The Best Restaurants in Helsinki City Guide & Map

Helsinki has all the ingredients for a good life. Perhaps Finns are most known for their sauna culture, the Moomins, or their insane coffee consumption (more than any other country in the world!), but Finland’s versatile food scene is not to be overlooked. Helsinki is home to some of the top fine dining restaurants in the Nordics, and the best restaurants in Helsinki rival those of much larger cities. But Finland’s capital also has a plethora of delicious options for everyday eating. Sustainability is a huge focus for chefs across Helsinki, and most restaurants proudly highlight the organic, local, and seasonal ingredients of the region. The city is extremely environmentally friendly and compact in size. Helsinki is our happy place!

In this Helsinki food guide and foodie map, we’ve gathered all our favorite places to eat in Helsinki. You’ll find everything from Michelin-starred restaurants to natural wine bars to specialty coffee shops. Navigate the map easily either by scrolling through the list on the right or by clicking the points on the map. Places are listed in geographical order.

Restaurant Laivakoira (translated: "ship dog") is a gem in Helsinki. The design is bright and cheerful, with art on the walls, mismatched pillows, and tiled floors. The snacks here are the real showstoppers – fun, fine dining-level bites with flair, like the signature shrimp éclair. And don’t stop there: you need the lobster-topped mac ’n’ cheese croquettes, the crispy potato bites with caviar, and the gochujang and hot honey-glazed Korean fried sweetbreads with ranch. You could easily make a full meal of snacks alone! But if you’re hungry for more, Laivakoira also has a full menu of delicious dishes, like dry-aged hamachi with strawberries and apricots or a deep-fried celeriac schnitzel with truffle-caper butter and a side of salt-roasted potatoes.

Baskeri & Basso, known to locals simply as BasBas, is the big-brother bistro to next-door neighbor BasBas Kulma. If you manage to score a table at this Helsinki hotspot, you’re in for a delicious evening. Whether you’re picking a few dishes or going for the affordably priced four-course menu, don’t miss the pasta – it was our favorite. The garlicky, creamy, perfectly cooked tagliolini was so good we almost doubled down and ordered seconds. The dishes change seasonally, but if you visit in spring we can wholeheartedly recommend the white asparagus with horseradish beurre blanc. While there are still some fun bottles, the wine list here leans a bit more classical in style compared to the wine bar downstairs.

It was the little-sister restaurant to Baskeri & Basso, BasBas Kulma, that stole our hearts in Helsinki. It’s slightly easier to get a reservation here than at the OG spot, since the venue is larger and the bar seats are kept for walk-ins. Kulma has a cool neighborhood feel, dishes at a great price point, and a stellar natural wine list. Every dish was a home run – we adored the focaccia with stracciatella and pesto rosso, the beef tartare with pickled red onion and ramson mayonnaise (one of the best we’ve had), and the deep-fried potatoes with za’atar and sumac mayonnaise made us go weak in the knees. Even the veggies wowed us – slap some choron sauce on grilled cabbage and we’ll eat our greens with a smile.

Helsinki’s best pizzeria is Forza. At the heart of the kitchen is a wood-fired oven, turning out top-quality Neapolitan pizza – light, fluffy, and topped with creative flavor combinations. Our favorite was the “Cacio, Pepe e Gamberi,” with fior di latte, pecorino cheese, and shrimp. If you like it spicy, try “La Diavola,” with tomato, aged Calabrian salsiccia, chili oil, and burrata. Forza also serves Roman-style pies for those who prefer a crispier, crunchier texture.

BasBas Studio is the newest playground for the Baskeri and Basso team. Every month, the chefs come up with a new theme and cook what inspires them in that season, using as many local ingredients as possible. Winter menus often showcase fresh seafood, while summer highlights vegetables. On our visit, the menu was inspired by the French Riviera, featuring dishes the team had eaten in Nice, such as ratatouille, gnocchi pistou, bouillabaisse, boudin noir (blood sausage), and zucchini with vadouvan curry. The vibe is buzzy and energetic, with an open kitchen, loud music, and fun, friendly staff. It’s a place you want to be! Sit at the counter – the chatty chefs are happy to talk about what they’re cooking while prepping the food right in front of you. There’s no wine list, but they open a lot by the glass – so talk to the staff about what you feel like drinking that day.

