The Best Date Night Spots in Helsinki

Vegetary fun A vegetary focused novelty by the founders of the pioneering vegetarian restaurant YesYesYes - except that Cheri also serves some fish and meat. An imaginative contemporary cuisine. If you like a ”Sex and the City” - ladies night out, this casual institution in two stories and large windows right to the center of Helsinki might appeal you.

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.

Small and cosey Helsinki restaurant with a tight-knit menu, usually a main course centred around fish and the catch of the day. Chefs are Ilpo Vainonen and Eeli Kaasinen. Set course suggested with extras and cheese available. Plus lots of Nordic berries. Excellent wine list, complied by the sommelier Johan Borgar, with good natural wines and a very affordable and competitively priced champagne list.

Cozy, casual neighbourhood bistro in beautiful Kruununhaka and simple dishes of high quality seasonal produceKuurna has long been one of my favorite casual restaurants in Helsinki. The location is cozy and welcoming, service is friendly, relaxed and professional. I love the short menu, which they change every 2-3 weeks. The dishes are simple but made of high quality seasonal and local produce. The food is always tasty!

Casual zero waste restaurant, seasonal bistro food and microbrewery.A casual restaurant based on zero waste. It's been around for nearly five years now. The exciting thing is that they are still there. I pay huge respect to the owners of Nolla that they were ahead of their time when they opened the restaurant. They serve bistro food, simple and very seasonal. And the zero-waste thinking is always there. They brew their own beer on-site. The service is exquisite, really friendly. Always a nice place to go.

The best pizza in townHelsinki’s Mr. pizza Luca Platania opened Forza in the fashionable and casual Punavuori district in 2022. It became an instant success with reason. Excellent pizzas made in a Napoli oven and more on the menu. Nice industrial décor and a feeling that the patron family is present.

Had a great vegetarian food experience at Yes Yes Yes!When you think of vegetarian restaurants you might not think of Finland. Neither did I and on my trip to the Finnish capital. We were shooting a series all about meat and fire so when I asked my friend in Helsinki if there were any vegetarian restaurants he said yes yes yes. And after enjoying a couple of days of great Finnish meat and dairy products it was very refreshing having a great vegetarian food experience at Yes Yes Yes.

Good dumplings, bao baos and more. Baked or fried, from vegetarian to beef and chicken. A very nice and vibrant amtosphere.

Great tasting food with that corner restaurant vibeI try and come here more often than the fre times a year that I do now. The dishes are recognisable (tartar, cured fish etc) but always have that small twist that elevates it and make the dishes stand out from everyone else's. Nowadays they serve a fixed 4 course menu with a few additions (also taking allergies into consideration).Wine selection has always been great, the selection coming mostly from a wine importer specialising in organic and naturally made wines.Interior is raw but cozy and the surroundings make the terrace one of my favourite places to visit in the summer. ❤️

the name describes the restaurant well: "creativity blooms from chaos" - a casual restaurant serving small dishes.A new casual restaurant in Helsinki. The interior is a bit crazy and the atmosphere is very relaxed with a small open kitchen. On the menu they have small dishes that are prepared simply, but made with good ingredients. We had scallops with umeboshi, miso cured horse ”carpaccio”, green asparagus, trout with tomatoes, brioche bun with sweetbread and strawberries with vanilla ice cream. The menu is like the interior - a bit ”crazy” combinations and they use whatever they think is the best at the moment. Super friendly service and they have a small talented team.

Portuguese-Catalonian restaurant in a charming wooden villa in Helsinki’s most charming park.This beautiful wooden villa from the 1860’s was recently renovated. The team behind Nolla restaurant opened Elm here with chefs from Portugal and Catalonia. This ethnic background is seen in the cuisine but also music and atmosphere. Good food and extremely friendly service. During the warm days, the best place is the little veranda-terrace. The house is now operated by the Herlin Foundation and is called ”House of science and hope”. Isn’t that a good base for dinner discussions?

The ”wine bar” of the classic Muru restaurant. An intimate, cozy institution with mostly small portions of Italian trattoria / French bistro in a contemporary style. Every night a few excellent wines by glasses.

Cosy natural wine bar / small restaurant in still trendy Kallio area serving innovative small dishes. Great for both: a simple aperitif or a full-scale dinner.

Favorite late-night bistro in HelsinkiThe favorite restaurant of many locals in Helsinki. Uncomplicated and delicious food, always good and relaxed service. The atmosphere in basbas is wonderful. I recommend to always take their pasta and 2-3 starters. Nice wines. It's really hard to get a table reservation at Basbas, but I recommend going there after 11:30 PM, when there's usually room. I've never made a table reservation, but always went there very late and always got a table.

A modern Scandinavian seafood restaurant where every dish is an ode to ingredients, especially during the crayfish season when they are piled high and often. The menu consists of fresh and organic seafood, with all dishes prepared in accordance with classical cooking methods. The passion and experience of the two chef-owners is evident in all areas of this likeable restaurant, and the quality of the fish and shellfish really comes through, thanks to the classic techniques used.

Beautiful little spot that has a proper izakaya feel and the food is delicious -Japanese flavours using a lot of local ingredients and nice twists (udon noodle carbonara). They serve it as a tasting menu but you can also drop in to have a few bar snacks and great sake. Ben and Minori are super talented and have created a really cozy place, exactly what an izakaya should be like.

Casual Italian French bistro using local ingredients, located in an old red brick industrial area. An Italian French casual bistro using local ingredients - created by much liked chef Teemu Aura and his team. Lovely relaxed ambience in the middle of an old red brick industrial area. Extensive wine list consisting of less known but interesting Italian and French producers.