The Best Local Restaurants in Helsinki

Sophisticated, high-end dining option executing both French and Finnish cuisine in an iconic locale featuring city views overlooking the Esplanade Park. One of Helsinki’s legendary dining destinations. The wine matches are first class. Chef-patron Helena Puolakka, whose contemporary take on Finnish cuisine was refined during a high-profile career in in London, has lifted the menu offering here to something greater. Expect vorschmack with oven-baked potato, beetroot, pickles and sour cream, while Arctic char, venison, pike and elk are never far away. The highlight is a visit during crayfish season.

Beatiful Classical fine diningOne of my must visit places when visiting Finland. Delicious food, classic wines and warm service. The owners are always there which makes it feel like going back home every time.

Being a carelian pie -freak (karjalanpiirakka in Finnish) it can be a struggle to find a great one in Helsinki. Konditoria Hopia is probably your best choice in the capital. A place so traditional, that it feels almost trendy and hipsterish. Great spot for afternoon coffee - as long as you don´t expect lattes.

Kosmos has been shining bright on Helsinki’s restaurant scene for almost a hundred years, serving Finnish classics with French, Swedish and Russian influences. From the à la carte menu you’ll find classics such as blinis with roe and sour cream, salted reindeer with cloudberry balsamic, fried herring and Wiener schnitzel. A truly beautiful dining room and one of the highlight restaurants of the city.

Classic Finnish meat pieEromangan meat pie is an institution for this fatty, hot and just delicious meat pie. Highly recommended to get here early and meet the workers having their morning pie and coffee. This is a part of real Helsinki!

Ekberg is special in the sense that it's a place for local people. There’s really a sense of belonging.Ekberg is wonderful. For me, it’s the place to go for afternoon tea. Or just for fika, with a cup of Café au lait, a cinnamon bun or other nice pastry. It's a really lovely spot. Ekberg is special in the sense that it's a place for local people. You know you have generations of the same families going there. It has all the elements of being in Central Europe when you sit there. The table service is great, and the menu has been the same forever when it comes to pastries and sandwiches, and there’s really a sense of belonging somewhere when you are there.

Hearty traditional food. Salmon soup, herring, meat and potato hash.A classic. Sea horse is a casual restaurant that's been around since 1934. A very traditional local neighborhood restaurant in the Ullanlinna district. Big platters of hearty traditional food with salmon soup, herring platters, beef Lindström and their legendary ”pyttipannu” meal, potato and sausage hash. You can walk in or make a booking for bigger parties. The portions are huge and people tend to drink schnapps and beer with their food. Very old school, open seven days a week which is a rare thing in Helsinki. Go for Sunday lunch, have a herring platter, fish soup and pancakes with some strawberry jam and cream as dessert. And it's just fantastic.

Fresh take on Nordic cooking in an exceptionally cozy setting.Wellamo is a legendary artist restaurant in a quiet corner of Katajanokka area in Helsinki, founded already in 1975. A few years ago, it was taken over by chef Dani Hänninen and the team behind the small cult restaurant Bull & The Firm. The result is a superb combination of the traditional and the fresh. The space is as hygge as it gets, one of the most romantic in the city. The cuisine follows the seasons and is based solely on Nordic ingredients, sourced from small producers. The dishes have a nice balance between comfort and innovation (grilled carrots with frozen sour cream, tartar with fermented rhubarb, canard with asparagus, grilled strawberries, black pepper, and milk). The wine list is well curated for both traditionalists and natural wine lovers. It is difficult to see someone not liking this gem.