The latest venture from the Nolla team is Nolita – a modern European bistro with some Parisian influences. The menu changes about once a month. Some favorites from our visit included a deep-fried pita bread with chanterelles, leeks, and an egg yolk; Spanish turbot with mushrooms, corn, and a salted lemon butter sauce; and their take on Milk Bar’s signature pie, with the addition of apples and ice cream. Nolita also has an in-house bakery, and guests can buy loaves to go.

Some of the best pasta in Helsinki can be found at Goose Pastabar. The chefs make fresh pasta by hand each morning and serve different shapes with creative toppings and flavor combinations. Wild boar might sound like a heavy protein, but in the agnolotti it feels surprisingly light, thanks to the tangy cheese sauce it’s served with – almost giving it a pierogi vibe. Goose’s tagliolini cacio e pepe leans more toward a lemon tagliolini, with thin, slurpable noodles and fresh acidity from the burnt lemon sauce. Perhaps the most original dish of all was the pappardelle with Jerusalem artichoke, a crumble of almonds and coffee grounds, and spruce oil – beautiful thick ribbons of pasta with a balanced autumnal richness.

If you’re traveling to Finland in search of the best food, you’ve got to make a reservation at Grön. This is our favorite restaurant in Helsinki! Every bite delivered a flavor explosion that very few meals ever achieve. From the umami-rich tomato tartelette to the lobster beignet to the honey fudge-glazed monkfish, we genuinely wanted seconds of everything. Grön currently has one Michelin star, but it’s a restaurant that feels more than worthy of a second. Chef Toni Kostian and his team are creating some of the most delicious and inventive dishes in the Nordics.

Café Tampopo is a tiny shop from the team behind Sake Bar, serving Japanese sandos, coffee, tea, and sweet treats. The space is small and cozy, with just a few tables, including one low kneeling table with a tatami mat in the window, and vinyl records spinning. We loved the fluffy Tamago sando, with super creamy egg salad filling snuggled between two slices of pillowy soft shokupan (milk bread); the Chicken Katsu, with crispy chicken, tonkatsu sauce, and cabbage; and the Ebi sando with fried shrimp. But our favorite of all was the Chicken Nanban: fried chicken with a soy and vinegar sauce and a hearty tartar sauce. If you’re craving dessert, try a fresh fruit and whipped cream sando, purin (Japanese crème caramel), or a fresh-from-the-oven matcha chocolate chip cookie. The iced strawberry matcha latte is the best in town, creamy with a perfectly balanced natural berry sweetness.

Nolla is a sustainable restaurant run by three chefs from Serbia, Portugal, and Spain. The word “nolla” means zero in Finnish, and the name reflects the restaurant’s philosophy of producing zero waste. Nolla proves that sustainability and high-quality food can go hand in hand, whether it’s using every part of an animal or baking bread from spent grains left over from their own beer production. Their mission starts with the seasonal ingredients they source from local farmers and fishermen, continues with their in-house composter, and even extends to their dishes and uniforms.

Andante is our favorite coffee shop in Helsinki. The café has a charming interior with plenty of playful accents from Finnish designer Marimekko. Most importantly, they serve excellent coffee, featuring specialty roasters like Drop and Standout Coffee from Stockholm, La Cabra from Denmark, and Samples from Helsinki. The menu includes a wide range of hand brews; we tried a Colombian gesha with notes of rose petals, peach, and mango, as well as a natural Guatemalan with flavors of rosehip, raspberry, clementine, and lychee. Year-round, Andante offers baked goods to pair with your coffee (like flaky buttermilk biscuits with cream and jam!), and in summer they also serve kakigori (Japanese shaved ice).

Esmes is the latest restaurant from the team behind 305, Wellamo, and The Bull and the Firm. The centerpiece of the restaurant is a large wooden bar where guests sit facing the chefs at work. Order à la carte and go heavy on the snacks – the hot honey and gochujang-glazed fried chicken drumstick is one of the most sinfully delicious bites in Helsinki, and we also adored the beef fat madeleines and the deep-fried Parmesan balls topped with caviar. Our kind of food!

