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Jyväskylä can be said to be the heart of central Finland. It is a university town, and it also has a vibrant music and culture scene. Jyväskylä is surrounded by coniferous forests, hills, and of course, lakes. Located just 3 hours north from Helsinki, it is a pleasant destination for anyone visiting Finland. Jyväskylä’s restaurants definitely offer another drawcard to visit the area.
Historically, there are a few old-time favorite restaurants in Jyväskylä, but there are also refreshing newcomers in the restaurant scene. In this guide I’ll present the 8 best restaurants in Jyväskylä, Finland, according to a local. These aren’t listed in any particular order, but are rather a selection of my favorites in town. As always, we’ve done our best to ensure you learn a little something about Finnish culture too.

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1. Rosso
Rosso has been in Jyväskylä for a long time, but this new and improved Rosso was opened in 2021. It is an Italian restaurant, which is reflected in the green and red color scheme and the atmospheric lighting of the restaurant. Rosso is especially famous for being a family restaurant, though it is also a great place to go out alone or with friends, for lunch or for dinner.
The restaurant is centrally located, close to Jyväskylä’s train and bus station. Rosso is best known for their pizzas, pastas, and wines. I especially enjoy their pizzas, including classics such as opera, margherita, and the more recent vegana (delicious vegan pizza). Because of the atmosphere, great food, and, not to be forgotten, a fabulous starter salad table, Rosso is definitely among the best restaurants in Jyväskylä.



Rosso first opened in Finland in 1978, and the same year the restaurant came to Jyväskylä. It can be said to have been the restaurant that taught many Finnish people to become acquainted with pizza.
2. Kissanviikset
Kissanviikset has also been charming locals and visitors alike for a long time in Jyväskylä, over 60 years. The name means “cat’s whiskers”, and indeed, as decoration at the restaurant you’ll notice many paintings and images of cats. Kissanviikset is a dinner venue known for quality food and service, as well as a cozy atmosphere.
The restaurant is perhaps best known for their superb flank steak. Kissanviikset also serves wonderful snails in garlic. You could also try their reindeer stake with mushroom sauce, or some of their fish dishes. For dessert, I highly recommend the sorbet with cloudberries.


Kissanviikset is on the expensive side, but it is worth it. This small place is popular, so we recommend booking a table in advance.
3. Aalto2 Café
This restaurant has a unique atmosphere and a sort of simplistic style, typical to Alvar Aalto who designed both the museum and the café. It is a little less known as a place to eat, but in my opinion it belongs among the best restaurants in Jyväskylä.
At Aalto2 Café, you can enjoy small savory or sweet treats, or have a lunch. The lunch menu changes weekly, but it includes meat and vegetarian options. I’ve enjoyed the most wonderful lentil soup with fresh bread here, and on another occasion, a delicious, creamy tuna pasta. The meals include a water, a salad, bread, and coffee or tea, and you get wonderful value for money.

We recommend combining your restaurant visit with visits to the museum of central Finland and Alvar Aalto museum. Alvar Aalto was a famous and well-loved Finnish designer of furniture and buildings. If you’re looking for unique Finnish souvenirs, the museum shop is also worth exploring.
4. Miriam’s café & patisserie
This is possibly the most atmospheric café in Jyväskylä. At Miriam’s café and patisserie, you can enjoy breakfasts, lunches, and salads, as well as mouthwatering pastry products. The interior decoration is unique and sweet, and the café is centrally located.

The salads at Miriam’s are wonderful: I can recommend their mixed salad with roasted seeds and roasted goat cheese or halloumi cheese on top. Miriam’s serves lovely organic coffee, and regarding their chocolates they collaborate with the local Panda chocolate factory. The patisserie side is especially known for their gluten-free and vegan cakes, tarts, biscuits, and more. I can highly recommend their lingonberry and kinuski (Finnish caramel) sweet bread (or pulla, as it is called in Finland).
5. Vesilinna Café & Restaurant
Jyväskylä’s most prominent landscape feature is harju, a ridge formed by the last ice age, located in central Jyväskylä. On top of harju you’ll find Vesilinna water tower (the meaning of the word literally is water castle), and on top of the tower is Vesilinna Café & Restaurant. From here, you can take in the views of the surrounding city, Päijänne lake, as well as the hills and forests surrounding Jyväskylä.

Vesilinna has been operating for over 40 years, as a café and a lunch time restaurant. Along with the views, you can enjoy quality meals and café moments here, Finnish style. Lunch is served to tables, or you can join a buffet lunch. On the menu they have fairly traditional Finnish foods such as freshwater fish or freshly baked bread with chanterelle sauce, and for vegetarians, roasted aubergine.
You’ll also find a special “kitchen master’s menu” that includes pulled reindeer with lingonberry for starters, perch pike with root vegetables for main course, and cranberry semifreddo with kinuski (caramel) sauce for dessert.


Local tip: I strongly recommend visiting the Natural History Museum before or after your restaurant visit to learn more about central Finland.
6. Restaurant Harald
At Restaurant Harald Jyväskylä you can have lunch or dinner, all inspired by the viking culture. For the vikings, eating was said to be a social, joyful event, where good food and beer were enjoyed along long tables. At Restaurant Harald you’ll receive your meals served on stone plates or from wooden cups, and the age-old Nordic food traditions are reflected in the restaurant’s dishes.
Keep in mind that the meals here are on the pricier side. However, in my opinion, the experience is worth it. On the menu you’ll find traditional fish, meat, and cheeses (foods that were common amongst the vikings, too), but there are also vegetarian options available.
For starters I always recommend crayfish, chanterelle soup, and slightly sweet rye bread called the islander’s bread. For mains, why not try arctic char with mashed artichokes and potatoes, or moose burger with potatoes and pickled vegetables. You’ll also find reindeer and willow grouse on the menu – traditional game foods in Finland. For dessert, don’t miss the sea buckthorn berry pastry or tar ice cream, or order the simple but delicious pancakes with strawberry jam.


7. Figaro
For a charming, quality fine dining experience, I can recommend yet another long-time favorite, and definitely one of the best restaurants in Jyväskylä, Figaro. The restaurant is located in an idyllic stone building in the centre of the city. It has for good reason been ranked among the 50 best restaurants in Finland.
At Figaro you can be served by friendly staff and enjoy carefully prepared and internationally inspired dishes made from quality ingredients. Their wines have received several awards, and the restaurant has also been awarded a Chaine des Rotisseurs plate.

The best foods to try at Figaro include meat dishes such as reindeer calf liver in red wine sauce, or European whitefish with tiger shrimps and pasta. There is also a vegetarian option, tagliatelle pasta with mushrooms. For dessert you could try their pear and toffee cake with pecan nut ice cream, or Figaro’s homemade ice cream. Unsurprisingly, the restaurant is on the expensive side, so you’ll want to save this for a special occasion (or to simply spoil yourself).
8. Sohwi
Sohwi restaurant has a special place in my heart and my family’s, for our great grandmother’s home used to be in the space that now hosts Sohwi. Indeed, Sohwi is the second oldest continuously operating restaurant in Jyväskylä. It is a popular venue for dinner and drinks, located right next to the University of Jyväskylä and a few streets up from Jyväskylä’s central church park. The restaurant has a great selection of foods and a trendy rock’n’roll type vibe, and it is suitable for families as well as friends’ outings.
There are some unique dishes as well as nice vegetarian/vegan options available at Sohwi. For starters, you could try reindeer pancake or forest mushroom soup. I can highly recommend their cauliflower wings or parmesan cheese French fries. For mains there are dishes such as flank steak or tofu, but Sohwi is really best known for their burgers, whether beef or vegan.
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