Restaurants and cafés in Åland, Finland

Mariehamn is a charming small town with tranquil pace and idyllic streets with wooden houses and blooming gardens. But the services and wide range of shopping possibilities are far from small-scaled - quite the contrary!

Ålandsmejeriet, the only dairy in Åland, has a long tradition of turning milk into quality dairy products, such as butter, cheese and a hundred of different types of bread, buns and cakes. The dairy production dates back to the 19th century, and the dairy itself was founded in 1921. The bakery was started in 1951. What’s more, Ålandsmejeriet dairy boasts with environmentally-friendly manufacturing processes maintained by a biogas plant.

“A traditional Christmas buffet with an archipelago twist.” That sums up the Åland Christmas buffet, which draws inspiration from both Sweden and Finland. But smoked perch, pine tar marinated herring and shoemaker’s salmon (salted and pickled in brine or vinegar) are Åland dishes that give the Christmas buffet extra spice.

Crayfish premiere in Åland is as early as 21 July. Several restaurants have crayfish on their menus from that day and there are crayfish parties all around Åland. The public is also welcome to book a place for premiere day on the island of Silverskär.

In the summertime the Eastern Harbour teems with life. On a regular evening thousands of people will visit the area to eat, drink and, a bit later, dance till dawn.

Entertainment is a little quieter in the Western Harbour compared to the Eastern Harbour. But the outdoor sections of restaurants and bars in the evening sun attract both tourists and Ålanders.

Shopping for locally produced food at farm shops is becoming increasingly popular. There are plenty of farmers, manufacturers and salespeople in Åland. Choose from lamb sausages, black bread, apple cider, pastries and wine.

Give the heavy backpack a miss and leave the camping stove at home. These days many people opt to live in a hotel and eat at restaurants during their cycling holidays. “Nowadays people like to go on slightly more luxurious cycling holidays,” explains Johan Sjölund, who is involved with arranging cycling trips at the WellComing travel company.