If you’re craving something sweet, pop into Bakerika for an afternoon treat. The cupcakes are moist and fluffy, topped with insanely decadent frostings. We loved the lemon poppy seed with house-made lemon curd and buttercream frosting, and the strawberry cupcake with buttercream and strawberry jam. But the best bite of all is Bakerika’s chocolate chip cookie – the perfect balance of chewy and crispy, with a buttery center, caramelized edges, and just the right amount of chocolate. After one bite, we immediately went back for more!

Onigiri Musubi is a gem in Helsinki serving stuffed Japanese rice balls wrapped in seaweed. It’s perfect for a casual, quick lunch or an afternoon snack. The space is tiny, with only a few counter seats inside, but Musubi offers a wide selection of onigiri – we counted ten different options on our visit. The shop is run by Ryosuke Sakai, who previously worked as a sushi chef for almost 20 years. Each onigiri is made to order; the kimchi tuna was packed with flavor and a hint of spice, while the salmon yuzu was deliciously creamy, bright, and fresh. The rice was outstanding, perfectly cooked with a distinct texture: soft, springy, and slightly toothsome, sticking together just enough to hold the classic triangle shape. This might be the best onigiri we’ve ever had. Green tea is included with your meal, and there’s also a small selection of sake available.

Rams Roasters is a neighborhood gem of a coffee shop – and one of the few cafés open on Sundays. Unlike the name implies, Rams is not a roaster, but they do have some of our favorite specialty coffee roasters on offer. There were three pour-overs available on our visit: two from DAK (Raspberry Pop and Blackberry Disc), and a funky Colombian from the Barn in Berlin, with notes of guava, mango, and banana. Despite having a line out the door on a busy Sunday, they were more than happy to make two (expertly brewed) pour-overs. While the pastries look rustic and homemade, they were a surprise hit. Our favorite was the lemon cardamom bun – warm from the oven, fluffy and moist, with pull-apart layers. We also loved the cinnamon roll (which was oozing goo), the rich and nutty peanut butter brownie, and the chocolate chip cookie. The charming, eclectic interior features tiled floors and lightbulbs hanging from a spider of wires on the ceiling.

Aoi is a popular eatery from Olli Ruotsalainen and Von Quillao. The menu is short and changes frequently with the seasons, with dishes rotating in and out constantly. We devoured the rich and salty deer toast: garlic bread topped with braised deer neck, fermented plums, cep mayonnaise, and shoestring fries. We also loved their twist on a Karelian pie – a deep-fried rice croquette topped with caviar and served with egg butter. But our absolute favorite was Aoi’s famous pancake, cooked in a cast-iron pan, fried in caramel, and served warm. It’s like a Yorkshire pudding meets a cardamom bun, with rich, buttery flavors balanced by fresh cream, raspberries, and marigold oil. Yes, we ordered seconds! With so much creativity and bold flavor combinations, Aoi is definitely a restaurant to watch in Helsinki.

Elm is another restaurant from the team behind Nolla, located in a beautifully restored house from the 1800s. The historic venue is worth a visit on its own, whether you’re stopping in for coffee and something sweet, an aperitivo, or a full Mediterranean meal. Highlights from our visit included the burrata with blood oranges and breadcrumbs, and the cheese croquettes with lemon tahini.

The Grand is Sylvester Soisalo’s love letter to meat, and the first restaurant in Helsinki to focus exclusively on Finnish beef. You’re here for the steak, but before digging in, start with the French onion soup. It’s an homage to Paul Bocuse – a rich, comforting bowl of caramelized onions, truffle, and oxtail, topped with a buttery puff pastry lid. The Grand burger is the best in town, made from dry-aged off-cuts with matured cheddar, pickles, red onion, and mayonnaise on a brioche bun. But the true star of the show is the 30-day dry-aged T-bone steak, featuring sirloin on one side of the bone and tenderloin on the other. Alongside your meat, try a symphony of sauces, from classic béarnaise to pepper sauce to chimichurri to “cowboy butter,” with garlic, smoked paprika, and mustard. End the night next door at their bar, Goldfish. The Goldfish Martini is the signature drink here, and the Mai Tai is one of the best we’ve had.

