7 Best Rural Foodie Finds in Finland

TeaHouse of Wehmais is a bit of an anomaly – a classic English teahouse in rural Finland? But somehow it fits perfectly. Set in scenic Southern Savonia area and surrounded by glittering lakes and beautiful farmland, the TeaHouse really knows its business as the owner, Anna Grotenfelt-Paunonen, is Finland’s first tea sommelier. The sumptuous afternoon tea doesn’t lose to its British ancestors, and the tea menu includes over a hundred teas to choose from.

Tertti Manor House is located in Mikkeli, a beautiful city in the Southern Savonia region of Finland. The Manor House with its boutique hotel, café and restaurant is a perfect example of Finnish countryside charm. You can book a sumptuous summer buffet at the restaurant or just pop in for a lunch, brunch or coffee at Tertti café. There is also a little shop in a barn where you can buy Tertti’s own beer, strawberry juice and other foodie souvenirs.

Hotelli Nestori is located along the scenic Turku Archipelago Ring Trail. There are hotel rooms in the beautifully renovated barn and in the main building, you will find the restaurant called Back Pocket. The kitchen uses locally sourced Scandinavian ingredients and the menu is a typically Finnish/Nordic with a fine dining twist.

The 19th-century Mustio Castle is a manor house hotel located in Raseborg, near the idyllic craft village of Fiskars. The countryside hotel consists of five different buildings, which used to be the houses for workmen at the nearby ironworks. The hotel restaurant Linnankrouvi, Castle Inn, was recently included among Finland’s 50 best restaurants.

Hotel Punkaharju, Finland’s oldest State Hotel, is located near Savonlinna. The hotel was re-opened in 2016 with former Finnish supermodel Saimi Hoyer in the lead. The stylish hotel restaurant offers both buffet and à la carte during summertime. The food comes from local food producers and herbs from the kitchen’s own garden. The menu includes local meats and fish as well as items such as candy cap consommé and nettle financier.

Located by the beautiful Lake Saimaa, Sahanlahti offers not only scenic but a tasty spot for food when touring around Lakeland Finland. Sahanlahti is awarded for its use of local ingredients, and the menu includes Finnish classics with a fine dining twist. The small harbour at Sahanlahti is a popular pit stop for people who are boating around Lake Saimaa, and there is also a summer restaurant on a sunny dock terrace to enjoy a snack.

In Lapland, you might end up driving hours and hours without seeing anything but forests, hills and reindeer, and most of the foodie finds in Lapland are located in hotels, which have activities that revolve around winter sports such as skiing and husky sledging. Kitchen & Northern Café Well is located near the slopes of Mount Ylläs. Pop in and taste the speciality burger of smoked reindeer! There is also a vegan option available.