Bistro Cafe Sommarö

Why I recommend it

Don’t judge this place too quickly by the café itself. It may not be the most spectacular location at first glance, but the surrounding nature is beautiful and the food is absolutely worth stopping for. The café is fairly simple and understated, but step outside and you’re surrounded by the beautiful coastal nature of Espoo. It makes a great stop while exploring the area, especially if you’re looking for something warm and traditional rather than a polished city restaurant. The real reason to come, though, is the food: comforting Finnish classics, generous portions and exactly the kind of meal that fits the surroundings. It feels local, unfussy and genuinely Finnish. The kind of place that becomes much more memorable because of what’s on the plate rather than how Instagrammable the place is.

What to order

Go for the traditional Finnish salmon soup. It’s warm, creamy and exactly the kind of dish that feels right after spending some time outdoors along the coast. Not a fan of fish? The traditional meatballs are an excellent alternative and give you another proper taste of Finnish comfort food.

Good to know

Come here for the food and the surrounding nature rather than for a fancy café experience. It works particularly well as part of a walk, drive or day exploring the Espoo archipelago.