Probably the craziest restaurant in Helsinki is Luovuus Kukkii Kaaoksesta, affectionately dubbed “LKK” by locals. The name means “creativity blossoms from chaos,” and that’s exactly what you can expect to find in this wild restaurant space. Creative dishes are served to the beat of a funky playlist in a fun dining room with bright wall murals, neon signs, and knicknacks, all of which have their own story. The menu consists of decadent dishes such as pan-fried sweetbreads with peas, a sherry and vanilla foam, and a dollop of caviar, and a chanterelle and brown butter financier topped with a brown butter and chanterelle foam. LKK is our favorite casual restaurant in town – it’s an absolute must-visit in Helsinki.

There are no phones, cameras, or electronics allowed at Chihuahua Julep, but that shouldn’t deter you from visiting this world-class cocktail bar. At first the rules felt restrictive, but we quickly came to appreciate the chance to be fully present and not glued to a screen. Chihuahua Julep has a stylish interior reminiscent of a fancy French living room, with velvet couches and bartenders in formal attire. It was here we sipped some of the best cocktails of the trip – our favorite was the “Dixie Land,” with rose quince liqueur, rum, and mandarin juice. We also loved the “Oolong Daiquiri,” made with rum, sake, oolong tea, and lime. All of the drinks were perfectly balanced and incredibly creative. A nightcap here is highly encouraged! (Note: they don’t accept contactless phone payments, so bring a physical credit card or cash.)

Owan is a small Japanese deli with a six-seat counter. The minimalist menu features only a few dishes (rice bowls and soups) that showcase high-quality ingredients and pure Japanese flavors. We loved the flamed salmon bowl, with torched salmon served atop rice with kale, cucumber, and seaweed, and the roast beef bowl with thin slices of local beef on rice with a poached egg and a drizzle of wasabi mayo. All bowls are served as a set. On our tray: a steamed egg custard topped with peanuts and marinated cucumbers with black-eyed peas. Finish with a slice of miso pecan banana bread or matcha tiramisu.

The newest addition to Helsinki’s fine dining scene is Boreal, which serves a New Nordic tasting menu inspired by the seasons. Head chef Pasha Demin previously worked at Noma, and the restaurant follows a lot of the same themes as its Danish muse, featuring local ingredients, foraging, and ferments – this time with Finland in the spotlight. Highlights from our early spring menu included a caramelized celeriac “kebab” wrapped in grape leaves and a halibut feast showcasing different cuts of the fish alongside a smoked butter sauce.

Jason is a restaurant from chef Jari “Jason” Vesivalo, the former head chef of one-Michelin-starred Olo. Jason serves a set menu, but there’s also a chalkboard of à la carte dishes for those just dropping in for a drink. Our menu began with a decadent onion soup with seaweed sabayon and a Gruyère-filled choux on the side and continued with a fresh and acidic plate of dry-aged hamachi with lemongrass, yuzu kosho, and melon. The hits kept coming with a rich chawanmushi layered with sweet corn, ramson, hazelnuts, and thin, tender slices of beef tongue. The bread alone is worth a visit: Jason’s sourdough brioche is a sweet and savory wonder, basically a pizza in cinnamon roll form, slathered with tomato paste, glazed with lemon thyme honey, and served with cep mushroom butter. It’s decadent and delicious, the kind of pastry that leaves you licking sticky sauce from your fingers. The flavors at Jason were absolutely on fire – it’s a Helsinki favorite.

If you’re a seafood lover, look no further than Boulevard, a fish-focused French bistro. The kitchen is run by Sylvester Soisalo, formerly chef de cuisine at the two-Michelin-starred Palace. The dishes here are as refined and flavorful as ones you'd find in a fine dining restaurant, but served in a more casual, laid-back setting. Kick back in one of the gorgeous navy blue velvet booths with a glass of Champagne, or maybe a Ginza highball. Don’t miss the ultra-fresh lobster cocktail with citrus fruits, avocado, and vanilla – it’s the best version of this dish we’ve ever had. Equally noteworthy is the turbot en croûte, a masterpiece wrapped in puff pastry with mushrooms, cabbage, and a Champagne butter sauce.

