Kuusamo’s 10 hidden gems for foodies adventuring in the north

Ruka-Kuusamo is a stunning outdoor and nature destination that also offers many hidden gems for food enthusiasts. Whether you’re a wild food lover, a fine dining aficionado or a fan of artisanal pastries, the north has something for you. Local ingredients like fish, game, berries, wild herbs and reindeer are widely used in the area’s restaurants in unique ways. We listed ten hot tips for foodies visiting the Ruka-Kuusamo area.

1. Studio Restaurant Tundra: fine dining and ceramics

Located in Ruukinvaara, Kuusamo, Studio Restaurant Tundra offers an unforgettable fine dining experience where local ingredients, northern cuisine with an international twist and ceramics come together. A ceramicist and a chef Jarmo Pitkänen invites you to a dinner where every plate is a unique piece of art. If you wish to take an even deeper dive into the secrets of local cuisine, Tundra also offers multiple cooking classes to choose from.

2. Pohjolan Pirtti & Kievari: the cradle of wild food

Pohjolan Pirtti, built in 1891, takes you to the heart of Kuusamo’s food culture in the village of Vuotunki. The restaurant’s atmosphere and food will transport you back in time, to the core of Kuusamo’s traditions and historical events. Enjoy a 3-course wild food dinner including traditional delicacies like game, fish and berries – flavours coming straight from the surrounding wilderness.

Note: Dinner is available on certain days only and must be booked ahead.

3. Dinner on the summit: a new sauna restaurant

Opening in December 2024 on top of the Ruka ski resort, the new sauna restaurant promises to take food travellers to new heights. Experience an unforgettable combination of delicious food, relaxing steam of a sauna, warmth of a hot tub and the unique views of the snowy slopes and the Valtavaara Nature Reserve. Enjoy breathtaking views already on the way to the restaurant when taking a ride on the gondola. With some luck, you might also spot the northern lights.

4. Restaurant Tapio: the world’s northernmost Michelin star

In the village of Ruka ski resort, you can enjoy one of Finland’s most intriguing dining experiences celebrating local ingredients. Restaurant Tapio is like a hidden treasure led by British chef Connor Laybourne and his Finnish partner Johanna Mourujärvi. In this intimate restaurant, you will enjoy dishes inspired by northern nature, each meal being like a work of art. The restaurant earned a Michelin star in summer 2024.

Note: Don’t forget to make a reservation, as Tapio only serves guests with confirmed reservations.

5. Pizzeria Ruka: northern flavors with an Italian twist

When you’re craving for pizza after or during an active day in the nature, Pizzeria Ruka is your perfect go-to place. Located at the base of the Kelo ski slope at Ruka ski resort, this casual yet stylish restaurant offers pizzas featuring local flavors like salmon, lingonberry and reindeer. Get ready to indulge in Italian-style treats combined with local ingredients that are cooked with love in a wood-fired oven.

6. Wild Out: three-course lunch in the forest

How does a three-course lunch in the middle of the forest sound like? Wild Out takes you on a culinary adventure in the embrace of the woods, led by an outdoor chef and wilderness guide Tomasz, originally from Poland. The lunch is prepared over an open fire using seasonal products and foraged ingredients mainly using seasonal vegetables. Do you agree that everything tastes better outdoors?

Note: The lunch in the forest is available on Wednesdays and Fridays from June to October.

7. Camp Kitchen & Bar: Gondola lift to lunch

Hop on the gondola from Ruka village, enjoy the scenery on the way and arrive at the Ruka Valley village in East Ruka, where Camp Kitchen offers mouth-watering flavours from around the world. One of the restaurant’s favourites is the Asian Super Bowl with sugar-salted Kuusamo salmon. In addition to the delicious flavour combinations, this dish is impressive in size and sure to satisfy even the hungriest foodie!

8. The French Cafe: a culinary experience from Nice to Kuusamo

Imagine stepping from the streets of Nice into the heart of Kuusamo. The French Cafe, established by a Finnish French couple Moona Mankinen and her French partner Arthur Bataille, is an oasis of flavours serving both savoury and sweet delicacies. The couple uses local producers and their products as much as possible, and the café’s table-served handmade delights, such as Silver Toffee macarons, take you on a culinary journey where local ingredients meet French elegance.

9. Kujala Reindeer Farm: reindeer delicacies to take home

Kujala Reindeer Farm has been in operation since 1860 and is now run by the fifth generation, Juha Kujala, together with his wife Jenni. The farm’s products are the perfect way to bring a piece of Kuusamo and Finland home with you. You can purchase items like reindeer tenderloin, heart, and ground meat – as well as reindeer bone jewelry.

10. Wild Food Festival: a taste journey with nature’s bounty

Kuusamo’s Wild Food Festival in September is a gateway to the world of hyper-local food, every product being produced in Koillismaa region. Savour the local delicacies, learn about traditional cooking methods and taste the unique flavours of pure ingredients growing freely in the nature. The event brings together local entrepreneurs who showcase their creations in tasting portions that cost about five euros. In 2024, the festival takes place on 14 September.

Finnair flies to Kuusamo multiple times per week all year round.