Papulaari coffee shop in Kouvola
12.03.2020

Restaurants and cafes in Kouvola

You can enjoy "concrete" chocolate and extremely dark Sysikymi coffee in downtown Kouvola. Naturally, our cafes and restaurants also serve food that is more mainstream.


The Papulaari coffee shop  in the city centre is a combination of a delicatessen and a cafe. At Papulaari, you’ll get "concrete" chocolate, tea, coffee-making equipment, raw cake, other local delicacies and, most important of all, Kouvola coffee.

Kouvola coffee can be drunk in a trendy new cold version or in the traditional filter-coffee way. It can also be made aeropressed or using a Chemex maker. You can ask the barista at Papulaari how Kouvola tastes in its different forms and what the different methods of preparation mean.

Papulaari’s newest coffee, Sysikymi, has been developed in cooperation with the Inka Paahtimo coffee roastery. It is a strong blend of coffee suitable as filtered coffee or espresso.

Sysikymi – also known as Susikumi (wolf rubber) - is roasted along Kymijoki River. It is described as being as black as the humour of the people of Kymenlaakso. Of all of Papulaari’s coffees, betonilatte ("concrete" latte) is a particular favourite with locals.

Along the same street, you will also find Olé and Betony. Olé has a very long history in Kouvola and we locals have enjoyed their steaks for years. Betony on the other hand is a newcomer in the restaurant scene in Kouvola. The locals have fallen in love with their cozy atmosphere and great selection of drinks.

Tasty lunches

The Neville Restaurant  between the main library and Manski pedestrian street has buffet lunch and is known for its relaxed atmosphere. During Kymi Brass festival, brass bands gather there to jam.

Rosso, on Manski, is an italian type restaurant, very popular for lunch and with families. In summer, the sunny terrace and the adjacent Coffee House are good places to enjoy the street atmosphere.

Ice cream and award-winning cake

Almost opposite the Rosso stands Rami's bakery, which is known for its wide selection of cakes and pastries. One of its favourite cakes is the meringue-topped lemon cake, which entered the Finland’s Best Bakery competition.

Rami's speciality is the home-made ice cream. Flavour alternatives include coconut, pistachio, chocolate, toffee biscuit, mango sorbet and salty nut. The selection varies day by day. A special favourite is mint, a better version of which is difficult to find even in Italy, the home of ice cream. A rumour has it that Rami’s owners went to Italy to learn to make their ice cream. Or perhaps it was the other way round?