Best restaurants in Oulu 2026 – try these 12 local favorites

Oulu offers plenty to see and experience for both travelers and locals – and just as much to eat. The city boasts a diverse and high-quality restaurant scene where northern ingredients, international influences, and a relaxed, welcoming atmosphere come together. Whether you’re looking for a romantic dinner, a vegetarian-friendly option, or simply great food in a laid-back setting, this list of Oulu’s top dining spots is the perfect inspiration for your next culinary adventure.

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Alfred Kitchen & Bar

Alfred Kitchen & Bar is an atmospheric and stylish restaurant located on Pakkahuoneenkatu in the heart of Oulu. The restaurant combines international flavors with a modern touch, offering a seasonally changing menu full of creative and diverse culinary experiences.

Starters include options like charred carrot with chermoula sauce or burrata served with refreshing gazpacho. For mains, you might find dishes such as Iberico pork with chimichurri or braised pike-perch with Sandefjord sauce. Desserts like mascarpone-orange or strawberry-marshmallow provide the perfect sweet ending to your meal.

If you’re looking for a great restaurant in Oulu that blends global tastes, seasonal inspiration, and a relaxed yet refined atmosphere, Alfred Kitchen & Bar is well worth a visit.

Pannu

Located on Kauppurienkatu in downtown Oulu, Ravintola Pannu has been serving honest, no-fuss food in a relaxed atmosphere for over 30 years. The diverse menu blends northern ingredients with Italian-inspired flavors, and many dishes are cooked over a traditional charcoal grill for added depth.

The selection includes salads, pastas, pizzas, burgers, and steaks. Thin and crispy pizzas like the Diavola and Spicy Surf n’ Turf are especially popular, as well as rich pan pizzas such as Meat Pan Pizza and Frutti di Mare Siciliana. A house favorite is the classic lasagna, made with Finnish minced meat and served with freshly baked bread.

Puistola

Located in the center of Oulu, Ravintola Puistola offers a wide range of delicious options from morning to evening. Mornings feature breakfast and freshly baked pastries from the café, while lunchtime brings table-served dishes such as pastas, risottos, and salads made primarily from local ingredients.

The à la carte menu includes delights like Toast Skagen, horse tartare, nettle risotto, tenderloin from Viskaali’s Limousin cattle, and the house Puistola Burger. For dessert, try the strawberry-basil treat or the indulgent Nutella pizza.

Puistola is also known for its artisan pizzas, baked in-house in its own bakery. The restaurant has been awarded the Chaîne des Rôtisseurs recognition – a mark of its culinary excellence.

Cafe Rooster

Cafe Rooster is a popular café-restaurant in Oulu, known for its delicious lunches and wide selection of drinks. The menu features hearty, flavorful dishes such as burgers made from Finnish beef, fresh salads, and generously filled pita breads.

Vegetarian and vegan options are also available, including seitan and portobello burgers as well as falafel salad. All dishes come with carefully prepared sides like fries, coleslaw, and house-made mayo.

Rooster also offers seasonal specials, such as roasted salmon with asparagus or spicy tacos – always crafted with bold flavors and fresh ingredients.

Sokeri-Jussin Kievari

Sokeri-Jussin Kievari is a cozy and atmospheric restaurant located in a more than 150-year-old wooden granary on the island of Pikisaari in Oulu. The restaurant offers an authentic Finnish dining experience that highlights clean, local ingredients and the culinary traditions of Northern Ostrobothnia.

The menu features classic Finnish dishes such as rössypottu (a traditional blood sausage and potato stew from Oulu), reindeer tongue, smoked salmon, and whitefish tartare.

Koivurannan Kahvila

Koivurannan Kahvila is a riverside café nestled along the banks of the Oulujoki River, offering guests an idyllic setting to enjoy coffee along with sweet or savory pastries. Housed in a historical building and surrounded by natural beauty, this charming café is a truly unique place to visit in Oulu.

