The Vaasa harbour area has a cluster of restaurants and cafes that operate primarily in summer, when the waterfront comes alive. Several of these specialise in fish from the Gulf of Bothnia — whitefish (siika) and perch are the local staples, typically served grilled or as a chowder. The setting is the point as much as the food: the harbour faces west toward the Kvarken straits and catches the long summer evenings.
In summer the outdoor terraces fill early and stay busy until late. If the sea is calm enough you may see fishing boats unloading at the pier nearby, which is the kind of thing that is unremarkable locally and absolutely worth watching if you have never seen a commercial small-boat fishery in action.