Boon Nam transported us to Thailand with authentic, aromatic flavors in a modern, elevated setting. Start with a Thai-inspired cocktail like the "Jungle Whisper," a pandan sour with rum, lime, and Thai basil, or the "Takhrai Rita," a Thai take on a margarita with mangosteen and lemongrass. Highlights from our meal included the spicy prawn skewer with kumquat sauce, the soft-shell crab with green chili and apple relish, the beef larb tartare, the seafood wok, and the green curry with braised pork cheek. But the number one must-try dish? The Iberico secreto five spice. Just trust us – this grilled Iberico pork with palm sugar caramel and nahm jim jaew sauce is worth a visit on its own. The meat was incredibly tender, coated in the sweetest, stickiest sauce that reminded us of char siu pork. Absolutely to die for!

Savoy has been a fixture in Helsinki since it opened in 1937. The historic dining room, originally designed by Finnish architects Aino and Alvar Aalto, has long hosted important gatherings for artists, politicians, and cultural icons. In 2019, the restaurant underwent a renovation, and chef Helena Puolakka took over the kitchen, where she crafts “Finnish-French food with a slight Russian touch.” Guests can choose between à la carte dishes and set menus. The eighth-floor dining room extends onto a covered terrace, offering unparalleled views over the Esplanade and the Helsinki skyline.

The latest opening from the Savoy team is Café Savoy, a casual restaurant located on the ground floor of the same building, directly off the Esplanade. The bistro takes inspiration from the south of France, with dishes like a classic Niçoise salad, pissaladière (caramelized onion tart), and lemon risotto on the prix fixe menu. The modern yet timeless dining room is flooded with natural light, and the sunny yellow booths recall bright summer days even in the heart of winter.

Bistro Bardot is a modern French bistro and brasserie from chefs Hans Välimäki and Arto Rastas. The decadent snacks alone are worth a visit, especially the Croque Monsieur made with butter-soaked brioche, bellota ham, truffle, parmesan, and Mornay sauce. The Gougères à la Truffe et Comté (profiteroles filled with Comté cheese and truffle) are equally irresistible – light, eggy, and oozing with cheese. For the mains, we recommend the Gnocchis à l’Alsacienne – lemon gnocchi fried in rosemary butter, served with roasted Jerusalem artichoke, mushrooms, sage, and truffles – as well as the Entrecôte à la Bordelaise with caramelized shallots, maître d'hôtel butter, red wine sauce, and smoked bone marrow. If it’s on the menu, don’t miss the Tarte Tatin with a buttery pastry crust, vanilla ice cream, and sticky caramel drizzled on top.

Opened in 1952, Palace has long held a reputation as Helsinki’s top restaurant. It was the first Finnish restaurant to receive a Michelin star in 1987, and today it proudly holds two. The menu is rooted in Nordic cuisine, showcasing local ingredients with touches of Japanese and French inspiration. The seafood dishes were the standouts of our meal, especially the Norwegian langoustine with yellow kosho, and the scallops with chili butter and XO sauce. If you’re looking for the full-package fine dining experience for a special occasion, Palace is sure to wow. It’s easy to see why this restaurant has become an institution in Helsinki’s culinary scene. While the tasting menu requires a reservation, the cocktail bar at Palace is open for walk-ins.

With dried flowers hanging from the ceiling and candles illuminating the tables, Wellamo welcomes guests inside the homiest restaurant in Helsinki. The restaurant is run by Dani Hänninen (a former head chef at Grön) and offers a four- or six-course tasting menu at an accessible price point. Hänninen’s fine dining background is evident, but both the food and the setting are relaxed and comfortable. Wellamo uses 99% Finnish ingredients and is a zero-waste restaurant, with no plastic or single-use products in the kitchen. We love the philosophy here, and it’s well executed, with incredibly creative and delicious food. We’d be regulars here if we lived in Helsinki – it’s a neighborhood gem in Katajanokka.

Kuurna is an industry favorite – and not just because it’s one of the few restaurants open on Mondays. This intimate eatery offers a two- or three-course menu, but no matter which you choose, the pepper steak is the must-order dish. We also loved a daily special of pierogi-style pork dumplings served in chicken broth with cabbage, fried mushrooms, and spring onions. Before or after dinner, stop into their neighboring wine bar, Klaava, for a glass of wine and snacks. The small plates change frequently, but the Welsh rarebit is a staple.