Koivurannan kahvila will be open again on the 1st of May 2026.

Il Puro

Lapland Hotels Oulu expanded its restaurant offerings in early 2026 with the opening of the new restaurant Il Puro. Located inside Lapland Hotels Oulu, the concept brings together Lapland and Italy: northern ingredients are combined with Italian food culture and clear, authentic flavours. The menu includes house-made pasta served in a parmesan wheel with dried reindeer, smoked reindeer lasagne, and pizzas, which can also be ordered for takeaway directly from the restaurant.

Oula Kitchen & Bar

Oula Kitchen & Bar, the restaurant at Lapland Hotels Oulu, offers northern-inspired culinary experiences from breakfast to dinner. The day begins with a generous breakfast highlighting pure northern ingredients, while evenings invite guests to enjoy a seasonal à la carte dinner or a surprise tasting menu crafted from the best ingredients of the moment.

The warmly lit and stylishly decorated dining room reflects the calm and harmonious spirit of Lapland. The hotel’s lobby bar serves refreshing drinks – also available on the cozy summer terrace.

Service at Oula is defined by excellence, ease, and heartfelt hospitality, making every visit a memorable one. The restaurant is part of the Arctic Food Lab network, demonstrating a commitment to using natural, responsibly sourced northern ingredients and preserving the region’s culinary heritage.

Ravintola Nallikari

Ravintola Nallikari is a seaside restaurant located in Hietasaari, Oulu, at Nallikarinranta 15. The restaurant serves high-quality Nordic cuisine, including lunch, brunch, and à la carte dishes.

The lunch menu features soup, an archipelago buffet, and a business lunch option. On Saturdays from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m., guests can enjoy a generous brunch. The à la carte menu is built around local ingredients and changes five times a year to reflect the seasons.

VENN & Amarillo

Located right by Rotuaari, VENN offers the perfect blend of laid-back Oulu vibes and tasty food. It’s the ideal spot to pop in for a glass of wine during a shopping day – or to settle in and stay awhile. The menu features easy-to-share, flavorful dishes, while the drinks list boasts charming wines, refreshing cocktails, and exciting mocktails.

Right next door, you’ll find another Rotuaari classic – Amarillo. Known for its social dining concept and inviting atmosphere, Amarillo brings together Tex-Mex favorites, surprising new flavors, and a famously good mood. It’s a great choice whether you’re dropping by for after-work drinks or settling in for a longer night out.

If you’re looking for a central Oulu restaurant where the food is tasty, the atmosphere relaxed, and the company great – VENN and Amarillo are sure bets.

Wine Bar Kurkela

Wine Bar Kurkela is a hidden gem in the heart of Pikisaari, perfect for enjoying a glass of wine or a leisurely dinner. Co-owned by award-winning cocktail master Jenny Kurkela, the bar also offers creative and memorable drinks — making it well worth a visit even just for a cocktail. Set in the atmospheric spaces of the old wool factory, guests can enjoy seasonal cuisine that is constantly evolving.

Hietasaaren Seelari

Hietasaaren Seelari is a scenic restaurant and event venue located at the harbor of the Oulu Workers’ Sailing Club. It’s the perfect place to enjoy good food, refreshing drinks, and the most maritime terrace experience in Oulu. You can reach Seelari by car, bike, or even by boat.

During the summer season, the restaurant is open daily, offering café treats, seasonal menu dishes, and a full range of beverages – with a licensed bar to ensure a relaxed stay. The venue is accessible, and pets are welcome too.

Seelari hosts lively summer evenings with entertainment, and guests can enjoy the atmosphere either on the spacious seaside terrace or the smaller patio basking in the evening sun.

Seelari is part of the Go Arctic Experience Cafés – be sure to explore other unique destinations as well, such as Villa Hannala, Hotel-Restaurant Liminganlahti, and Koiteli Tunnelmatupa.

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