1. Black sausage (Mustamakkara)
You can’t visit Tampere without trying mustamakkara, as it is the city’s signature dish. It’s best enjoyed warm and always served with lingonberry jam. Mustamakkara is made from blood, pork, and rye flour. Did you know there’s now also a vegetarian version available in Tampere?
Traditionally, you enjoy mustamakkara at the market square – you can buy it from stalls at Tammelantori and Laukontori. It’s also available at Tampere Market Hall, for example at Tapolan mustamakkarabaari, Lihakipparit and Pyörykkäbaari, as well as in restaurants like Plevna Brewery Restaurant. A vegetarian version, “Vegemörkö,” is available at Café Kattopuutarha.
Psst! A full portion of mustamakkara is amusingly ordered as a “round trip” (“meno-paluu”). It means two sausages connected in a U-shape – symbolizing going “there and back” together.
2. Peremec (Pärämätsi)
Pärämätsi might be unfamiliar even to many Finns. It’s a round pastry filled with strongly seasoned minced meat, somewhat similar to a Finnish meat pie. Peremec came to Finland with the Tatars and became popular in Tampere in the 1960s thanks to a local bakery. It can be eaten “dry” (with a spice mix) or “wet” (with mustard or ketchup).
You can find pärämätsi at places like Sailor’s Bar & Grill, Vaakko kiosk, and Lukonmäki grill. In the Market hall, Hakanen Bakery sells them, and you can also find them at their Tammela shop.
3. Salmon soup and lake fish
Tampere and its surroundings are home to thousands of lakes filled with delicious fish. These ingredients are widely used in local restaurants – nearly every top restaurant offers traditional or creative fish dishes. You can also buy fresh fish from well-stocked grocery stores or the fish shop Nygren in the Market hall.
In summer, try fried vendace (muikku) at market squares – it’s Finnish fast food at its best. Seasonal fish markets in spring and autumn are great for tasting different varieties. Pickled herring with new potatoes is especially popular at Midsummer. Blinis with roe and crayfish parties are also classic treats. If you want to fish yourself, remember to check permits.
Salmon soup is a Finnish classic combining tender fish, creamy broth, potatoes, carrots, leek, and dill. It’s often available at lunch and on restaurant menus. Sauna Restaurant Kuuma and Sauna Restaurant FLOU serve excellent salmon soup. What better way to dive into Finnish culture than sauna and soup?
4. Game and other meats
Finland is the most forested country in Europe, and responsible hunting is part of its traditions. Game meat is highly valued and widely used in Finnish cuisine. It’s most often moose, but can also include wild deer, hare, or birds. Reindeer, owned by herders, roam freely in Lapland.
Restaurants like Apaja highlight domestic game, while restaurant Roka serves traditional sautéed reindeer. At the market hall, Koivisto offers various cold cuts and reindeer products.
5. Berries, mushrooms, wild herbs, vegetables, and new potatoes
In late summer and autumn, Finns go crazy for nature’s bounty. It often feels like everyone (or at least their relatives) has a secret berry or mushroom spot. Wild herbs appear already in spring. The “Everyone’s Right” allows picking natural products almost everywhere, with some restrictions. If you’re unsure, you can join guided foraging tours.
Some say everything that grows below ankle height in Finland is the best in the world. The intense flavor comes from the midnight sun and slow growth. Markets and shops fill with fresh vegetables early in summer, while berries and mushrooms are available as nature provides. New potatoes are an early summer delicacy. Restaurants skillfully use wild herbs and seasonal ingredients, and preservation methods like pickling allow you to enjoy summer flavors even in winter.
6. Rye bread and Karelian pasty
Finnish food is known for its honest simplicity, just like rye bread and Karelian pasties. The Karelian pasty is one of Finland’s most iconic foods. Originally from Karelia, it is now loved nationwide. It’s perfect for any time of day: breakfast, snack, or supper. Don’t forget to enjoy it with egg butter!
Rye bread is a dark, hearty bread appreciated for its rich flavor and nutrition. The smell of fresh rye bread is unforgettable. It’s best enjoyed fresh with butter. Besides traditional bread, Finland offers many rye-based delicacies. Both rye bread and Karelian pasties are available in every grocery store, as well as in many restaurants and cafés, including the Tampere Market Hall.
7. Cheese and dairy products
Finns have loved “bread cheese” (leipäjuusto) for decades. This mild cheese can be eaten cold or warm, often in salads, with coffee, or served warm with jam. The name literally means “bread cheese,” but it’s also called “squeaky cheese” because of the sound it makes when bitten.
Finland is also known for other cheeses. For example, Herkkujuustola near Tampere combines Swiss cheesemaking traditions with pure Finnish ingredients to create unique handcrafted cheeses. You can buy them at the market hall. Finnish ice cream is also excellent! Did you know Finns are among the world’s top ice cream consumers? In summer, you’ll find ice cream kiosks all around the city.
8. Cinnamon buns, doughnuts, pastries, and sweets
Finns are true masters of baking. Homes and cafés produce delicious buns, pies, and cakes. One classic is the cinnamon bun (korvapuusti), filled with sugar, cinnamon, butter, and a hint of cardamom. What could be more comforting than a cinnamon bun with coffee or tea?
In Tampere, cinnamon bun lovers are especially lucky. Cafés like Café Puusti and Café Siiri serve freshly baked, aromatic buns that attract both locals and visitors.
Many Finns may associate doughnuts with May Day and sima, but in Tampere they’re enjoyed year-round. The best doughnuts can be found at Pyynikki Observation Tower’s Café or in the market hall.
And Finnish chocolate is truly excellent! Visit the Chocolate shop at Tallipiha Stable Yards or pick up locally made Dammenberg Moomin chocolate from a store.
