What could have been a great experience was soured by several hidden charges, including one for tap water. Nili proudly claims they serve tap instead of bottled water for economic purposes; but they ironically fail to inform their ‘dear guests’ that they’ll be charged for...tap water. They also offered several other beverages (e.g., sparkling water, glöggi) with such nonchalance that implies no additional charge. This happened both before and after the meal. Usually, in Finland, a server would direct their guests to the drink menu before offering to bring a certain drink. It’s an unpleasant surprise, therefore, to be billed in such a furtive manner that is very unconventional by Finnish standards. What a stark contrast to the Finnish transparency I have come to know and love over the years! All of this is unfortunate because Nili does offer an interesting menu with local specialties like sautéed reindeer and bear stew, and the food is quite tasty, albeit rather heavy and rich. The restaurant also has a uniquely Lappish interior and ambience. In short, my experience at Nili would have been great if not for the furtive tactics and surprise bills for the likes of tap water.More

First of all, the food was excellent. My risotto dish might be too rich and creamy for me, but still decent. The waitress was also friendly and pleasant. So why did I give it such a low rating? The way they offered drinks made it...sound like it was on the house as they didn’t direct us to the drink menu or informing us about the price. This all happened before we could even look at the menu. And, they did it again at the end of the meal. We only found out how much extra we were charged for the drinks when we received the receipt. On top of that, they even charged tap water, which was not a big deal, but very unexpected for someone who has been living in Finland for half a decade, been to many restaurants, from casual to fine-dining, and never got charged for tap water. It could have been a better experience for me, if only they had been more transparent about all these “hidden bills”! Be careful when ordering!More

We were lucky to enjoy the annual birthday menu, and it was delicious! Everyone enjoyed it, reindeer, fish or vegetarian, no complaints here. Amazing service, friendly staff and food that looks and tastes delicious

The interior design was very traditional looking with accessories and background music adding to the Laplandic atmosphere. The waiters were all really friendly and professional. The quality of the food was over our expectations for the sensible price. On the same level as many top...class restaurants in the country. If there’s one thing I’d tell you to definetely try, is the alcohol-free drink set.More

My friends were visiting me from Southern Finland and I decided to bring them to Nili restaurant since I live in Rovaniemi and restaurant have a great reputation on its delicious food and service. We ordered the surprise menu and it was a great choice!...Two starters and two main dish with a desert made the whole experience memorable. It's kind of place that I would go to have a special moment.More

Friend of mine booked this restaurant for the first evening of our stay in Rovaniemi. I highly recommend this place. Atmosphere was uniquely way great, Staff was friendly and the dishes were all 5/5. Me and my girlfriend will definitely pay a visit when we...visit Rovaniemi next time. :)More

The surprise menu was delicious. Our children had the reindeer in 2 ways and loved it! The waitress was very friendly and helpful. She also told us about the Lappish history. We for sure recommend it!!