Finland´s food capital Turku offers a plate full of delicacies

Turku

Turku has been cultivating the growth of a vibrant restaurant culture in recent years, prompting the city to declare itself the food capital of Finland. The title has proven apt this spring as well, with the opening of over ten new and renovated restaurants. At the same time, Turku is being visited by an increasing number of tourists who are mainly interested in the city’s food and beverages.

Turku’s Aurajokiranta has grown into an attractive oasis with a range of unique restaurants and cafés to entice visitors. One of the new restaurants is NOOA, located in Turku Guest Harbour, which offers food prepared with a relaxed touch in an enjoyable atmosphere. In the summer customers can also enjoy the outdoor terrace as well as a roof terrace that offers a beautiful view of the river. The restaurant is located in the same building as the services of Turku Guest Harbour.

Restaurant Nooa, Turku
NOOA´s roof terrace offers a beautiful view to the river.

The old Kakola prison area has become home to the Kakolanruusu pop-up restaurant, an offshoot of Kaskis, which has previously been voted the best restaurant in Finland. Meanwhile, the Forum Marinum maritime museum’s restaurant Göran, located near Turku Castle, is now fast becoming a centre of Finnish archipelago cuisine. In the city centre, visitors can enjoy the Finnish tapas served by restaurant Sapas, while Storage, opening in early summer, specialises in familiar Finnish flavours and ingredients.

The restaurant expertise cultivated in Turku has also garnered international recognition. In March, the Fastfood & Café & Ravintola trade fair hosted the Pizza Master 2017 contest, in which Turku came out on top. The contest was won by Davide Sindoni representing Sergio’s, while second place was taken by Jason McArdle from Restaurant Gustavo. With such a triumphant result, it’s safe to say that the best pizzas in Finland are baked in Turku!

Sergios, Turku
The best pizzas in Finland are baked in Sergio´s Restaurant in Turku.

Tip for culinarists: The Turku Food Walk card

The Turku Food Walk card is the perfect way to explore the culinary culture of Turku, allowing you to sample the tastes of five of the ten Food Walk restaurants. The included restaurants offer a wide range of options, from warm chicken sandwiches to cakes, from giant prawns to desserts and from hors d’oeuvres to coffee and cinnamon buns. Some of the restaurants also offer seasonal surprise dishes. You can visit your chosen Food Walk restaurants in any order you wish, tailoring your tasting tour based on your own preferences. The card is priced at EUR 44 and is valid for three days from the date of purchase.

Where to stay:

Spend an unforgettable night aboard a museum ship at the Laivahostel Borea. The former steamship is now permanently anchored on the banks of the River Aura, situated in front of Forum Marinum Maritime Centre and within walking distance from Turku harbour and Turku castle.

Or would you like to stay in a peaceful hostel, surrounded by beautiful nature and history, just 4 kilometres from the city centre? Then stay at Hostel Linnasmäki, which offers all this and more.

Laivahostel Borea is situated on the banks of the River Aura.

Source and main photo: Visit Turku