Welcome to find out what are the best restaurants in Turku! The ex-capital of Finland and the first city in the country about to celebrate its 800th birthday! And if that wasn’t enough, it just so happens to also be known as the restaurant capital of Finland.
So, when deciding which restaurants in Turku, Finland you should try out, you’ll be spoiled for choice! That’s why I’m here to help you:
As I was born and raised there myself, I’d like to divulge my favourite food places in the city so you can enjoy them as well. Whether you’re looking for a Turku Michelin star restaurant or an Italian restaurant in Turku, I’ve got you covered!
I attempt to make it as easy as possible to distinguish the different price ranges of these best Turku restaurants. These € symbols represent the average cost of a meal for one person as follows:
- € = around 15€ – 20€
- €€ = on average 40€ – 50€
- €€€ = at least 60€
Similarly: Best Restaurants in Tallinn – Your Expert Guide
1. Karu Izakaya – Mind blowingly good Japanese restaurant (€€€)
Let’s start this Turku best restaurants list with my personal favourite eatery, soon to be yours as well: Karu Izakaya! It’s a really small Japanese restaurant right in the heart of the city centre.
From traditional and less known Japanese dishes to familiar sushi selections, this place will enchant you with its atmosphere and especially its tastes. You can safely try dishes that you wouldn’t normally opt for because the chefs here are true magicians: everything’s great!
Service is always stellar here, which is wonderful for us who are not acquainted with the cuisine and the customs that come with it. If you don’t know how to eat with sticks, there’s no shame in it at all! The main point is that you enjoy the experience.
You can either choose a full menu with or without wine recommendations, or pick dishes from the á la carte menu. Expect to be positively surprised and bemused in equal measure.
2. Kaskis – Out-of-this-world taste experience (€€€)
Many locals will tell you that their number 1 for Best Restaurants in Turku would be Kaskis. And I will not argue with them! I should probably mention that these restaurants aren’t necessarily in any sort of an order, but rather in the order that they popped in my head while writing this.
So, Kaskis is a Michelin star restaurant in Turku, and very deservedly so! They serve classic Finnish tastes but in the most surprising forms, shapes, textures, and visions. Their culinary artistry is impossible to describe, you have to experience it!
IF you manage to get a table… The place is tiny and extremely popular for good reason. I recommend booking exactly 3 months before the date you plan to visit because that’s the earliest they accept table bookings. And even that can be a challenge.
But not to worry, they always keep one table for 2 available for random in-walkers so you can get lucky. Worth a try, I think!
3. Deliberi – Authentic Finnish cuisine (€)
Next on this Best Restaurants in Turku list we have a budget friendly option with delicious local cuisine: Deliberi. A restaurant chain that was founded in Turku and that has since charmed its way into many other cities, including Helsinki.
This is a brilliant option for a budget friendly lunch or dinner and it’s situated right by the Marketplace (Kauppatori). You’ll have to order by the counter but the food will be brought to the table. Personally I hate self-service restaurants but this one gets a pass because at least I don’t need to go and pick up the food…
The food itself is delllicious! Surprisingly so considering how cheap it is compared to most restaurants in Turku/Finland. The salmon soup is probably the most traditional thing you can order, and Deliberi’s salmon soup was the best I have ever tasted. Now, that’s saying something! A huge thumbs up for this one:
4. Sotto – The cheapest and the best pizza in town (€)
For those looking for an Italian restaurant in Turku, you’re spoiled for choice! The decades old and as such legendary Dennis offers genuine Italian atmosphere and delicious Italian food. Then there’s Sergio’s right by the river for those looking for a tad more elevated Italian cuisine.
But ask the locals and they will tell you to head to Sotto! This tiny pizza restaurant was founded by 2 young guys in 2025 and it became so popular so quickly, that they had to find new premises pronto. Now situated behind the corner from the Turku Cathedral, you would still do well to book a table in advance.
Their popularity obviously stems from their genuinely delicious Italian pizzas but also from the fact that their prices are phenomenally low. Especially for Finland! Go and see for yourself:
5. Harald – Viking-inspired restaurant in the heart of Turku (€€)
Residing by the Baltic Sea it’s natural that Turku has its own Viking-inspired restaurant, Harald. Even if vikings were actually never a relevant part of the city’s history. Nonetheless, this restaurant takes its theme seriously!
