Until now, I have never considered Finland a foodie destination, but then the restaurants in Oulu proved me wrong. Especially, because their menus offer something for everyone while often focusing on local ingredients and Arctic food.
I have to admit that I did not expect to love the food scene in this coastal city. After all, I cannot eat seafood and often eat vegetarian, and therefore undeniably miss out on many local specialties. But every single restaurant in Oulu I ate at had at least one vegetarian dish with a local twist.
Add the fact that everything I was served was delicious, and I can say that the city of Oulu is an ideal destination for foodies. And chances are, that the city’s food scene will only get better in the coming years.
After all, more and more local restaurants are getting involved in the Artic Food Lab program which celebrates the local Arctic cuisine and gastronomy, and the use of local ingredients. Thanks to this, you will be able to treat yourself to unique dishes that are typical for the region while eating at restaurants in Oulu. As such, eating out will therefore be part of a cultural journey through this part of Finland.
Do you want to know more about what the city has to offer aside from fantastic restaurants? Then read this article about visiting Oulu in winter.
This post may contain affiliate links(*), which means I may receive a commission, at no extra cost to you if you make a purchase through a link. Please see the full disclosure for further information.
The Best Restaurants in Oulu City Center
Alfred Kitchen & Bar
Address: Pakkahuoneenkatu 24
Alfred Kitchen & Bar opened in the autumn of 2023 and is the brother restaurant of ‘Gustav’ in Rovaniemi. With its dark interior, this restaurant combines a cozy atmosphere with a classic touch. Combined with the fact that the staff is incredibly friendly and that the food is fabulous, it is my favorite restaurant in Oulu.
When eating at this restaurant in Oulu, people usually order one cold and one warm dish, and I highly recommend doing so as the dishes are ideal combinations.
There are four options each on the ‘cold’ and ‘hot’ menu, and you can choose between seafood, beef, and a vegetarian dish.
I had the pumpkin, followed by Jerusalem artichoke risotto, and both dishes were delicious. As was the coconut pudding dessert with lime meringue and tutti-frutti sorbet.
I highly recommend the house cocktail, if you want a drink alongside your meal. The Alfred Hardball is a cocktail with coconut and lime. On top of having a well-rounded flavor that merges the ingredients, it is also sustainable as it uses the leftover limes from ceviche.
My recommendation: Pumpkin + Artichoke Risotto
Oula Kitchen & Bar
Address: Kirkkokatu 3 (Lapland Hotel)
Located inside the Lapland Hotel, the main dining area of Oula Kitchen & Bar has the same Lapland-centered theme as the hotel. However, larger groups can dine in the Pohjanholvi Room which feels like a movie set of Game of Thrones.
The food served at this restaurant in Oulu captures the flavors of Lapland, and you can choose between the regular à la carte menu and a surprise menu.
Hereby, the surprise dishes cannot be found on the regular menu and as there are several surprise menus, you never know what you will get even if you have already ordered it in the past.
You can choose a three or five-course surprise menu alongside a wine package that corresponds with the individual courses.
While the rest of the group got to eat reindeer and fish, I was served vegetarian options including cavi-art (which is produced from algae). I can only say that the vegetarian dishes I was served were very delicious and flavorful, and others told me the regular surprise menu dishes are just as good.
My recommendation: Let yourself be surprised by the Northern Finish cuisine and order the Surprise Menu.
All in all, the meal and experience are more than worth the higher price, as you get a great culinary experience that introduces you to the cuisine of Northern Finland. You can find the complete menu here.
Puistola
Address: Pakkahuoneenkatu 15
Puistola is a Scandinavian and European restaurant and wine bar that uses local ingredients. It also is a bakery, and thanks to this, the restaurant is a great place if you want a tasty dessert at the end of your meal.
Located in an Art Nouveau building, this restaurant in Oulu has an inviting atmosphere and friendly staff.
I recommend ordering the Northern Ostrobothnian tapas if you want to eat local dishes or a pizza if you want a taste of sunny Southern Europe (on a cold winter day). If you like eating fish, you can also order the catch of the day, and if you are vegetarian, the stuffed portobello are the ideal meal for you.
Voimala 1889
Address: Kasarmintie 1
Voimala 1889 is not a traditional restaurant, but a location that can be rented out alongside catering for 20 to 70 people. As such, it is a great place to eat in Oulu if you are looking for a culinary experience for a larger group or a private celebration.
The owner cares deeply about using local producers and “what is important [him] is local food”. For the table-service menu, you can choose between fish-based and vegetarian meals including burgers.
Located in an old power mill building, it is a location for live gigs and events. You can find a list of upcoming public events here.
Restaurants in Pikisaari
Sokeri-Jussin Kievari
Address: Pikisaarentie 2
Sokeri-Jussin Kievari is part of the Arctic Food Lab network so you get to try local dishes when eating at this Oulu restaurant. But it is even more special than that, as it is located in a historic log building that was used to store boot things. Originally built 30 km away, it was floated down the river to its current location.
The building is at least 160 years old, so the restaurant’s atmosphere is different than that of other restaurants in Oulu. It is an inviting setting in which you can feel the history that is all around you. Even the restaurant’s name is part of said history, as it was named after the house’s owner John who fell into sugar, and was from there on called ‘Sugar John’.
