen. Two menus: bistro and street food. Strong recommendations for
reindeer sandwich from street food menu and salmon risotto from bistro menu.
Friendly service and good selection of wines. Located in the city center.
Website only in Finnish at the moment, menus and service also in English at the
restaurant.
Ainonkatu 3. www.ravintolaroka.fi Tripadvisor reviews
2. Aitta Deli&Dine
For people searching for local dishes with a modern twist
Aitta Deli&Dine is worth visiting. Lunch from Mon-Sat, dinner from Wed-Sat
and Brunch on Sundays. Serves also cafeteria products, wine and beers from
small brewerys. Local deli products to take home with.
Rovakatu 26. www.aittadeli.com.
Tripadvisor reviews.
3. Restaurant Nili
Traditional Lappish and Finnish restaurant with local
products. A small legend amongst the locals dispite the young age. Strong
recommendation for reindeer dishes. Friendly service, reservation is
recommended.
Valtakatu 20. www.nili.fi.
Tripadvisor reviews.
4. Wakkanai Sushi
Just recently opened sushi restaurant in the city center.
Atmospheric interiors and reasonable prices. Sushi is served in platter dishes
inspired by the local nature and ingredients.
Valtakatu 23. www.facebook.com/Wakkanai-Sushi
5. Lunch Cafe Toivo
This cafeteria serves delicious and traditional lunch dishes
and tasty bakery products. Popular with locals, situated just 300 meter from
the city center square. Open also during breakfast time.
Rovakatu 14. www.cafetoivo.fi
Other restaurants and
cafes worth trying:
Cafe&Bar 21: Famous for salty and sweet waffle dishes
and fresh design.
Kauppayhtiö: Famous for tasty and ambitious burgers.
Restaurant Sky Ounasvaara: Famous for top chefs, location
and fancy food.
Chodo Deli: Famous for
the best chocolate in town (or in the world).
Fransmanni: Famous for being a good chain restaurant.
Fast food:
McDonald’s: The northenmost McBurgers in Finland.
Hesburger: A good national competitioner for the giant
Kotipizza: The biggest pizza chain in Finland, close to Borealis