Bona Fide is a cozy neighborhood restaurant with a Bib Gourmand in the Michelin Guide, signifying that the four-course menu offers great value for money. The menu changes frequently, with at least one dish rotating every week. A standout from our visit featured sweet corn and seaweed butter with roasted sugar kelp and dashi broth – creamy, buttery, and caramelized, with fun textures from both grilled corn and corn cream. The space is cute and colorful, with a homey, eclectic interior and a warm, welcoming team. The handwritten wine list includes plenty of great bottles, from incredible Champagnes to favorite natural wines.

Sake Bar is an izakaya-style restaurant in the Kruununhaka neighborhood of Helsinki. Both the food and the vibe feel authentically Japanese – and since it’s open on Sundays and Mondays, it’s easy to see why this spot is beloved in the industry. Walk-in guests can sit at the bar and order à la carte, but we recommend making a reservation as the space is quite small. If you book ahead, you’ll be served the affordably priced set menu of sharing-style small plates. The meal begins with cured fish and pickles, builds with a spicy tuna tartare with trout roe and an egg yolk, and showcases seasonal ingredients like grilled corn slathered in miso butter. We loved their twist on tantanmen, chilled sesame noodles with minced pork in a creamy broth, but our favorite dish was the Miyazaki-style fried chicken Nanban. Absolutely packed with flavor, this fried chicken is worth a visit alone. Sake Bar also has the biggest sake list in Finland, with more than 40 varieties on offer, plus an in-house sake expert and sommelier to guide you through the selection.

Café Clé is a cozy coffee shop serving both espresso-based drinks and filter coffee. The small menu features breakfast and lunch items like pastries, avocado toast, and a breakfast plate with bread, ham, eggs, and cheese. We especially loved the cheesy croque monsieur and the affogato, served like an ice cream sundae with a waffle cone and a cherry on top.

Teller is a modern bistro serving classic French dishes as well as food inspired by restaurants from around the world. We were happy to spot a dish from one of our favorite New York restaurants on the menu – being able to enjoy Estela’s famous endive salad in Helsinki was a real treat! We also loved Teller’s version of Grön’s signature bread serving, brioche glazed with syrup and topped with fennel flowers. Sticky, sweet, and sinful. Other classic dishes we enjoyed included seared scallops in beurre blanc, mushroom agnolotti, chicken piccata, and steak with pepper sauce.

Rolling Cheese started as more of a cheese shop than a restaurant, but recently expanded with more seating in a next-door deli and wine bar. They put their expansive selection to good use in a rotating grilled cheese menu. Past sandwiches have included the “Kimchi” (with Cantal Jeune, Reblochon Fermier, and spicy Korean-style kimchi), “Le Normandie” (with Pont l’Évêque, Salami Lovison, sun-dried tomatoes, and fig chutney), and “Le Chartreux Part Deux” (with French alpine cheese, Taleggio, spicy pepper tapenade, and sun-dried tomatoes). Of course, they also serve cheese and charcuterie boards, antipasti, canned fish, and wine by the glass.

This old-school restaurant has been open since 1932 and still serves traditional Finnish dishes today. Elite is an artist hotspot that has attracted actors, musicians, writers, and dancers for almost a century. The food feels more like a trip down memory lane, but if it’s classics you’re after, you’re in the right place. We enjoyed the salmon soup with toasted rye bread, the vorschmack (minced meat and fish), the pan-fried Baltic herrings, and the sirloin steak with creamed onions and potatoes. Wash it all down with a “long drink” – a Finnish classic made with gin and grapefruit.

Aperte is a charming restaurant in the Töölö neighborhood from chef Patrik Lindström, serving a daily four-course menu alongside à la carte dishes. The food is creative and playful – we loved the fennel seed focaccia served with an addictively sweet-and-salty whipped brown butter with honey. Other highlights included the cod with sherry foam, mushrooms, and an umami-rich dashi egg cream, as well as the crispy pan-fried quail with a sauce of corn, carrot, and sea buckthorn.

