7 Tasty Restaurants at Santa Claus Village (in Rovaniemi)

I live so close to Santa Claus Village that I can walk there. Yet for some reason, when I think about places to eat in Rovaniemi, my mind tends to wander to the city center and not the restaurants at Santa Claus Village.

But I was recently thinking about it, and I realized that there are some pretty delicious places to eat at Santa Claus Village. And now with the addition of a new grocery store there (long overdue), I felt like it would be good to create a guide to where to eat at Santa Claus Village, including both restaurants and a few additional options that you’ll find at the end of the guide.

What many people don’t realize until they arrive in Rovaniemi is that Santa Claus Village is not in the city center. In fact, it is around 8 kilometers (5 miles) away! So for those staying in accommodation around SCV, it doesn’t make sense to head to the city center every night.

There are quite a few places to eat around SCV, but these are my favorites. Most places are great for kids, but one (Santa’s Salmon Place) has limited seating, so it may be stressful during the high season if you’re visiting with young kids. Kids 10 and up will love it (if they like salmon).

Let me know if you have any questions… or recommendations of your favorite spots to eat at Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi!

My Favorite Restaurants at Santa Claus Village

1. Restaurant Gallis

🗓️ Season opening: September 20, 2025 to the end of the season
⏰ Opening hours: open daily from 5pm until 11pm
🔗 Website

Restaurant Gallis is one of my favorite places to eat in Rovaniemi and I go there multiple times during the season. Located at the Glass Resort tucked behind SCV, this locally-owned hotel has some of the best accommodation AND tastiest food in the city.

The food at Gallis is prepared with incredible attention to detail, sourcing proximity, and seasonality. I love it when they have ptarmigan on the menu, but you can’t go wrong with any option.

I am also a fan of their reindeer dishes, Arctic char, and their vegetarian rotations (I love how they use local vegetables and ingredients as the hero).

Out of all spots on this guide, this is the highest level of dining experience you’ll get. There is no dress code, and reservations are required.

Please note that Restaurant Gallis is a seasonal restaurant and closes in the spring until early autumn.

2. Santa’s Salmon Place

🗓️ Season opening: Year-round
⏰ Opening hours: open daily from 11am to 7pm
🔗 Website

Santa’s Salmon Place is my favorite of the two salmon spots at Santa Claus Village. I believe this one was the original and then another one came in with a similar name and set up shop right in the heart of the village.

I haven’t heard good things about that one and haven’t eaten there, so I can’t make a recommendation for it. At Santa’s Salmon Place, you will walk into a wooden gamme (cabin) where you’ll see tables surrounding a fire on which salmon is grilled. The smell is to-die-for.

They serve a small menu of fresh salmon for €25 that comes with bread and a Finnish salad, and a side of Lappish cheese with cloudberry jam. There is also cake, pate, and a variety of drinks for sale. I almost always get the glögi as my drink.

It is a unique experience and one I recommend to everyone visiting SCV! Something to make note of is that this is not a place that takes reservations and it is often crowded.

3. Santamus

🗓️ Season opening: October 28, 2025 to the end of the season
⏰ Opening hours: TBA
🔗 Website

One of my favorite places to eat in Rovaniemi (not just SCV!) is Santamus. This restaurant sits right in the heart of Santa Claus Village and is open seasonally. During the wintertime, they offer a cozy indoor experience with a lunch buffet that has a few tables of salads, desserts, cheese, and other delights paired with a few options for a main plate (that you order when there).

I went a few times last season and loved their slow-cooked beef cheeks so much that I never deviated from that menu item!

You will need to reserve a table and you can also pay in advance when you do this. The buffet is a set price and unlimited, but you will have a limited time on your reservation. Another thing that sets Santamus apart from other places is that it offers a gold panning experience for children! You can see more on their website I linked to above.

I have written a short guide to Santamus in summer that you can read here. Santamus is owned by the Arctic Snowhotel family (which also operates Snowman World at SCV). 

Please note that Santamus is seasonal, but it has a summer terrace and a winter restaurant. So it is open over half of the year, just with different experiences offered.

4. Three Elves Restaurant & Lobby Bar

🗓️ Season opening: Year-round
⏰ Opening hours: from 3pm until 10pm
🔗 Website

Three Elves Restaurant is a year-round option at SCV that, despite its fairly low ratings, is a good family-friendly option if you’re looking for something to satisfy all tastes. It is part of the Santa Claus Holiday Village resort and, as a result, can sit up to 160 people inside.