Situated along Aurakatu, which is a street bulging with restaurants for every taste, this place is easy to find. Immerse yourself to the viking vibes the moment you step inside and enjoy the cosy, cheerful atmosphere.
This is a meat-lovers’ heaven! You have everything on offer from sausages to fish to steak to the more exotic meat variants, like reindeer or elk. Each section of the menu is based on and inspired by a certain period or person in viking history.
My recommendation is to opt for the shared plates: that way you get a taste of everything and can order more of what you really like.
6. Tintå – Parisian vibes by the river with delicious food and wine (€€)
A Swedish journalist once said: “Varför Paris när vi har ju Åbu?” Translation: Why Paris when we have Turku? And the restaurant Tintå with it’s surroundings certainly makes you understand what that journalist meant! At least in the Spring and Summer.
Right by the river on a leafy street with plenty of cyclists and stylish folk venturing past, this restaurant offers high vibes in addition to delicious and innovative taste experiences. They have excellent wines to go with their Nordic style pizza, salads and other fresh dishes.
For a more budget friendly experience I recommend you pop here for lunch and enjoy their salad buffet included in the lunch offer. The vibe of this place is enough for me to list it on this Best Restaurants in Turku list, but it’s also great that I can honestly recommend it for the food as well.
7. Delhi Darbar – The best Indian restaurant in Turku (€€)
The thing about the best restaurants in Turku is the variety of brilliant options available! So, if you’re looking for an Indian restaurant in Turku, look no further than Delhi Darbar. It’s a family-owned restaurant about a 5-minute walk from the Turku Cathedral and very well esteemed by the locals.
If you’re like me, and like a bit of fire in your Indian food, this is where you will find the genuine article. But no worries if fire isn’t your thing; as a popular Indian restaurant among Finns, you can count on there being milder dishes available as well. Finns are not known for their chili tolerance.
As an 80% vegetarian myself, I can recommend the vegetarian dishes even to those who wouldn’t normally opt for them. You won’t even notice that there is no meat! But as can be expected, the meat dishes are also absolutely beautiful.
8. Oobu – Fine dining with an innovative local twist (€€€)
Located in an old and dignified building right by the Aura bridge you can find a blissful fine dining experience with a local twist. Stellar service in Oobu will lead you to the world of tastes that are extremely familiar to me having grown up by the sea in the Turku Archipelago.
The freshest ingredients and innovative ways to serve traditional dishes makes this restaurant stand above the rest as Turku is certainly not short on fine dining restaurants! The thing is, not all of them are worth the high prices. This one is!
The milieu is also beautiful enough for dressing up. While Finns prefer to dress down, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with standing out from the crowd due to looking fabulous. Believe me, I would know!
So, put on that prettiest dress you got and head to Oobu for an absolutely splendid dinner experience that you will remember for years to come!
BONUS: Best Cafés in Turku, Finland
I promised 11 best restaurants in Turku but so far I’ve only introduced you to 8 of them. This is because the Food Capital of Finland also boasts cafés that deserve a section of their own.
Pop in these places for lunch, for a cup of coffee or just for the vibes and I guarantee, you won’t be disappointed!
Tipsy Toasty
For honesty’s sake, I haven’t actually tried Tipsy Toasty myself yet but when they opened in the Summer 2026 my social media feeds were flooded with their sandwiches. Including my family who recommended this place wholeheartedly. So, at the first opportunity I will test it out myself!
Until then I believe the masses on this and recommend you give this place a chance. It’s a teeny tiny sandwich bar in what’s left of the old town of Turku after all the historic fires. Their sandwiches will take away even a bigger hunger and the flavours will make you return!
Café Art
The legendary Café Art in Turku has to be included on any self-respecting Best Restaurants in Turku list. Here you can enjoy the freshest pastries inspired by local and traditional vibes; huge cinnamon buns, mouth-watering carrot cake and crispy tosca cakes.
The café is located in an old wooden building by the river so the atmosphere couldn’t be more mellow and inspiring. A compulsory pit stop for all who venture into Turku!
Gaggui Kaffela
Drawing inspiration from the Turku dialect, Gaggui Kaffela is a local favourite! From the Finnish words ‘kakkuja’ and ‘kahvila’, we Turku folk shortened and sweetened them to ‘gaggui’ and ‘kaffela’ simply because it takes less effort to pronounce.
This café beautifully represents the simple art of offering the most delicious cakes and savory bites in the quaintest location.
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