Chef/owner Janne Keskevaari worked at Grön for six years before opening his own spot. 305 serves seasonal, natural, and flavor-packed dishes made with ingredients from local producers. Two highlights were the sweet corn porridge with pickled daikon, chanterelles, and crispy kombu, and the dry-aged beef tartare with white miso, jalapeño, gochujang, crispy noodles, and onion powder. We also loved the dessert – a blueberry tosca with almond crisps, lavender ice cream, and caramel. Every plate was absolutely bursting with flavor. 305 also serves lots of our favorite natural wine producers, as well as cocktails from The Firm. With exceptional service, great music, a cozy candlelit vibe, and banging food, 305 has all the ingredients for a perfect night out in Helsinki. We can’t recommend it highly enough – this is one of our favorite restaurants in the city.

On a cute corner in Kallio, Cafelito serves cortados by day and wine by night. This charming spot is a slice of Spain in Helsinki. The Spanish tortilla is the signature dish and the reason for our visit – choose the classic (potato and egg) or add cheese or spinach – and be sure to slather garlic aioli on top. The affordably priced lunch set includes pan con tomate, a fluffy slice of bread topped with garlicky tomato paste, a fresh side salad, and coffee or tea. Don’t leave without trying the Basque cheesecake – sweet and creamy with the perfect consistency, finished with a dollop of seasonal jam.

With music playing on a cassette player and a cellar stocked with natural wines, Maukku (the sister restaurant to Way Bakery), fits right into the hip Kallio neighborhood. The menu and vibe channel the spirit of modern French bistros, featuring lots of veggie-forward, creative small plates. One standout is their twist on the classic oeuf mayonnaise, enhanced with a punchy kick of gochujang (Korean chili paste). Another highlight is their local take on a Maine lobster roll, where a butter-toasted bun is filled with fresh, creamy Finnish crayfish, served alongside highly addictive house-made potato chips and an ice-cold rice lager.

A perfect day for us in Helsinki would start at Way Bakery, sitting outside in the sun with a table full of treats and a cup of coffee. Way serves our favorite baked goods in town – we feasted on lemon sugar donuts (sprinkled with salt and pepper for a savory kick), lemon poppy seed buns, cardamom buns, canelés, cookies, and an array of cakes. In the afternoon, they also serve delicious pasta, focaccia, and natural wine. Our favorite was the rigatoni with pumpkin and spicy sausage, but the gnocchi with gorgonzola and walnuts was another standout. Way Bakery has also opened a second café in Herttoniemi, and a third inside Vanha Kauppahalli (the Old Market Hall).

Gastro Cafe in Kallio is a local hotspot perfect for a relaxed Sunday brunch. This cozy neighborhood bistro has some St. John vibes, featuring nose-to-tail cooking for dinner as well as weekend brunch. The brunch menu is compact and simple, but all three dishes we tried were bangers. Most of the items revolve around their fluffy, freshly baked bread – their Eggs Benedict tops a slice of brioche with two poached eggs, ham, and hollandaise sauce, served with duck fat-roasted potatoes. The Croque Madame is another must-order: a sandwich with ham, Dijon mustard, Mornay sauce, and a fried egg on pain de mie. Finish with an order of the blueberry pancakes, like little Dutch babies, served with maple syrup.

The Bull and the Firm moved to a new location in Kallio, and now the restaurant and cocktail bar are under one roof. On the restaurant side, order à la carte dishes such as confit black salsify in a foamy orange sauce with cherries and candied almonds, a cracker-like two-sheet lasagne stuffed with beef cheek ragù, and a savory dessert of a Comté cream puff overflowing with cheese and a caramelized kimchi sauce. The bar side is a bit darker and rowdier, but it’s a top-tier craft cocktail bar. One of our favorite drinks combined coconut, pandan, rum, and umeshu (salted plum), while another mixed passion fruit, shiso, and gin. All the drinks are tart and fresh (just how we like them!) and showcase unique ingredients in clever flavor combinations.

Blondie is the best of all worlds when it comes to pizza, offering big New York-style slices with a crispy, crunchy dough inspired by crusty French country bread. There’s a variety of exciting toppings made with the best ingredients from Finland and Italy. One of our favorite slices was the signature “Blondie,” topped with mozzarella, provolone, Calabrian chili, garlic, Aleppo pepper, and Grana Padano. We added a drizzle of hot honey for a sweet and spicy kick. We also loved the “Rosso,” with tomato, garlic, oregano, and sourdough breadcrumbs. This slice comes without cheese, but we added creamy stracciatella on top, which we highly recommend. Another highlight was the seasonal white pizza with kale, chanterelles, and béchamel. Don’t forget to get some Parmesan mayo on the side for crust dipping!

