Helsinki City
This guide has been curated in collaboration with the World of Mouth, an independent restaurant guide powered by a global community of experts, including some of the world’s best chefs and food writers. Discover recommendations by some of Helsinki’s most knowledgeable experts, who share their local favorites, classic institutions, and hidden gems. Culinary Helsinki offers a colorful smorgasbord of street food, Nordic and Asian flavors, fine dining, wine bars, coffee shops, bakeries, and bistros. Thanks to its compact size, Helsinki is easy to explore, and there is always an inspiring food destination around the corner.
Neighborhoods
Helsinki is a fairly small seaside city surrounded by water in many parts of town. Most restaurants in town are located in the central and southern districts, but also the northern district of Kallio has an active restaurant scene. Much of the eating is within a walking distance of 20 minutes from the city centre, but for greater mobility take the tram, metro, city bikes or electric scooters. The old Helsinki can still be experienced in the districts of Katajannokka, Kruununhaka, Ullanlinna and Töölö with plenty of old residential blocks, beautiful architecture, local street side shops, cafés and restaurants and a village-like atmosphere. To meet the creative and younger crowd, go for the Kallio or Punavuori districts that are full of small boutiques, design shops and galleries as well as cozy cafés, bars and restaurants. In the summer, the small islands dotting the sea are accessible by ferries from the mainland - many of them offering nice restaurants. In the wintertime, when conditions are good, follow the footsteps in the snow of locals for some island hopping on the ice of the frozen Gulf of Finland and enjoy a mug of hot chocolate or mulled wine in the crisp cold.
Food & Drink
Here’s a list of a must eat dishes and drinks and where to try them.
Try it at Kosmos or Savoy
Try it at Ekberg, Rams Roasters or St George Bakery
Try it at Konditoria Hopia
Try it at Savoy, Kosmos or Sea Horse
Try it at Seahorse
Try it at Eromanga Café or at the Central Market Square
Try it at in most bars and restaurants on tap, in cans or bottles
Marketplaces & Food Shops
Helsinki has three old food market halls: The centrally located Old Market Hall (Vanha Kauppahalli), the Hakaniemi Market Hall in Hakaniemi and the Hietalahti Market Hall. The first two of these have both fresh food merchants and cafés and restaurants and they also have open-air markets selling produce like vegetables and fruit. Hietalahti Market Hall is a food court with many restaurant options within the building.
- Market Hall Restaurants: Kirsikka is a bistro in the Hakaniemi Market Hall serving both lunch and dinner.
- Cheesemonger: Rolling Cheese is a popular cheesemonger with two shops: the main shop on Museokatu in Töölö and a smaller one in the Old Market Hall. On Museokatu Rolling Cheese has a nice selection of cheese and a few tables for eating small plates (like cheese toasts) with wine, beer and cider.
- Traditional neighbourhood food grocer: Töölön Kyläkauppa is a tiny grocer on Museokatu, next to Rolling Cheese, focusing on quality tinned foods, spices, chocolate, oils etc. They also have fresh bread and Finnish savoury pies from some of the best bakers, fresh organic fruits, vegetables and charcuterie.
Tallink Silja Line
's Picks
Restaurants
Where do the local chefs and food writers eat?
Toni Toivanen
Toni Toivanen is a chef with an exceptionally long working experience at Noma in Copenhagen. Before Noma, Toivanen was a sous chef at chef Hans Välimäki's two star restaurant Chez Dominique in Helsinki.
Ravintola PalaceRavintola Palace
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Eteläranta 10, 00130 Helsinki, Finland
Eromanga OyEromanga Oy
Pohjoinen Makasiinikatu 6, 00130 Helsinki, Finland
Ravintola VinkkeliRavintola Vinkkeli
Pieni Roobertinkatu 8, 00130 Helsinki, Finland
Kenneth Nars
Kenneth Nars is a food writer and creative director & co-founder of World of Mouth. Nars lives and works in Helsinki, he's the Nordic and Baltic Academy chair of The 50 Best Restaurants and has a track record as a food writer involved in several magazines, cookbooks and international TV-productions.
