Restaurants near the university
Juvenes lunch restaurant (Kalevantie, 4, TAU main building, 2nd floor) – Lunch (7,60-11.40e) Monday–Friday 10:30 am-2 pm.
Old Mates Pub (Sumeliuksenkatu 18) has a traditional British pub atmosphere and pub food. Kitchen open every day until 10 pm. Lunch (13,50e) Monday–Friday 11 am – 3 pm.
Pizzeria Basiliko (Pinninkatu 59), offers handmade artisan pizzas. Closed Monday, open on Sunday and Tuesday‒Thursday until 8.30 pm.
Telakka (Tullikamarin aukio 3), favorite of students and locals, is a funky local bar and restaurant built in a 17th-century granary. Open on Sundays until 11 pm and Monday–Thursday until midnight. Lunch (8,50 -15,00e) Monday–Friday 11 am – 3 pm.
Tuhto (Yliopistonkatu, 55) offers Scandinavian cuisine in a glassed-in wing of Tampere Hall. Open on Sundays until 5 pm, on Mondays until 3 pm, and Tuesday–Thursday until 9 pm. Lunch (12,70e) Monday–Friday 11 am – 2 pm.
Quick bites, salads, pizzas, & burgers
SALAD: Bistro Venla (Kauppakatu 6) specializes in salads. They also have many sweet and savory dishes, both gluten-free and dairy-free, and many vegetarian options. Salads from 12€. Closed on Sundays. Open Monday until 9 pm and Tuesday–Thursday until 8 pm.
PIZZA: Pizzeria Napoli (Aleksanterinkatu 31), the most popular pizzeria in Tampere. A hundred pizzas on the menu! If you dare, you can try something local like black sausage pizza. Open Sunday–Thursday until 11 pm. Sitko Pizza (Näsilinnankatu 22) offers sourdough pizzas with interesting fillings. Open on Sunday until 8 pm and Monday–Thursday until 9 pm. Pizzeria Luca (northern end of the Central Square) offers Neapolitan style pizzas and is open on Sunday until 7 pm and Monday–Thursday until 9 pm. Pulcinella (Kyttälänkatu 11, close to the railway station) serves Neapolitan style pizzas and much more. Closed on Sundays, open Monday‒Thursday until 10 pm.
WINGS: Siipiweikot (Aleksanterinkatu 26) For reasons unknown, hot chicken wings have always been very popular in Tampere. Siipiweikot was Europe’s first restaurant specializing in hot chicken wings and sauces and has served its customers in Tampere since 1993. Vegan wings are also available. Open Sunday–Thursday until 10:30 pm. Hook, located in the historic milieu of Kehräsaari, claims to be the the king of hot wings. Vegan wings available. Open Sunday–Tuesday until 10 pm and Wednesday–Thursday until 11 pm.
BURGERS: Friends & Brgrs at the Central Square (Keskustori) is a favorite of the locals. A simple self-service concept and delicious burger meals made of high-quality products will give you your money’s worth. Naughty BRGR (Aleksanterinkatu 29) is Top Chef winner Akseli Herlevi’s hamburger restaurant, open on Sunday until 7 pm and Monday–Thursday until 10 pm. Close to the railway station, there’s a burger joint called Zarillo (Otavalankatu 9) that serves burgers until 8:30 pm Sunday, 9 pm on Monday, 11 pm Tuesday, and 10 pm Wednesday–Thursday .
Nordic and classic restaurants
Tampella (address: Kelloportinkatu 1) is located in an old factory building. If you’re lucky, you might get a window table right by the water. International cuisine with a local twist. Starters from 11€, mains from 30€. Open on Sunday until 9 pm and Monday–Friday until 11 pm.
Pons (Hämeenkatu 13, 7th floor), a restaurant with a view! International, somewhat bold cuisine. Starters from 13€, mains from 31€. Pons closes at 10 pm on Sunday and 11 pm Monday–Thursday.
Tiiliholvi (Kauppakatu 10, basement), a traditional restaurant in an old bank vault. International gourmet cuisine. Starters from 13€, mains from 27€. Closed on Sunday, open Monday–Thursday until 11 pm.
Viking Restaurant Harald (Hämeenkatu 23, 2nd floor). Enjoy a Viking feast in Tampere! Starters from 8€, mains from 23€. Selections of fixed menus also available. Open on Sunday until 9 pm and Monday–Thursday until 10 pm.
Plevna (Itäinenkatu 8, a large Finlayson red brick factory at the northern end of the Central Square) is a brewery restaurant that has a dining hall with an atmosphere of Central European beer halls. A wide selection of brewery products and a varied menu from sausages to vegetarian options. Open Sunday–Monday until 11 pm and Tuesday–Thursday until midnight.
Ukkometso (Kauppakatu 16) offers traditional Finnish food and Finnish microbrewery products. While enjoying your meal you can also experience a breath of old-time spirit. Open Sunday–Thursday until 10 pm.
Sámi restaurants Dabbal and Saivo. Want to taste reindeer, Arctic char, or other Lappish specialties? These restaurants are in the 2 Lapland Hotels near the university. Dabbal (Yliopistonkatu 44) is open on Sundays until 9 pm and Monday–Thursday until 10 pm. Saivo is in the Lapland Hotel inside Tampere’s new Nokia Arena (Ratapihankatu 54, follow Kalevantie from the university towards the city centre).
Mediterranean, Indian, Asian, Turkish
Zeytuun (Tuomiokirkonkatu 21) serves Middle Eastern dishes until 9 pm Sunday–Thursday. Mains from 17€.
Nanda Devi (Näsilinnankatu 17), an atmospheric Indian restaurant in the heart of the city, offers pure, spicy and filling Indian food. Mains from 15€. Open on Sundays until 8 pm and Tuesday–Thursday until 10 pm.
Thai & Laos offers mouthwatering flavours from Thai and Laos kitchen at two addresses, Näsilinnankatu 23 and Suvantokatu 7-9. Mains from 14€. Suvantokatu is open on Sundays until 8 pm, on Mondays until 5 pm, and Tuesday–Thursday until 7 pm. Näsilinnankatu is closed on Sunday, open Monday–Thursday until 8 pm.
Biang (Hämeenkatu 3), the best Chinese restaurant in town, serves traditional northern Chinese food. Mains from 12€. Open Sunday–Thursday until 9 pm.
Onni ja Leo (Rautatienkatu 14) serves Mediterranean food with a modern twist until 9 pm on Sunday–Thursday. Mains from 25€, mezes from 12€ per person.
Rioni (Rautatienkatu 12). Never visited Georgia? Never tasted Georgian food? Here is a chance to try. It reminds Greek cousine, but there are many special dishes, like lobio, satsivi, hachapuri etc. Mains around 23€.
Google the restaurants for details and exact location.
All restaurants have vegetarian food, most also have vegan options.
More restaurants: https://visittampere.fi/en/eat-drink/