Plein is the kind of place we wish we had in our own neighborhood – great food, super friendly staff, a cozy vibe, a killer playlist, natural wine, and cocktails. The menu changes seasonally, and the dishes really blew us away: simple yet unique, with punchy flavors and creative combinations we haven't seen anywhere else. Standout plates included corn with salsa macha and whitefish roe (a Nordic twist on Mexican elotes), vitello tonnato tartare, and butter-poached whitefish with a roasted yeast beurre blanc. The kitchen team is talented and passionate, and when you combine that with fair prices and genuinely warm service, you’ve got a winning combo. This is our kind of restaurant!

Cookie Monster couple Ida Suvitie and Yann Malaka are the founders of Ne Keksit (translated: “those cookies”), the gluten-free and vegan cookies that are taking Helsinki by storm. We’ve never had such delicious gluten-free cookies before, made with a special flour from oats, rice, and gluten-free wheat starch. The result is a soft, moist cookie with a uniquely crumbly texture. Cookie flavors rotate seasonally – in the summer we tried the “Lemony Snicket,” fresh and zippy like a lemon tart in cookie form, with citrus zest on top, and the “Strawberry Star,” bursting with sweet, juicy strawberries and creamy white chocolate, with strawberry powder on top. Other flavors have swirls of toffee, chocolate, chopped hazelnuts, and pecans (our favorite is the “Pecan Don”), and they’ve even made a tiramisu cookie. They’re perfectly balanced, salty and sweet – an absolutely addicting treat! All cookies are freshly baked to order in their shop Se. Cookies & Coffee in the Ruoholahti neighborhood.

Demo originally opened in 2003 in the Punavuori neighborhood and has held a Michelin star since 2007. In 2024, chef Tommi Tuominen relocated the restaurant to the top floor of a modern high-rise office building in Ruoholahti. The new space features floor-to-ceiling windows with nearly 360-degree views of the city. Demo offers three reasonably priced tasting menus, with shorter options at lunch and a longer menu at dinner. Highlights from our meal included pan-fried scallops with grilled corn purée, aji amarillo, and fermented fennel sauce; butter-poached halibut with chanterelles, hazelnuts, and white miso butter; and an incredible bread serving featuring sour milk brioche glazed in honey butter and dark malt bread with a crunchy edge and spongey center. Our stunning meal at Demo left us hungry for more.

18 Grams is where coffee and music meet. It’s a passion project from Hedon Blakaj, a lecturer at Aalto University, who wanted to create a place to nerd out about coffee and make it a more aesthetic experience. This café and listening bar would fit in just as easily in Japan as it does in Helsinki. It’s more of a living room than a shop – an incredibly peaceful atmosphere where time stops. The offerings primarily feature local Finnish roasters like Frukt, Samples, Siemasu, and Good Life Coffee – we sipped two pour-overs in Marimekko cups while listening to smooth jazz. The Colombian was juicy and tea-like, with notes of oolong and chamomile, and the Ethiopian was floral, clean, crisp, and bright, with a fruit-forward profile.

A surf shop has been turned into a beach-house brewpub on the island of Lauttasaari. Solmu Brewery has existed for a decade, but moved to this location in 2024 and opened a restaurant with chef Sylvester Soisalo (Boulevard, The Grand). Comfort food is on the menu, with sausages, tuna melts, and Iberico pork schnitzels alongside craft beer, while the Beach Boys play on the speakers. The absolute must-order dishes here are the Skagen roll, the Nordic answer to the Maine lobster roll, with an incredibly fresh and creamy shrimp salad packed inside a house-made brioche bun. The best part? It comes with a jug of garlic butter for dunking. The other must-try item is the fish and chips – they use their American pale ale to make beer-battered pike perch, giving it a distinct flavor and an incredibly crispy texture, served with tartar sauce and fries. End your meal with a bite of childhood nostalgia with the classic chocolate cake topped with chocolate sauce and sprinkles.