Restaurant Bona FideRestaurant Bona Fide
Vironkatu 8, 00170 Helsinki, Finland
Ravintola PalaceRavintola Palace
Eteläranta 10, 00130 Helsinki, Finland
KosmosKosmos
Kalevankatu 3, 00100 Helsinki, Finland
Way BakeryWay Bakery
Agricolankatu 9, 00530 Helsinki, Finland
Restaurant SavoyRestaurant Savoy
Eteläesplanadi 14, 00130 Helsinki, Finland
Helena Puolakka
Helena Puolakka is the Chef Patron of Savoy, an iconic Helsinki restaurant opened in 1937. Puolakka is one of the most recognized Finnish chefs, leading Savoy with a vision of balancing the rich history of the restaurant with the present. Before returning to Finland in 2019, Puolakka worked abroad for over 20 years, including three Michelin star restaurants: as Chef de Cuisine in Pierre Koffmann’s La Tante Claire in London and with Pierre Gagnaire in Hotel Balzac in Paris.
Ravintola NollaRavintola Nolla
Fredrikinkatu 22, 00120 Helsinki, Finland
Way BakeryWay Bakery
Agricolankatu 9, 00530 Helsinki, Finland
Boulevard Bar & SeafoodBoulevard Bar & Seafood
Bulevardi 6, 00120 Helsinki, Finland
Ateljé FinneAteljé Finne
Arkadiankatu 14, 00100 Helsinki, Finland
Restaurant Sea HorseRestaurant Sea Horse
Kapteeninkatu 11, 00140 Helsinki, Finland
Ina Niiniketo
Ina Niiniketo is a Finnish chef and cookbook author. Working as a chef since the age of 16, Niiniketo graduated from Culinary College in 2011. With a background ranging from bistros to Michelin-starred establishments, Ina is passionate about intense flavours and using the best possible ingredients in season. Her unique dishes stem from a love of timeless Parisian elegance and Japanese and Nordic minimalism.
After working in Michelin-starred restaurants in Helsinki, she moved to Stockholm at the age of 22, eager to expand her knowledge. Most recently, she worked as head chef at Mathias Dahlgren's French Bistro at the Sparrow Hotel in Stockholm.
In September 2021, she moved back home to Helsinki and is currently the owner and chef of the lunch bistro Canvas Canteen together with her husband Roni Kerttula.
Café CléCafé Clé
Mariankatu 21, 00170 Helsinki, Finland
Ravintola PalaceRavintola Palace
Eteläranta 10, 00130 Helsinki, Finland
Restaurant ElmRestaurant Elm
Puistokatu 4, 00140 Helsinki, Finland
Luovuus kukkii kaaoksestaLuovuus kukkii kaaoksesta
Pieni Roobertinkatu 13, 00130 Helsinki, Finland
Restaurant KuurnaRestaurant Kuurna
Meritullinkatu 6, 00170 Helsinki, Finland
Explore Helsinki
Tavolàta Ristorante Italiano
Tallink Silja Line
Happy Lobster
Tallink Silja Line
Grill House
Tallink Silja Line
Bon Vivant
Tallink Silja Line
Ravintola 305
Toinen linja 3
Ravintola Palace
Eteläranta 10
Restaurant Savoy
Eteläesplanadi 14
Eromanga Oy
Pohjoinen Makasiinikatu 6
Luovuus kukkii kaaoksesta
Pieni Roobertinkatu 13
Café Savoy
Eteläesplanadi 14
Restaurant Alexanderplats
Eteläesplanadi 22
Restaurant Elm
Puistokatu 4
Way Bakery
Agricolankatu 9
Wino
Fleminginkatu 11
Restaurant Grön
Albertinkatu 36
Hills Dumplings
Kalevankatu 17
面师傅 Noodle Master
Eerikinkatu 20
Kosmos
Kalevankatu 3
Restaurant Wellamo
Laivastokatu 18
Toppa Restaurant & Bar
Katajanokanlaituri 1
Restaurant Kuurna
Meritullinkatu 6
Restaurant Bona Fide
Vironkatu 8
Sake Bar & Izakaya
Vironkatu 11
Café Clé
Mariankatu 21
Restaurant Baskeri & Basso
Tehtaankatu 27-29 (sisäpiha)
Restaurant Demo
Uudenmaankatu 9-11
Restaurant Yes Yes Yes
Iso Roobertinkatu 1
Ravintola Nolla
Fredrikinkatu 22
Murun Viinibaari
Lönnrotinkatu 14
Restaurant BasBas Kulma
Telakkakadun kulma, Tehtaankatu 27-29
Boulevard Bar & Seafood
Bulevardi 6
Ekberg 1852
Bulevardi 9