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Opening hours:
Dinner bookings 17:00-20:00
Kitchen open 17:00-21:00
Bar open until 22:30
Please note that we do not accept cash payments.
At Aanaar, everything we do is in cooperation with nature and the local community. People have lived in Inari and enjoyed the gifts of nature for hundreds of years. Our responsibility is to ensure that future generations can do the same.
Ecological responsibility: We continuously strive to improve the sustainability of our sourcing, as well as to enhance waste management and recycling.
Local connection: We know that every decision affects the environment and the people around us. That is why we aim to make choices thoughtfully and as sustainably as possible. We want our respect for nature and local cultures to be reflected in everything we serve – both on the plate and in the glass.
Sustainability: We invest with care. We repair, maintain, and renew only when necessary.
Certified responsibility: We were awarded the Green Key environmental certificate in 2021, and we continue to develop our operations in line with its criteria.
Safe space: We warmly welcome everyone just as they are. We are an LGBTQ+-friendly restaurant, and we have zero tolerance for any form of discrimination.
A Long Story in the Heart of Inari
The story of our hotel and restaurant in Inari begins in 1937. In the early decades, all ingredients were gathered directly from nature – because there was nothing else available. The closeness of nature and its offerings have been at the heart of everything since the very beginning.
In 2002, under head chef Heikki Nikula, the restaurant began to consciously diversify its use of local ingredients and create unique dishes full of flavor and stories. This work brought Aanaar recognition in the culinary world, and over the years the restaurant has been acknowledged both in Finland and internationally – in the White Guide Nordic, at the Foodtrekking Awards, and by the Finnish Gastronomic Society, which named Aanaar Restaurant of the Year 2020. Aanaar has also been listed several times among Finland’s TOP 50 Best Restaurants.
In 2022, an ownership change took place. At the same time, the restaurant underwent renovations and the kitchen was expanded. The new owners are a family business based in Inari, which also runs the Wilderness Hotels. Under their leadership, Aanaar’s story continues with deep respect for local heritage.
In 2023, the restaurant was further expanded to offer guests an even more complete experience with the view to River Juutua. In 2024, we were awarded the Great Place to Work certification, a recognition of a workplace where staff thrive and take pride in their work. We think this is also the foundation of an excellent guest experience.
Today, we want to offer our guests unique experiences between the main seasons. In spring and autumn, we host themed dinners and collaboration evenings where the flavors of the North meet wines, spirits, and stories of local ingredients. These evenings have become an anticipated part of Aanaar’s yearly rhythm.
Aanaar’s story continues – honoring the past, enriching the present, and looking towards the future.