4 Best Restaurants in Tampere, The Lakelands

Long known as a hangout for leftist intellectuals, Tillikka now prepares hearty meals overlooking the rapids for patrons of every political persuasion. House specialties include vendace, fried pike perch, steaks, warm sandwiches, and pyttipannu, a no-nonsense fry-up of pork sausage, potato, and onion topped with gherkins and a fried egg—much more appetizing than it might sound. Try any of them with one of the local brews—this is, after all, also a favorite watering hole. The restaurant is housed in the same building as the city theater.

With great views over the Pyhäjärvi lake at the city stadium, this trendy endeavor combines a restaurant, lounge bar, and rooftop terrace, with a menu of superb local dishes and international cuisine. Try Thai-style tom yam salmon from the starter list, followed by Asian ribs, a Korean burger, or "the most wanted" Finnish Caesar salad (with goat cheese and crispy rye croutons). Special prix-fixe menus for the whole table are similarly imaginative.

An intimate gourmet restaurant opposite the railway station, Bertha offers two five-course set menus, one of them vegetarian, and an excellent wine and beer selection. The menu includes marinated whitefish and grilled goose breast, while the vegetarian option features marinated eggplant with coffee oil, and both options finish up with a dessert of rye miso-flavored caramelized apple and white chocolate. 

A romantic cellar in an art nouveau building with a colorful history, Tiiliholvi has been serving Finnish haute cuisine and the finest wine selection in Tampere since 1968. Fresh, seasonal ingredients like mushrooms, duck, pike perch, and salmon are often paired with unexpected wine or liquor sauces or fresh herb vinaigrettes. There's also a "surprise" chef's-choice menu and a four-course chef's tasting menu.