Best food and drinks in Turku, Vaasa and Oulu

Some of the most culinary-focused cities in Finland are located on the western coast. Turku, for instance, is known as the food capital of Finland. This city, along with nearby Vaasa and Oulu, combines its strong seafaring culture with fresh, local ingredients, offering visitors a destination that’s chock-full of cosy restaurants and breweries serving unique flavours.

Article last updated in February 2026.

Set on Finland’s southwest coast, Turku is a quietly confident food city. This is where Finnish culinary tradition meets a new generation of chefs who care deeply about seasonality, local produce and doing things properly. Think fresh fish from the Archipelago Sea, vegetables grown just outside the city, artisanal bread, small-batch cheeses, and menus that change with the weather.

Turku’s compact centre makes it easy to eat well, often and unhurriedly. From the historic market hall and relaxed bistros to ambitious fine-dining kitchens, the city rewards curiosity. Add a strong café culture, a riverside lined with terraces in summer, and direct links to nearby farms and islands, and you have a destination that feels grounded, generous and genuinely delicious.

Read more about why Turku is a not-to-miss destination for foodies in our article Turku – Culinary heart of southwest Finland.

Hejm 
Hejm offers great views of the sea throughout the year, and from rooftop terraces during the summer. The food and beverages are largely focused around Ostrobothnian ingredients from local fishers and farmers.

Strampen
Restaurant Strampen's history begins as early as 1868 and is one of Finland's oldest pavilions. The restaurant is well-known for its grandeur, tasty food and friendly staff. Strampen is located by the sea in the inner harbor of Vaasa. 

Gustav Wasa
At Gustav Wasa, Chef Kim Hellman prefers to work with local producers. The menu can be changed on a short notice as it’s based on the best the season has to offer, and the restaurant hosts a tasty Saturday brunch.

1h + k
At 1h + k, the staff creates new food and drink menus four times a year, giving customers a fresh, exciting experience each time they visit. What’s more, the restaurant’s three-course menu is designed with the best seasonal ingredients and local products in mind, and can be complemented by sommelier-selected wines and side dishes.

Bock’s Corner Brewery 
This brewery is a small independent brewery located inside a refurbished ice cellar. Connected to the brewery is Bock’s Pub, where you can enjoy a tasty meal and watch the brewmaster at work.

For more food and drinks in the Vaasa region, see Vaasa's product page.

Puistola
Located in a lovely pink jugend-style building, restaurant and bakery Puistola caters to the hungry all day, from breakfast to à la carte, and from wine tasting to late-night Neapolitan-style pizzas. Craft and quality are the core values of this family-owned restaurant.

Tuba
Tuba is a laidback restaurant that’s known for its tasty pizzas. Furnished with second-hand furniture, this eco-friendly-minded eatery uses many organic and locally produced ingredients – and even some that have been rescued from going to waste. Plus, there’s always a vegetarian or vegan dish on the menu.

Mallassauna and Hailuodon Panimo
Hailuodon Panimo is Finland’s first organic brewery, which produces German-style beer from the clean water of Hailuoto island. The brewery operates in an old storehouse building and has a pub that offers limited hours, but they’ll soon be opening a new restaurant called Mallassauna in the city’s Pikisaari district.

Mallaskellari 
Mallaskellari specializes in domestic craft brewery products and serves draft beers from more than 20 taps. The beer selection is constantly changing, and if you’re lucky, you might just get to taste a beer made by Mallaskellari’s brewmaster, Bence.

For more food and drinks in the Oulu region, see Oulu's product page.

Would you like to know more about Finland's bustling food scene? In our article "Best restaurants in Finland" we take a look at the very best of Finnish fine dining from Michelin-star winners to other top eateries.