Lovely International Bisketti

Café Bisketti was the first café I ever visited in Oulu, and I have been coming back ever since that cold October morning 23 years ago. It can be found in an old block at our pedestrian street called Rotuaari and its atmosphere brings back memories from my childhood. It reminds me of the traditional conditorias, where we would go sometimes to eat sweet cakes and drink cocoa or tea. It used to sport a wooden bar with a fake roof, but they removed this sometime ago. It has two very important things. The first one is that it stays open until 21:30 during the week and until 20:00 on Sunday, so after all other cafés are closed people stream to Bisketti. It is rather difficult to find a table to your self then. The second thing is its international clientéle. Whenever you come here, no matter the day or the time, you will always find some tables with non finns. Perhaps, this is the reason why we could always get special coffees in Bisketti, capucinos, lattés and espressos, long before they became part of almost any café in town.
It is also the one place where you can sit alone and never be bothered, never feel lonely either. People from all ages are happily chatting around you. It is the place where a visitor can really see the colorful banch that our city´s inhabitants make.


Another delicious thing about Bisketti is its supplier. One of our own local bakeries called Merilainen catters the place with mouthwatering and rather fulfilling products, from the traditional cinammon buns to pieces of berry, fruit and chocolate cakes. I get into a great temptation every time I come here. The service is very good, the ladies preparing your smoothies and your special coffees are always smiling and a bit more talkative than your average finn.

If you are a visitor in Oulu, you absolutely must come to Bisketti at least once. And who knows, you might find me there and have a chat!