The staff is friendly, and our server told us a lot about the restaurant’s selection of local wines & drinks. Thanks to her, we tried the Valamon Ruusu, a tannin-free arctic wine with black currant and crowberry, and I highly recommend ordering a bottle alongside your meal.
While there are many tempting dishes on the menu, you should know that the servings are very generous, so I recommend skipping or sharing the starter.
I had the starter salad that came with a very flavorful dressing, and the Rowanberry Chicken as the main course. The roasted chicken breast is served with dark rowanberry sauce and creamy goat cheese potatoes, and it is an ideal combination of flavors that enhance each other.
My recommendation: If you want to try something unique and local, I recommend ordering the pikisaari special as a dessert. This creamy salty licorice parfait is served with dark and sweet tar sauce, and whipped cream. And while you might not expect to eat tar, the sauce is worth trying. Its flavor changes from salty, to licorice and then slightly earthy, which makes it a journey in itself.
Restaurant Mallassauna
Address: Pikisaarentie 15
Mallassauna might be simple when compared to other restaurants in Oulu on this list, but you certainly should not skip it. Located on Pikisaari, this beer restaurant is only a short walk from Oulu city center. And while it might surprise you, they serve German bar food including Flammkuchen (which is not commonly known in Finland). In fact, Flammkuchen has now become the restaurant’s most popular food during the summer months.
The restaurant belongs to Finland’s first organic brewery Hailuoton Panimo, and as such, you can enjoy a large variety of beers. Their wheat beer was even nominated as the best wheat beer in Finland. It tastes different than Bavarian wheat beer, but that is what makes it so interesting.
The brewery brews different kinds of beer in different months to uphold the old tradition. Hereby, the beer production is kept under 300K liters per year as the owners want to keep it small because they do not want to mess with the nature of the island where the beer is produced.
My recommendation: Order smaller glasses of beer so you can try at least two of the 14 taps.
And if the knowledge that the beer is produced in a sustainable way is not enough to make you visit this restaurant, the free saunas and firepit where you can grill your food should do the trick.
The Best Restaurants in Nallikari
Bistoria Patio
Address: Nallikarinranta 10
Bistoria Patio just opened at the end of February 2024, so I had the pleasure of eating there just after it opened. It is an Italian restaurant close to the beach so you can expect it to be busy in the summer months. Due to this, I recommend reserving a table.
The restaurant has the Ferrari of all pizza ovens, so the pizzas are rather popular, but you can also order pasta, risotto, and chicken grilled on a rotisserie grill. You can find the bilingual menu here.
My recommendation: Focaccia della Casa with different spreads (I could have eaten nothing but this and would have been happy as the bread and spreads were a harmony of flavors.) + Burrata al Tartufo + Grilled Chicken
This restaurant in Nallikari is also where you eat breakfast if you stay at the Nallikari Aalto Apartment Hotel. I enjoyed the large selection ranging from different breads, porridge, and yoghurt to meat and vegetable balls. If this sounds good to you, you have the option to eat breakfast at the restaurant even if you are not staying at the hotel.
What to know about Oulu
If you are a foodie who is planning a trip to Oulu, you might also be interested in where to stay and how to get there.
Where to stay in Oulu
Based on my own experience, I recommend the following two hotels in Oulu:
Lapland Hotel — If you want to stay near the city center, this 4-star hotel is a fantastic option. The rooms are modern and Lapland-themed. And if you are a foodie, you will love that Oula, one of the best restaurants in Oulu, is located inside the hotel.
Nallikari Aalto Apartment Hotel — This aparthotel is the ideal place to stay if you want to stay right at the beach – be it to go for a swim in summer, or to do all kinds of activities on the frozen sea in winter. Each apartment comes with a fully equipped kitchen, but given that another great Oulu restaurant is located on the ground floor, you likely won’t need it.
How to get to Oulu
Oulu has an international airport located only 20 minutes from the city center. Alongside numerous daily flights from and to Helsinki, you can also fly there from Las Palmas in Gran Canaria and Munich in Germany.
Once at the airport, you can either take a taxi, catch the bus, or pick up your rental car.
Alternatively, you can also get to Oulu by train or long-distance bus.
Roundup: Restaurants in Oulu
There are many fantastic restaurants in Oulu and the list above only lists some. As such, you should not disregard a restaurant because it is not on this list. However, I can promise that sticking to the restaurants in Oulu listed above will ensure a diverse and flavorful gastronomic experience. I loved the food and service at all of them, and all can cater to a vegetarian diet (or in my case, a ‘chicketarian’ diet).
As previously mentioned, some are part of the Arctic Food Lab program, and therefore allow you to explore the local cuisine. Ordering these menu items allows you to taste the area’s history and embellishes your culinary experience. Chances are, you will start to think of Oulu (and Finland) as a foodie destination after treating yourself to several local dishes.
More Foodie Guides
If you love good food, you might also be interested in these restaurant guides:
Foodie Guide: Sliema, Malta
Where to eat in St. Julian’s, Malta
Which of these Oulu restaurants will you eat at?
Let me know in the comments!
Not sure where to eat in Oulu?
Save This list of restaurants in Oulu!
I have only visited Finland once but I loved all the fresh seafood!
I’ve never associated Finland with the notion of a culinary destination, but this food really looks delicious. As I’m planning a trip to Finland soon, this is very useful, thank you!