Restrictions on restaurants by region
The updated restrictions will be valid from 23 April 2021. The restrictions on opening hours and the number of customers allowed in the premises vary by region. You can check the current restrictions in your region on the map or on the table at the bottom of the page. The restrictions will remain in force until further notice. They may change depending on the development of the epidemic in the area. The restrictions will be reviewed weekly.
The regions where the restrictions are stricter than in the rest of the country are highlighted in dark. Please note the following concerning the regional restrictions:
- Restrictions on the number of customer seats only apply indoors, not on outdoor terraces.
- Restrictions on opening hours do not apply to restaurants operating in connection with service stations or to takeaway sales of food.
Restaurant restrictions in force in all of Finland
Restaurants must ensure that:
- Customers are provided with information and instructions so that they can act correctly and prevent coronavirus infections.
- Customers can wash their hands.
- There are sufficient distances between customers indoors and outdoors.
- Indoors, the restaurant staff must escort customers to their seats, which must located by a table or a counter. For example, dancing is prohibited indoors. All customers must have seats on outdoor terraces too.
- The restaurant and in particular, all surfaces in it, are kept clean.
Åland
- Food and beverage service businesses may be open between 5.00 and 23.00.
- Alcohol may be served between 9.00 and 22.00. Alcohol may be served starting at 7.00 in connection with hotel breakfasts with permission from the Regional State Administrative Agency.
More information about the restrictions in Åland - regeringen.ax (in Swedish)
South Karelia
- Restaurants serving food may be open between 5.00 and 19.00 and the number of customer seats is restricted to half of normal capacity.
- Restaurants primarily serving alcoholic beverages may be open between 5.00 and 18.00 and the number of customer seats is restricted to a third of normal capacity.
- Alcohol may be served between 9.00 and 17.00. Alcohol may be served starting at 7.00 in connection with hotel breakfasts with permission from the Regional State Administrative Agency.
South Ostrobothnia
- Food and beverage service businesses may be open between 5.00 and 23.00.
- Alcohol may be served between 9.00 and 22.00. Alcohol may be served starting at 7.00 in connection with hotel breakfasts with permission from the Regional State Administrative Agency.
- The number of customer seats is restricted to 75% of normal capacity for restaurants serving food and to 50% for businesses that primarily serve alcoholic beverages.
South Savo
In the region of South Savo, there are different restrictions for the hospital districts of South Savo and East Savo.
The hospital districts of South Savo
- Food and beverage service businesses may be open between 5.00 and 23.00.
- Alcohol may be served between 9.00 and 22.00. Alcohol may be served starting at 7.00 in connection with hotel breakfasts with permission from the Regional State Administrative Agency.
- The number of customer seats is restricted to 75% of normal capacity for restaurants serving food and to 50% for businesses that primarily serve alcoholic beverages.
The hospital districts of East Savo
- Restaurants serving food may be open between 5.00 and 19.00 and the number of customer seats is restricted to half of normal capacity.
- Restaurants primarily serving alcoholic beverages may be open between 5.00 and 18.00 and the number of customer seats is restricted to a third of normal capacity.
- Alcohol may be served between 9.00 and 17.00. Alcohol may be served starting at 7.00 in connection with hotel breakfasts with permission from the Regional State Administrative Agency.
Kainuu
- Food and beverage service businesses may be open between 5.00 and 23.00.
- Alcohol may be served between 9.00 and 22.00. Alcohol may be served starting at 7.00 in connection with hotel breakfasts with permission from the Regional State Administrative Agency.
- The number of customer seats is restricted to 75% of normal capacity for restaurants serving food and to 50% for businesses that primarily serve alcoholic beverages.
Kanta-Häme
- Restaurants serving food may be open between 5.00 and 20.00 and the number of customer seats is restricted to half of normal capacity. Alcohol may be served between 9.00 and 19.00.
- Restaurants primarily serving alcoholic beverages may be open between 5.00 and 19.00 and the number of customer seats is restricted to a third of normal capacity.
- Alcohol may be served between 9.00 and 18.00. Alcohol may be served starting at 7.00 in connection with hotel breakfasts with permission from the Regional State Administrative Agency.
Central Ostrobothnia
- Food and beverage service businesses may be open between 5.00 and 23.00.
- Alcohol may be served between 9.00 and 22.00. Alcohol may be served starting at 7.00 in connection with hotel breakfasts with permission from the Regional State Administrative Agency.
- The number of customer seats is restricted to 75% of normal capacity for restaurants serving food and to 50% for businesses that primarily serve alcoholic beverages.
Central Finland
- Food and beverage service businesses may be open between 5.00 and 23.00.
- Alcohol may be served between 9.00 and 22.00. Alcohol may be served starting at 7.00 in connection with hotel breakfasts with permission from the Regional State Administrative Agency.
- The number of customer seats is restricted to 75% of normal capacity for restaurants serving food and to 50% for businesses that primarily serve alcoholic beverages.
Kymenlaakso
- Restaurants serving food may be open between 5.00 and 19.00 and the number of customer seats is restricted to half of normal capacity.
- Restaurants primarily serving alcoholic beverages may be open between 5.00 and 18.00 and the number of customer seats is restricted to a third of normal capacity.
- Alcohol may be served between 9.00 and 17.00. Alcohol may be served starting at 7.00 in connection with hotel breakfasts with permission from the Regional State Administrative Agency
Lapland
- Food and beverage service businesses may be open between 5.00 and 23.00.
- Alcohol may be served between 9.00 and 22.00. Alcohol may be served starting at 7.00 in connection with hotel breakfasts with permission from the Regional State Administrative Agency.
- The number of customer seats is restricted to 75% of normal capacity for restaurants serving food and to 50% for businesses that primarily serve alcoholic beverages.
