Lapland on a plate
Lappish cooking is built on what the north provides: reindeer from the herds that roam the fells, fish from cold rivers and lakes, and berries that ripen quickly under the midnight sun. The flavours are clean and simple, and a winter trip is a good excuse to try them. Here are the dishes worth looking for.
Reindeer (poro)
Reindeer is the signature meat of Lapland. The classic dish is poronkäristys, thinly sliced sautéed reindeer, traditionally served with mashed potatoes, lingonberry jam and pickled cucumber. You may also see it as a steak, smoked, or cured as a cold cut. The meat is lean and mildly gamey, a little like venison. If you are curious about the animals themselves, a reindeer experience is a highlight of our Finland Arctic Adventure, with the Reindeer Express on Day 2.
Salmon soup (lohikeitto)
This creamy soup of salmon, potatoes, leeks and dill is Finland's comfort food. It is hearty, warming and often served with dark rye bread. You will find it on cafe menus and at many tour stops. It is easy to share with children, and a perfect lunch after a morning in the snow.
Arctic fish
Besides salmon, look for whitefish, arctic char and vendace (muikku), small fish that are often fried crisp. Smoked fish served on the table of a lodge is common. Fish from local lakes and rivers is a good choice if you want something light.
Bread cheese (leipäjuusto)
Also called "squeaky cheese", leipäjuusto is a mild, baked cheese with a golden crust. It is usually served warm, often with cloudberry jam. The combination of salty, creamy and tangy is a favourite dessert across Lapland.
Berries: cloudberry, lingonberry and bilberry
Wild berries are central to northern cooking. Cloudberries are golden, rare and sweet-tart, and appear in jams, desserts and liqueur. Lingonberries are sharp and red, served with meat. Bilberries, the cousin of blueberries, show up in pies and soups. Many are foraged by hand in summer and frozen for winter.
Warm drinks and snacks
- Coffee: Finns drink more coffee per person than almost anyone, usually light roast and often with a pastry.
- Hot berry juice: A sweet blackcurrant or lingonberry drink served hot is common after outdoor activities.
- Campfire sausage: Grilled over an open fire at a forest hut, it tastes better in the snow.
- Rye bread and pastries: Look for dense, dark rye and sweet cardamom buns.
Where to eat
In towns like Rovaniemi, you will find restaurants serving modern Lappish menus alongside casual cafes. Our guide to the best restaurants in Rovaniemi lists good places to start. In a resort such as Levi, many lodges serve dinner on site, which is convenient after a day in the cold. The Finland Arctic Adventure includes breakfast and dinner every day at the resort, so you can try local dishes without planning each meal.
Food culture and customs
Finnish meals are straightforward and unfussy, and portions are usually generous. Lunch is typically eaten early, often between 11 and 1, and many restaurants offer a lunch buffet or set menu at a good price. Dinner is a relaxed affair, and tipping is modest, with rounding up the bill being common. Sauna, coffee and a sweet pastry are as much part of the culture as the main dishes, so make time for all three.
Foods to bring home
Good souvenirs include cloudberry jam, dark rye crisps, reindeer sausage, smoked fish in vacuum packs and licorice. Check your airline and destination country's rules on bringing meat and dairy products across borders, since limits vary. Jams, sweets and packaged snacks are the easiest choice.
Dietary needs
Finnish restaurants are used to dietary requirements. Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and lactose-free options are widely available, and lactose-free is almost standard. Tell your tour operator or resort in advance so they can prepare, especially for allergies.
A simple food checklist
- Try sautéed reindeer at least once.
- Order salmon soup for lunch.
- Taste warm bread cheese with cloudberry jam.
- Drink hot berry juice after a safari.
- Bring home a jar of cloudberry jam.