Accommodation & Dining
Porvoo — a destination for food, culture, and craft
Porvoo is a truly unique place in Finland. With its historic Old Town, colourful riverside houses, and walkable scale, it offers a rare combination of beauty, calm, and vibrant cultural life. Over the years, Porvoo has quietly become one of Finland’s most interesting food destinations — a town where an exceptional number of high-quality restaurants are concentrated within just a few streets.
Today, Porvoo is known for food tourism and thoughtful dining, and for an atmosphere where meals are meant to be enjoyed rather than rushed. Because we love good food as much as we love knitting, we wanted to make it an essential part of the retreat experience.
The retreat has been carefully curated so that you can enjoy these flavours with us — sharing meals, discovering new favourites, and experiencing Porvoo through its kitchens and tables.
Accommodation
Hotel Runo
Accommodation during the retreat is arranged at Hotel Runo, Finland’s first and only Michelin Key hotel. Runo was created from a vision of a hotel that feels both luxurious and genuinely welcoming — a place where Finnish culture, design, and aesthetics come together naturally.
The hotel is set in the century-old Valtimontalo building, once home to Porvoo’s first inn and a place where Finland’s national poet, J. L. Runeberg, once stayed. Today, Runo preserves this rich heritage while blending art nouveau elegance with modern Nordic design.
The name Runo — meaning poem in Finnish — reflects the hotel’s character. Attention to detail, a calm atmosphere, and a beautifully prepared breakfast set the tone for the day, while returning to the hotel after retreat activities feels restful and grounding.
Located right next to Porvoo’s Old Town, Hotel Runo allows you to experience the town at a human pace. Most retreat venues and restaurants are within easy walking distance.
The rooms
During the retreat, guests will stay in Extra Large rooms, chosen for their generous sense of space and distinctive architectural details. Some of the rooms feature beautiful arched windows, adding to the character of the historic building.
The rooms are designed for comfort and ease, with a DUX x RUNO king or twin bed, high-quality materials, and carefully considered amenities that support rest between retreat days. With a room size of approximately 23–25 m², there is plenty of space to settle in, unwind, and feel at home.
Each room is equipped with modern comforts such as air conditioning, a large TV with Chromecast, minibar, kettle, and other thoughtful details — creating a calm and practical base for the duration of the retreat.
Food & restaurants
Vår
At Restaurant Vår, food is an expression of place, people, and identity. The cooking reflects the surrounding nature — the archipelago, nearby forests and farms, and the many layers of Porvoo itself.
Vår is shaped by a continuous dialogue between past and future, expressed through thoughtful, seasonal cooking and carefully balanced flavours. Awarded one Michelin star, the restaurant represents the heart of Porvoo’s contemporary food culture: ambitious yet grounded, refined yet closely connected to its surroundings.
For the retreat, Vår offers a setting that feels both special and welcoming — an opportunity to share an exceptional dining experience rooted in place and intention.
Sicapelle
Sicapelle is a welcoming dinner restaurant located by Kirkkotori square, in one of the most beautiful corners of Porvoo’s Old Town. Set within a historic manor building, it offers warm, characterful surroundings for relaxed evening meals.
Together with its small boutique hotel, Hotel Onni, Sicapelle forms a calm and cohesive whole where food, hospitality, and atmosphere come together naturally. The restaurant is run by a close-knit team led by owners Mikko Lahtinen (kitchen) and Taru Sassi (restaurant and hotel), with a strong focus on craftsmanship and genuine care.
The name Sicapelle comes from a well-known local story, adding a touch of playfulness to a place that otherwise feels quietly timeless. For the retreat, Sicapelle represents the intimate, personal side of Porvoo’s food scene — ideal for shared dinners and long conversations.
Sinne
At Sinne, Nordic cuisine meets modern flavours in a way that feels refined yet approachable. The kitchen works with the best seasonal ingredients, creating dishes where simplicity and clarity are paired with thoughtful surprises.
Located at Taidetehdas, Porvoo’s cultural hub, Sinne sits at the meeting point of food, art, and city life — just a short walk from the Old Town. The setting brings a contemporary counterbalance to Porvoo’s historic core.
Led by head chef Matti Kosamo, the kitchen team combines Nordic traditions with selected international influences, creating dishes that respect seasonal ingredients while allowing room for modern interpretation.
Salt
Salt is a warm, atmospheric restaurant located next to Porvoo Cathedral, in the heart of the Old Town. A relaxed ambience, attentive service, and handcrafted food based on seasonal ingredients define the experience.
Set in a unique historical setting, Salt naturally bridges past and present. Views towards the Porvoo River and the surrounding Old Town streets make it an inviting place to settle in and enjoy the moment.
For the retreat, Salt offers an easy and social setting — well suited for lighter meals and relaxed evenings together.
Papa J’s
Papa J’s is a relaxed neighbourhood bistro where everyone is welcome. A good dining experience here is about honest flavours, carefully prepared food, and an atmosphere that feels comfortable rather than formal.
Whether stopping by for lunch, dinner, or a coffee, Papa J’s fits naturally into the rhythm of the retreat. It represents the everyday side of Porvoo’s food culture — uncomplicated, warm, and genuinely hospitable.
Bistro Honkala
Perched on top of Näsinmäki hill, Bistro Honkala has been a place for views, coffee, and shared moments in Porvoo for over a hundred years. Its story began in 1913, when Anna Cairenius opened a small kiosk that later became known as Honkala.
During the 1920s and 1930s, Honkala developed into a lively summer restaurant and an important part of Porvoo’s social life. In 2024, it reopened in a renewed form, carefully updated while honouring its long history.
Today, Honkala offers the same sweeping views over the town, paired with a contemporary bistro experience. For the retreat, it represents a moment of pause — a chance to step back, look out over Porvoo, and take in the surroundings.
Bistro Mestari
Located at the beginning of Kirkkokatu in Porvoo’s Old Town, Bistro Mestari is a small, atmospheric restaurant set within a historic courtyard whose roots reach back to the 18th century.
The interior and overall ambience honour the past, and the same respect is reflected in the food. The menu combines classic dishes with familiar modern favourites, prepared using high-quality ingredients and, whenever possible, local produce.
Bistro Mestari offers a warm, homelike setting in the heart of the Old Town — a place where tradition, craftsmanship, and comforting flavours meet naturally.
A shared setting
Together, these places form the backdrop of the retreat: calm mornings, good food, thoughtful design, and spaces that support connection — with the craft, with each other, and with the rhythm of Porvoo in summer.
More detailed schedules and meal arrangements will be shared with participants closer to the retreat.