Our guide to Restaurants in Helsinki
One of our Finnish Destination Specialists offers his suggestions for dining in his home town.
On my short home visits to Helsinki, I search out for real Finnish food that I crave when I am away. Staying close to the heart of Helsinki, my favourite hotel, Hotel GLO Kluuvi - now called Hobo Hotel Helsinki - is surrounded by some local traditional favourites and I would love to share these spots with you.
Fazer Café
This is a must-visit café/bakery in Helsinki. Fazer is well known in Finland for its chocolates, and this flagship store was established in 1891 as the starting place for the famous Fazer brand. Here, you can not only purchase chocolates but also enjoy breakfast, lunch, cakes, coffees, and Sunday brunch. I recommend the 'Skagen' with smoked salmon and prawns — just what I crave. The main location is at Kluuvikatu 3.
Local Helsinki Fish Market
Be sure to visit the local Helsinki harbour, called Kauppatori in Finnish, just about 200 metres from the Hobo Hotel. At the harbour, you will find a traditional fish market with a good selection of lunch options such as fried Baltic herrings, reindeer stew, or even hot dogs. This market is also a good place to get Finnish souvenirs such as reindeer skins.
Image Credit: Visit Finland, photographer: Aleksanteri Baidin
Helsinki's Old Food market hall
Located next to the markets, the Old Food Market Hall (Vanha Kauppahalli) sells the best quality fish, meats, and vegetables, as well as handmade chocolates and old-fashioned candies. It's also a good location for lunch; perhaps try some sandwiches, cakes, or a nice bowl of traditional fish soup.
If you are staying at Hotel GLO Art, an alternate market to walk to would be “Hietalahden Kauppahalli.” Ask the reception for a map and details. Enjoy a traditional afternoon tea or get some items for a tasty picnic.
Image Credit: Visit Finland, photographer: Elina Sirparanta
Café Engel
Close to the Helsinki Cathedral, you will find another well-known café called Café Engel. Located in one of the oldest areas of Helsinki and just across from the cathedral, you can have breakfast, lunch, or afternoon tea here. For lunchtime, why not try a traditional Finnish meal like meatballs with mashed potatoes?
Local supermarket for supplies and shopping
If you are looking to get some supplies while staying in Helsinki, there is a department store called ‘Stockmann’ only a few blocks from the Hobo Hotel and Kamp. On the basement level, you can find Stockmann’s Herkku (Delight) supermarket with a superb deli section. In the summertime, get some items from here and go for a picnic in the park. On the 8th floor of Stockmann, you can also find restaurants, including a café, an à la carte restaurant, and a champagne bar.
Aino
For classic Finnish food, try Aino, located in the heart of Helsinki by the lovely Esplanade Park. I suggest ordering a three-course set menu: For an entrée, enjoy forest mushroom soup, a very Finnish dish; for a main, reindeer fillet with rosemary sauce and potato cakes; and for dessert, chocolate cake with sea buckthorn ice cream.
Other Restaurant Suggestions:
Other suggested restaurants in the area include:
- Restaurant Savotta: Serves traditional eastern Finnish dishes, including a Carelian casserole, and even has bear on the menu.
- Michelin-Starred Restaurants: Restaurants Olo and Demo both received one Michelin star and serve Nordic fine dining.
- Restaurant Havis: Specialises in Finnish and Scandinavian seafood.
- G.W. Sundmans: Located in a historical 19th-century bourgeois home, it serves traditional fine dining as well as a seafood buffet for lunch daily.
Enjoy your culinary journey in Helsinki!
We also recommend exploring some 50 Degrees North tours that include a visit to Helsinki as well as the following travel blog articles by our destination specialists:
Things to see and do in Helsinki with kids
Experience summer time in Helsinki with the locals
Countdown to Christmas: Magical Helsinki Christmas Markets
Helsinki Highlights: Visit a local sauna
May Day Celebrations in Helsinki
Credit for main photo: Visit Finland, Photographer: Juho Kuva