Bodega Salud, a Chaine des Rôtisseurs restaurant, is undoubtedly one of the best dining places in the city and possibly the most famous, too. It was established back in the 1970s and has maintained its popularity ever since. Salud's cuisine is mostly influenced by Spanish traditions but it is also famous for its seasonal international delicacies and specialties. A real evergreen on Salud's menu, a dish recognized by any local of the city, is the pepper steak. Many people visit Salud regularly just in order to have that dish. Choose from a fine selection of mouthwatering salads and traditional Latin American dishes infused with Spanish and Mexican touches.
Papa's Place, as the name could loosely be translated, shows an allegiance to live jazz and roots music strange to the true-blue Finnish pub. In the evening, the place comes alive, but there's not much room to roam about in here, especially on the upstairs balcony. But the people who frequent the pub seem to like it that way. If you like live music, fairly cheap lager, tight corners and lots of altruists, this is the place for you. The dark décor suits the music perfectly.
Manhattan Steak House is popular among meat lovers. It is located at Koskikeskus shopping center, right in the heart of the city. True to its name, Manhattan Steak House serves steaks, presented on a menu composed of many alternatives. You can choose from a range of grilled and baked American delicacies as well. The restaurant is popular for lunch, too. Prices are reasonable. Fully licensed.
Ravintola C is a genuine restaurant serving quality food. It is small and intimate and is located in the city centre, right next to the railway station on Rautatienkatu. The amiable service is something you will definitely appreciate here. There is a long list of appetizers and desserts to choose from. Accompany the tasty local fare with fine wines from the decent collection.
Napoli is a traditional pizzeria that has been in the city centre for over 20 years. Their speciality is the menu with over 100 pizzas; presumably there are not many places with this selection in the whole of Europe. It is utterly unlikely not to find something to suit your tastes here. As long as you come for pizza, of course. Napoli is decorated in a nice and cosy way, keeping the place functional and rather simple. Good parking spaces are available right in front of the restaurant. Tables can be reserved on Fridays and weekends only.
A few years ago when Café Europa first opened, many people must have wondered about the sofas - somehow it was not proper to have a sofa in a bar in Tampere. But they have come a long way since then, and now no one seems even to notice this detail. Still, Café Europa's décor stands out from the rest. For several reasons, it is hard to categorise this place: at street level, you will find a weird hybrid of a living room and a bar - it is rather like walking to a set of Casablanca. On the first floor, the Attic disco offers theme nights ranging from soul to break beats. Café Europa, especially the Attic, is popular among the trendy, knowledgeable and young. But regardless of your age or disposition, the street level bar/restaurant is definitely worth checking out.
Friends of high-quality coffee prefer the respectable Kahvihuone Mestari Brander. The atmosphere in the café is old-fashioned, thanks to the beautiful dark-toned wallpaper and furniture. A friendly and professional confectionery service has brought the café many awards. You can choose your cake in the front room, and that is not so easy because all of them look delicious. The café bakes cakes and layer cakes according to customers' wishes for all occasions. One day's notice is needed, though.
Restaurant Coussicca has been churning out delectable local dishes and steaks faithfully since 1970. Coussicca is particularly known for its sizable and juicy steaks. No wonder ice hockey players and other sportsmen favor the place. The menu consists of a wide variety of steaks, fish, delicious vegetable preparations and mouthwatering desserts. Wash it all down with a sparkling glass of red wine. This eatery is sure to make you want to come back for more. Fully licensed.
Tiiliholvi is a Jugend-style arched restaurant with long traditions, located in an idyllic red-brick cellar. Excellent food and fantastic wine selection have been associated with Tiiliholvi for a long time. The menu varies according to the season, and always contains delectable gourmet dishes. Choose from a wide range of vegetable and meat dishes and top it off with mouthwatering desserts and a glass of the best wine in the city. It is not exactly cheap to have dinner at Tiiliholvi, but a good value for money is guaranteed. Fully licensed. Special events and educational talk sessions on wine are held from time to time. Check website for more details.
Pyynikki Garden is a classy restaurant at Hotel Rosendahl, a couple of kilometres towards lake Pyhäjärvi from the city centre. Enjoyable dining is guaranteed as the restaurant has been awarded the Chaine des Rotisseurs acknowledgment. The menu is composed of both local and international delicacies. The selection is wide and of good quality. Foreign visitors are able to enjoy various kinds of Finnish game, such as wild duck or wood grouse. Fully licensed, with a very good wine list.
Ravintola C is a genuine restaurant serving quality food. It is small and intimate and is located in the city centre, right next to the railway station on Rautatienkatu. The amiable service is something you will definitely appreciate here. There is a long list of appetizers and desserts to choose from. Accompany the tasty local fare with fine wines from the decent collection.
It is easy to fall in love with the Waffle Café at a first glance, when you see the cheerful yellow stone house and its extremely cosy interior. The building is the smallest stone house in Tampere. The small size can be one reason for the busy atmosphere: the café is an extremely popular place. There are many kinds of delicious home-made waffles (both sweet and savoury) for sale. The café is very close to the Tampere Cathedral. There is a tradition in Finland to go and sing Christmas carols at the church before Christmas, and many people who come out of the Cathedral stop by the café for a waffle and a cup of hot mulled wine afterwards.