Pirkanmaa
- Restaurants serving food may be open between 5.00 and 19.00 and the number of customer seats is restricted to half of normal capacity.
- Restaurants primarily serving alcoholic beverages may be open between 5.00 and 18.00 and the number of customer seats is restricted to a third of normal capacity.
- Alcohol may be served between 9.00 and 17.00. Alcohol may be served starting at 7.00 in connection with hotel breakfasts with permission from the Regional State Administrative Agency.
Ostrobothnia
- Restaurants serving food may be open between 5.00 and 20.00 and the number of customer seats is restricted to half of normal capacity. Alcohol may be served between 9.00 and 19.00.
- Restaurants primarily serving alcoholic beverages may be open between 5.00 and 19.00 and the number of customer seats is restricted to a third of normal capacity. Alcohol may be served between 9.00 and 18.00.
- Alcohol may be served starting at 7.00 in connection with hotel breakfasts with permission from the Regional State Administrative Agency.
North Karelia
- Food and beverage service businesses may be open between 5.00 and 23.00.
- Alcohol may be served between 9.00 and 22.00. Alcohol may be served starting at 7.00 in connection with hotel breakfasts with permission from the Regional State Administrative Agency.
- The number of customer seats is restricted to 75% of normal capacity for restaurants serving food and to 50% for businesses that primarily serve alcoholic beverages.
North Ostrobothnia
- Food and beverage service businesses may be open between 5.00 and 23.00.
- Alcohol may be served between 9.00 and 22.00. Alcohol may be served starting at 7.00 in connection with hotel breakfasts with permission from the Regional State Administrative Agency.
- The number of customer seats is restricted to 75% of normal capacity for restaurants serving food and to 50% for businesses that primarily serve alcoholic beverages.
North Savo
- Food and beverage service businesses may be open between 5.00 and 23.00.
- Alcohol may be served between 9.00 and 22.00. Alcohol may be served starting at 7.00 in connection with hotel breakfasts with permission from the Regional State Administrative Agency.
- The number of customer seats is restricted to 75% of normal capacity for restaurants serving food and to 50% for businesses that primarily serve alcoholic beverages.
Päijät-Häme
- Restaurants serving food may be open between 5.00 and 19.00 and the number of customer seats is restricted to half of normal capacity.
- Restaurants primarily serving alcoholic beverages may be open between 5.00 and 18.00 and the number of customer seats is restricted to a third of normal capacity.
- Alcohol may be served between 9.00 and 17.00. Alcohol may be served starting at 7.00 in connection with hotel breakfasts with permission from the Regional State Administrative Agency.
Satakunta
- Restaurants serving food may be open between 5.00 and 20.00 and the number of customer seats is restricted to half of normal capacity. Alcohol may be served between 9.00 and 19.00.
- Restaurants primarily serving alcoholic beverages may be open between 5.00 and 19.00 and the number of customer seats is restricted to a third of normal capacity.
- Alcohol may be served between 9.00 and 18.00. Alcohol may be served starting at 7.00 in connection with hotel breakfasts with permission from the Regional State Administrative Agency.
Uusimaa
- Restaurants serving food may be open between 5.00 and 19.00 and the number of customer seats is restricted to half of normal capacity.
- Restaurants primarily serving alcoholic beverages may be open between 5.00 and 18.00 and the number of customer seats is restricted to a third of normal capacity.
- Alcohol may be served between 9.00 and 17.00. Alcohol may be served starting at 7.00 in connection with hotel breakfasts with permission from the Regional State Administrative Agency
Southwest Finland
- Restaurants serving food may be open between 5.00 and 19.00 and the number of customer seats is restricted to half of normal capacity.
- Restaurants primarily serving alcoholic beverages may be open between 5.00 and 18.00 and the number of customer seats is restricted to a third of normal capacity.
- Alcohol may be served between 9.00 and 17.00. Alcohol may be served starting at 7.00 in connection with hotel breakfasts with permission from the Regional State Administrative Agency.
Press releases and news
Government amended restrictions on restaurants and other food and beverage service businesses in many regions
New decree restricting activities of food and beverage service businesses from 19 April — strictest restrictions for areas worst affected by COVID-19
Amendments to Communicable Diseases Act to restrict activities of restaurants and other food and beverage services businesses after lockdown
Restaurants across Finland can open to customers on Monday 19 April with restrictions
Questions and answers
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Companies can apply for support from State Treasury. The scheduled start for applications is 12 May 2021.
State Treasury: https://www.valtiokonttori.fi/sulkemiskorvausMinistry of Economic Affairs and Employment
Updated 14.4.2021 at 20.52Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment
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Payroll costs, non-wage labour costs and inflexible costs related to business operations, such as rent and expenses from equipment leases.
Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment
Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment
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The Act and its statement of reasons include the formula for calculating the amount of compensation. In short, data from February 2021 will be used to determine the average costs the company incurs each day. This will be multiplied by the number of days the business remains closed.
Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment
Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment
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Previously granted coronavirus support will be taken into consideration and, in accordance with the EU’s rules, the maximum amount of aid per company cannot exceed EUR 1.8 million.
Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment
Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment
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The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment has prepared a new closure compensation, which will initially apply to small and micro-sized companies that employ a maximum of 49 employees. The Government will prepare a separate closure compensation for larger companies. Companies can apply for the closure compensation at the State Treasury.
If the premises have been closed due to an Act or an official order, the company will be compensated for the payroll costs and other costs, calculated on the basis of costs in February 2021 and number of days the premises remain closed. Payroll costs will be compensated in full and other expenses to 70%. More information on closure compensation
Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment
Updated 14.4.2021 at 20.44Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment