Food experiences in Turku - Restaurants, bars & cafes
Turku has become a food lovers’ paradise in recent years. Along with annual festivals paying homage to pickled herring, craft beer, and the first potatoes of the season, locals and tourists alike are spoilt for choice when it comes to places to dine. There’s only one problem with such a salivating selection: where do you begin? Don’t panic, we’ve put together a roundup of Turku’s restaurants that will surely satisfy any craving.
So, the next time you’re in the mood for…
Kaskis, a first-rate restaurant found on top of Kaskenmäki Hill. The exquisite tasting menu is a finely crafted masterpiece, showcasing the very best of Finnish produce. The atmospheric Smör is equally impressive with its mouth-watering menu.
Di Trevi is your departure point. This popular restaurant is renowned for its relaxed vibe, tantalising wines, and playful selection of tapas. Drop by with a friend and kick back with a glass (or two), while indulging in some marinated olives, deep-fried halloumi, or toasted green peppers. Blanko and Tintå, which are situated side by side near the Auransilta Bridge, are also local favourites.
Turku is close to the sea, so it’s no surprise that fish has long been part of the diet here. Herring is a local speciality, but there are lots of other delicacies to sample while you’re in Turku. The region is famous for its archipelago bread, sourdough, and raisin sausages, and you can still buy these at the Turku Market Hall. This 125-year-old building is much-loved by locals, and tourists are also encouraged to pop in. Here, you can enjoy a delicious lunch, relax with a coffee and cake, and pick up a huge range of quality products.
You’re in luck. Vegetarianism and veganism have been embraced in a huge way in Finland and there are plenty of places to get your veggie fix right here in Turku. Even if you’re still on the fence when it comes to falafels, you’ll be swayed by the passionate chefs of Kuori Food and Wine and Roots Kitchen and their vegetable wizardry.
Restaurant Oobu, located at the riverside in the traditional Bassi house, offers culinary experiences with a twist of archipelago. Indulge yourself with their signature salmon soup or perhaps the famous lunch served daily.
For those on the hunt for a pint, Turku has some fantastic options. Brewery Restaurant Koulu, Finland’s largest brewery restaurant, is a classic. Koulu means school in Finnish, and this building was once a real place of learning. You should also check out Uusi Apteekki, which used to be a pharmacy, and Kakola Brewing Company, which you’ll find in the premises of the old prison on Kakolanmäki Hill.
Tucked away in an 18th century building, just beyond the Aura River, is a Turku treasure: Café Qwensel. The service is exceptional, the crockery is charming, and the chocolate cake is pure bliss. For even more indulgence, treat yourself to the café’s British-style afternoon tea. But leave a little room as you’ll not want to miss Café Art.
Text Kathleen Cusack
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