Our favourites in Åland – cafés, restaurants and places to stay

Åland has plenty of lovely places to eat, have coffee and stay overnight. On Sottunga, we of course have our own favourites – Salteriet is our absolute favourite restaurant – but since there is also plenty to discover beyond Sottunga, we want to share some of our personal favourites with you.

We have personally visited every place mentioned in this article. So this is not simply a list based on recommendations from others, but a collection of places where we have enjoyed ourselves and would happily return to.

Cafés and other nice places to stop

Café Viktors

Café Viktors is one of our favourite places for a cup of coffee. The coffee and pastries are rightly praised, but the interior is also definitely worth mentioning. There is something special about it that makes a simple coffee break feel that little bit nicer.

If you are travelling around Åland, Café Viktors is definitely one of the places worth putting on your own list.

More information: Café Viktors – Visit Åland

Iwa Café & Bistro

Iwa Café & Bistro is especially a lunch place for us. This is somewhere you should come hungry.

Lunch is one of the things that makes us happy to return. Good food, a pleasant setting and a relaxed atmosphere make Iwa one of our favourites.

More information: Iwa Café & Bistro

Bagarstugan

If you want to experience something very Ålandic, head to Bagarstugan.

Our particular favourite here is, of course, Ålandspannkaka, the traditional Åland pancake. It is one of those local treats you really should try when visiting Åland.

More information: Bagarstugan

Peders Aplagård

Peders Aplagård is a place of its own kind. It is worth stopping here not only for coffee and treats, but also to enjoy the surroundings.

Apples naturally play an important role here, and the place offers a nice opportunity to get a little closer to Åland’s apple culture.

More information: Peders Aplagård – Visit Åland

Pellas Kaptensgård

Pellas Kaptensgård is a place where the surroundings alone make the visit special.

The old captain’s farm, the historic setting and the staff dressed in traditional-style clothing make you feel as if you have stepped into another time for a while. We especially like places like this, where it is not just about coffee or food, but about the whole experience.

More information: Skeppargården Pellas – café

Restaurants

Salteriet – our favourite

On Sottunga, Salteriet is our own favourite restaurant. But since there is also plenty to discover outside Sottunga, we have included some of our favourites from other parts of Åland as well.

The atmosphere, surroundings and food at Salteriet make it special to us. And because we also know the Sottunga archipelago from the restaurant side of things, we know that a good restaurant experience is about much more than what is on the plate.

More information: Salteriet

Smakbyn

Smakbyn is one of those places where we definitely recommend having lunch as well.

We particularly enjoy their lunch. At Smakbyn, it is worth giving yourself time for more than just a quick meal – food, drinks and the setting are all part of the experience.

More information: Smakbyn

Nautical, Mariehamn

Nautical is an Åland classic.

It is not an inexpensive restaurant, but in our experience the food is really good. We particularly enjoy lunch there and are happy to recommend it.

If you are in Åland before Midsummer or after 15 August, it is worth considering Nautical for lunch. In our experience, that is when the price-to-quality ratio is at its best – good enough that we consider it one of the best price-to-quality experiences in Finland.

More information: Nautical

Indigo, Mariehamn

Indigo is another Mariehamn classic.

It is a place we have been visiting for many years, and that is exactly why Indigo belongs on our list of favourites. If you are in Mariehamn and want to eat in the city centre, Indigo is a good option.

We particularly like the atmosphere – it is a lovely place to spend an evening with good food and drinks.

More information: Indigo – Visit Åland

Stallhagen, Godby

Stallhagen is a brewery restaurant in Godby where good beer and good food come together – and that alone is a good reason to visit.

We should also mention the other side: sometimes the queues are long and the service can be frustratingly slow.

But once you finally get your drink, everything suddenly feels much better again. 😄

Stallhagen is exactly the kind of place where you probably should not be in a hurry. Arrive, relax and let island time move at its own pace.

More information: Stallhagen

Places to stay

We have fewer places to stay on our list. There is a good reason for that: during the summer we work at our own place on Sottunga, so we do not often have time to spend nights elsewhere in Åland.

We have, however, personally stayed at the following places and had good experiences.

Åfva stugor, Brändö

Åfva stugor in Brändö offers really lovely cottages right by the sea. The cottages have all the comforts you need, and the surroundings are exactly the kind of Åland people come here to experience.

The host is also very friendly, which makes the stay even better.

If you are looking for a comfortable cottage by the sea, Åfva stugor is definitely worth checking out.

More information: Åfva stugor – Visit Åland

Enigheten, Föglö

Enigheten on Föglö is a completely different kind of experience.

The historic setting makes the place special, and the sauna right by the shore is one of our favourite things about it. The host is also very friendly.

Its location in Degerby is excellent, making Enigheten a great base for exploring Föglö.

More information: Enigheten – Föglö

Saltvik Bed & Breakfast

With this recommendation, we have to admit that our opinion may not be completely impartial.

We have a strong connection to Saltviks Husmoderskola, where Tea studied for a year. The place is therefore connected to personal memories and many warm feelings.

That is precisely why Saltvik Bed & Breakfast belongs on our list. It is a good example of how a place can be much more than somewhere to sleep for a night – it can be about history, people and personal memories.

More information: Saltvik Bed & Breakfast

Our tip for you

For us, travelling is about finding places that feel personal. That is why we do not want to make a list of dozens of restaurants, cafés and places to stay. Instead, we want to tell you about a few places we have actually visited and genuinely enjoy.

The next time you come to Åland, make some time to explore beyond Sottunga as well. Have a coffee, enjoy lunch, try Ålandspannkaka, stop at an apple farm, have a good dinner or stay somewhere small and personal.

And when you return to Sottunga, Salteriet will be waiting – and, of course, so will Strandhugget.