Christmas buffets in Åland introduce a traditional Christmas buffet with an archipelago twist. The local buffet draws inspiration from both Sweden and Finland. But smoked perch, pine tar marinated herring and shoemaker’s salmon are Åland dishes that give the Christmas buffet extra spice. 

Guests from Sweden and Finland alike meet both new and familiar tastes and scents of Christmas at the traditional Åland Christmas buffet. Finland’s contribution to the Åland Christmas buffet is oven-baked casserole dishes such as carrot bake, turnip bake and potato bake. Visitors from the Swedish side will be familiar with ham and sausages. But pigs’ trotters, à la daube and brawn get to give way to all of the archipelago’s fish dishes.

Smakbyn – Christmas buffet in a castle environment

Smakbyn, a Green Key restaurant since March 2017, is situated a stone’s throw from Kastelholm Castle. The star chef Michael Björklund and his wife Jenny Björklund and personnel will be laying on a family Christmas buffet with out-and-out pure and simple flavours and locally produced raw products including the very own Christmas favorites of Michael and his staff. You can taste some of Smakbyn’s own drinks, Appleaud and Röd Granit, with the Christmas buffet. 

The Christmas buffet will be served Thursdays–Saturdays during the period of 28 November–21 December: Thursdays and Fridays at 5–7 pm, Saturdays at 3–7 pm. In addition, there will also be an afternoon seating 13 December at 1–3 pm and 15 December at 3–5 pm. Smakbyn will be closed on 6 December and they open at 10 am on 30 November when there is a Christmas market at Jan Karlsgården open-air museum close by.

For table reservations and further information contact Smakbyn via [email protected] or by +358 18 43 666. Photos of Smakbyn’s Christmas dishes are taken by Linus Lindholm.

Restaurant Nautical – Christmas buffet with fantastic view 

You’ll find one of the Ålanders’ most popular Christmas buffets at the restaurant Nautical, Finland’s seventh best restaurant according to the White Guide Nordic 2016. This restaurant, with its fine old traditions, gives you the chance to enjoy a truly deluxe Christmas buffet. The fantastic view over the western harbour of Mariehamn enhances the atmosphere.

The Christmas buffet will be served 29 November–22 December: Mondays–Fridays at 11 am–2 pm and in the evening at 6 pm, Saturdays from 5 pm. Remember to book the table in advance by contacting Nautical via [email protected] or by +358 18 19 931.

Christmas buffet at Silverskär – a unique archipelago experience

The Christmas buffet at Silverskär, a Green Key restaurant, starts with a short boat trip out to the island. After the boat trip you’ll be welcomed to Mellangårds where they’ll be serving mulled wine and homemade Carita’s gingerbread biscuits by the fireplace. It’s pleasant, informal and intimate.

Silverskär’s kitchen with the chefs Viktor Eriksson and Gustav Eriksson will be serving up Åland specialities at Nedergårds (or Ladugårds for bigger groups). The meat balls are made from Highland Cattle beef from the neighbouring village of Långbergsöda, and the fish which includes home-cured herring for the shoemaker’s salmon comes from Bennys Fisk. In terms of desserts there are traditional goodies as well as Christmas sweets. Silverskär’s Christmas buffet will be served between 22 November and 8 December Wednesdays–Sundays with one afternoon and one evening seating. For reservations and more information contact Silverskär via [email protected] or by +358 18 525 565.

Christmas buffets close to the eastern harbour in Mariehamn

The restaurant at the Hotel Arkipelag serves a Christmas buffet from 5 pm on 29–30 November and on December 4–7, 11–12 and 18–21. Fish delicacies and tasty desserts are a big part of their Christmas buffet. For reservations contact Hotel Arkipelag via [email protected] or +358 18 24020.

Arkipelag is situated in the eastern harbour of Mariehamn, and Brasserie Ångbåtsbryggan is located there as well. Their Christmas buffet is served on Mondays–Saturdays between 22 November and 21 December from 5 pm. 

Christmas buffet in idyllic Degerby

The archipelago restaurant Seagram in the idyllic village Degerby in Föglö serves a popular Christmas buffet on 29 November from 5 pm, and both 30 November–1 December and 6–8 December from 2 pm. The food that Seagram serves is house-made with a fine combination of traditional and new art of cooking. The archipelago has a lot to offer such as fish, game and all sorts of berries, and that’s why the local produce always comes first. Reservations are made by +358 18 51092 or via [email protected].

To travel to Seagram in Föglö you take the ferry from Svinö in Lumparland to Degerby. Visit www.alandstrafiken.ax for more information about timetables. 

More Christmas buffets

Our calendar shows opening times and contact information to the restaurants that serve Christmas buffets. For prices and further information visit the restaurants‘ homepages. Remember to book your table well in advance!

Read more about pre-christmas activities such as little Christmas traditions and Christmas markets in Åland in the related links. You can book accommodation, journey and activities via our online booking.