There is also an outdoor terrace if you’re dining in the summer and a couple of cute glass igloos for those dining in winter (although I still see them available in summer but they are cozier in winter).

This SCV restaurant specializes in Lappish dishes like sauteed reindeer and rainbow trout while still having options like burgers, chicken nuggets (for kids), and more.

Since they accept reservations, I would recommend booking one if you’re visiting during the high season just to ensure they can accommodate you.

5. Snowman World

🗓️ Season opening: December 6, 2025 to March 17, 2026
⏰ Opening hours: from 11am until 7pm (but meals are scheduled during this)
🔗 Read my experience here

Okay, this is a weird one to put on here since this is part of a ticket experience, but I had some delicious soup there in the ice restaurant that I think is kind of a fun option to add to this Santa Claus Village food guide!

You can read my entire guide to visiting Snowman World, including how to book a ticket to the attraction. The average ticket does not come with food, so you will need to book a lunch/dinner when there or beforehand.

Their menu rotates with the season, but it will consist of around 6-7 dishes that come as a three-course menu at a set time.

Everything was really tasty! You will eat in their ice restaurant and while it is not something I’d want to do every night of the week, it is one of the coolest things to do at Santa Claus Village, in my opinion. The dishes are kid-friendly, and there are vegan and vegetarian options, as well.

6. Restaurant Kotahovi

🗓️ Season opening: Year-round but closes in May and September
⏰ Opening hours: vary based on the month – check their website below
🔗 Website

A cute spot in Santa Claus Village that I don’t see many people talking about online (yet it always seems to be full) is Lapland Restaurant Kotahovi. This restaurant, as its name suggests, is in a Kota and they serve typical Lappish dishes that rotate with the season.

You’ll find everything from juniper-flavored salmon to traditional sauteed reindeer (and more). All meat served is from Finland and they always have a vegetarian option on the menu.

Please note that they do not take reservations at Restaurant Kotahovi.

7. ST1 Gas Station (Helmi Simpukka)

🗓️ Season opening: Year-round
⏰ Opening hours: 24/7

I know you’re shaking your head right now, but hear me out… The St1 gas station’s restaurant (called Helmi Simpukka) is a pretty solid place to eat around Santa Claus Village. While the food doesn’t compare (quality-wise) to anything mentioned in this guide, it always has people in there and it is open 24 hours a day, which gives it the edge for those arriving late at night.

They have a buffet (all times of day), hot dogs, Koti Pizza (a Finnish pizza chain), and more. My favorite thing to get in here is a munkki, however. Munkkis are Finnish doughnuts and the ones here are absolutely delicious.

The St1 is located right across the street from Santa Claus Village. Please DO NOT freely walk across this street. There is a tunnel that connects the gas station to SCV that you can use.

Other Places to Eat at Santa Claus Village

All of the aforementioned places in the guide are spots where you can sit down and enjoy a meal. There are two places, however, that I want to add here that are a little different than that.

The first is Loft. This is the best cafe at Santa Claus Village, and they have coffee, hot chocolate, and some pastries. There is a small seating area, but I wouldn’t bother. Just grab a hot chocolate and cinnamon bun and head back out to SCV! It is centrally-located and locally-owned.

The next spot has been a long time coming! There is FINALLY a grocery store at Santa Claus Village! Santa’s Foodmarket just opened in early September 2025 and it has all the essentials you’ll need. Including plenty of snacks.

Santa’s Foodmarket is open from 8am until 9pm daily and is located opposite the Santa Claus Holiday Village.

Some Tips for Eating Out in Rovaniemi

There is not too much to add here except to book a reservation for places ahead of time if you know your dates! Places can really fill up around Santa Claus Village and if you get stuck having to dine in the city center, you will also need to factor in getting over that way (which will require a bus ride or expensive taxi rides).

Finland is pretty good at having gluten-free, lactose-free, and vegan options on menus, but be sure to specify at the time of booking if you have another request or dietary restriction.

All places listed in this guide take credit cards, as we don’t use much cash here. And every place in this guide has no dress code. Come in whatever clothes you have on your back!

Do you have any questions about these restaurants at Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi? Let me know in the comments.

And if you are staying in the city center, here is my guide to the best restaurants in Rovaniemi (which includes several other options for your trip).

*This site uses affiliate links, meaning that if you make a purchase through my links, I may earn an affiliate commission.