Go!!!

Rovaniemi is well known for three main activities: visiting Santa Clause in Santa Clause Village, going on a dog sled ride, and chasing after the northern lights. Few would visit the lapland to stay in the main town, and even fewer would go on a food hunt. If you happen to be in town with just enough time for one meal, I highly recommend Cafe & Bar 21.

Note: It seems their daily menu and Sunday brunch menu has changed w.e.f. 1 June 2020, so my pictures below may not be on the menu now, but hopefully this would give you a rough gauge of the food they serve.

I read that Cafe & Bar 21 does rather good waffles, so I chose Funky Chicken, which essentially is little cubes of teriyaki chicken topped with fried capers, roasted onion and a splash of mustard seed mayo on a bed of fluffy waffles. I’ve gotta say it was a really safe choice; nothing too adventurous or mind blowing, but it was very interesting to eat waffles done in a savoury manner.

Unfortunately, I can’t remember the name of this dish but I remember it being on the sweet side. If I’m not wrong, I think there’s elements of beetroot and white chocolate in this dish with toast and yoghurt. I was memorable because I absolutely love love love the homemade muesli!

I liked this place and its waffles so much that I came back here during my short 3 day trip to Rovaniemi. This waffles was nothing too fancy, just the usual smoked reindeer sausage on a bed of fresh salad on top of a waffle. A relatively simple dish, but it was as good as you can imagine it to be.

The surprise of this dish was that it was a cold dish! Imagine tuna on toast, but instead of tuna and toast, it’s chilled smoked salmon on potatoes. It’s a substantial dish, rather filling but not too overpowering. The salad with the feta cheese makes a good alternative bite to the dish when it becomes a little bit too boring.

I love how cosy Cafe & Bar 21 was. On my Sunday there, the cafe was bustling with little kids and babies in prams. Parents were just chilling over their Sunday brunch and a cup of coffee. The staff were cheerful and chirpy, greeting everyone with a huge smile.

Rovakatu 21, 96200 Rovaniemi, Finland

+358 040 8117037

Mondays and Tuesdays: 11am to 9pm

Wednesdays and Thursdays: 11am to 10pm

Fridays: 11am to 2am

Saturdays: 12noon to 2am

Sundays: 12noon to 9pm

Visit Cafe & Bar 21’s website here

Follow me on Instagram here