Savonlinna in summer is well worth experiencing thanks to both the Opera Festival and its diverse restaurant offerings. Many menus even feature dishes inspired by opera. Whether you want to taste fish freshly caught from Lake Saimaa, soak up the market square atmosphere with a pastry, or enjoy a delicious dinner before the opera, you’re sure to find the perfect place to eat from the selection below. Many restaurants are popular on performance evenings, so it’s a good idea to reserve a table in advance.
In the old banquet hall of the cozy boutique hotel Hospitz, you can enjoy delicious lunches and dinners. At the hotel’s terrace garden bistro, you can soak up the atmosphere under the apple trees, admire the lake views, and sample the Verdi tapas platter. During the opera season, a generous pre-performance opera dinner and a post-performance night buffet are also available.
hospitz.com
Within the walls of Olavinlinna, you can enjoy not only opera but also excellent food. In addition to lunch and interval refreshments, a pre-performance opera dinner is also offered. Dining in the hall of the medieval castle is a perfect way to set the mood before the performance, while a glass of sparkling wine at the upper terrace Lanson Champagne Bar provides a delightful refreshment during the intermission.
raflaamo.fi
The Peroni Lounge at Olavinlinna Castle offers a unique moment where the atmosphere of opera meets the Italian way of life. Before the performance or during the intermission, you can pause to enjoy the summer evening, good company, and premium-quality beer. For over 60 years, Peroni Nastro Azzurro has represented Italian style, quality, and effortlessly elegant enjoyment. Welcome to experience a taste of Italy in the heart of Savonlinna!
Restaurant Linnakrouvi is a cozy restaurant in the heart of Savonlinna, right next to Olavinlinna. It serves delicious Finnish cuisine with a modern twist, along with seasonal dishes that make use of local ingredients. In particular, the local pike-perch from Lake Saimaa is well worth tasting. Thanks to its relaxed atmosphere and lakeside views, Linnakrouvi is ideal for both lunch and dinner, and the kitchen also serves opera guests after performances.
linnakrouvi.fi
Harbor Restaurant Majakka (Finnish for lighthouse) has been part of Savonlinna’s cityscape for decades and has established its place among the city’s most popular restaurants. The restaurant’s name is its greatest source of inspiration, so the menu features delicious fish dishes made from locally caught ingredients. Majakka’s terrace also invites you to enjoy refreshing drinks.
raflaamo.fi
The café Sirkan Torikahvio has been serving customers at Savonlinna market square since 1978. In addition to the café, the bakery’s tasty treats are also available at a direct sales point at the market, open from June to August near the center of the square. Sirkan Leipomo’s lunch café and bakery shop, in turn, offer fresh, handmade delicacies and hearty home-style lunches—prepared with a Savonian touch and using local ingredients. At both locations, you’ll find the delicious Composer’s Tosca Cake. Unlike its operatic namesake, this pastry isn’t prone to drama. This tasty treat lifts your spirits and makes your taste buds play a symphony.
sirkanleipomo.fi
The popular market café is often so busy that there’s usually a queue of customers.
Located next to the market square on the top floor of Hotel Seurahuone, Muikkuterassi combines local delicacies with unbeatable lake views. The menu is based on fresh, local ingredients, and the undisputed classic dish is the terrace’s crispy fried vendace.
raflaamo.fi
Although Italy arrives at Olavinlinna only this year, it has been present at Perlina di Castello for many years. The heart of this cozy restaurant is a wood-fired pizza oven, which gives the pizzas their airy crust and perfectly crispy base. The sunny terrace by the market square invites you to relax with a drink or a serving of gelato, and after the opera, a generous Serenata Italiana buffet is served.
raflaamo.fi
Thanks to its location, Linnakrouvi is an excellent restaurant choice for opera guests.
The generous buffet at Café Mertala’s lunch restaurant is set out for hungry guests from Monday to Saturday. A tasty home-style lunch—the most important overture of the day—serves as the perfect first act of your opera evening! Check the changing lunch menu online and come enjoy the lunch restaurant’s delights and relaxed atmosphere.
raflaamo.fi
The restaurant at Enonkoski Manor has been serving hungry customers since the 1980s. The diverse menu offers options for both big and small appetites, and the manor’s back terrace is an idyllic spot to enjoy a cold drink while listening to the gentle murmur of the rapids.
enonkoskenkartano.fi
Located right next to Olavinlinna Castle, Restaurant Sarastro serves hungry guests during the summer season from lunchtime until the early hours of the night. At Sarastro, you can dine either before the opera or after the performance. The opera theme is reflected not only in the restaurant’s name but also on the menu—for example, in Puccini’s snail pan—and while dining you can admire the blue waters of Lake Saimaa and the historic castle scenery.
ravistolasarastro.fi
Restaurant Himalayan Bite brings the authentic flavors of the Himalayas to Savonlinna through fresh, homemade dishes prepared daily on-site. Inspired by Nepal’s rich culinary culture and traditions, all items on the diverse menu are crafted with carefully selected spices and fresh ingredients. During the opera season, guests can also enjoy the special dish “Himalayan Opera Butter Chicken.”
himalayanbite.fi
Restaurant Waahto, which hosts the opera day openings on its terrace, serves delicious dishes straight from a charcoal grill that gives the food an authentic smoky, fire-kissed flavor. The restaurant’s extensive food and drink selection offers options for many tastes. You can celebrate your opera evening with, for example, a delicious three-course menu or a refreshing drink.
waahtobrewhouse.fi
The La Dolce Vita crêpe at Lettukahvila Kalliolinna is sure to delight sweet tooths this summer.
Lettukahvila Kalliolinna is a charming summer café in Savonlinna, known for its delicious traditional Finnish pancakes and its unique location amid a rocky lakeside landscape. The café offers both sweet and savory pancakes as well as refreshing drinks. Stop by Sulosaaren to enjoy the cozy atmosphere of this picture-perfect villa and celebrate the arrival of Italy at Olavinlinna with the La Dolce Vita pancake dish.
lettukahvilakalliolinna.com
As the name suggests, Kalastajan Koju (Finnish for Fisherman’s Booth), located by the market square, is known for its tasty fish dishes made from fresh catches from Lake Saimaa. On the waterside terrace you can enjoy the sparkling lake views, refresh yourself with a cool drink, and sample specialties such as the King Olavi’s fish dish.
kalastajankoju.com
