10 Best Seafood Restaurants in Helsinki

Seafood is popular in Finland/ Paul Morris/ Unsplash
Seafood is popular in Finland/ Paul Morris/ Unsplash
Jessica Wood

Finland is well known for the high quality fish found in its lakes and surrounding oceans which make up some of the best options on restaurant menus. Here are some of the best seafood restaurants in Helsinki for exquisite seafood dishes.

1. Finlandia Caviar

Restaurant, Finnish, Russian, French, Seafood

1. Finlandia Caviar
© Finlandia Caviar

One of the best high class seafood establishments is Finlandia Caviar, the first specialist caviar shop in Helsinki which serves quality caviar, oysters, and roe. Finlandia also offers tasting sessions and has a shop selling their caviar products, making it an ideal location for those wishing to try the best quality seafood in the city.

2. Gaijin

Restaurant, Japanese, Vegetarian

2. Gaijin
© Gaijin and BW Restaurants

Finland and Japan both share a love of seafood, which has led to a boom of Japanese and sushi restaurants opening across Helsinki. Salmon sushi was even invented in Finland’s neighbouring country of Norway. One of the best Japanese restaurants in Helsinki is Gaijin, which makes dishes from Japan, Korea, and Northern China including mussels, sashimi, miso salmon, and crab. The restaurant also donates to several charities, including helping low income families of Helsinki.

3. Cafe Bar 9

Restaurant, Finnish, Italian, Coffee, Beer

Pollo Limonello Ysibaari photos copyright Heidi Strengell 2014
Courtesy of Cafe Bar 9

Located in the design district, Café Bar 9 is fairly laid back and casual and offers traditional Finnish salmon soup with rye bread, smoked salmon pasta, and various other burgers, soups, and pasta dishes, all for a good price for the area. It is an ideal place to stop and rest after shopping or touring the art galleries of the design district.

4. Ravintola Konnichiwa

Restaurant, Japanese, Vegetarian, Sushi

Ravintola Konnichiwa, Helsinki
Courtesy of Ravintola Konnichiwa

This restaurant’s name comes from a Japanese greeting, and fittingly enough it is one of the most popular sushi buffet restaurants in Helsinki, offering a diverse lunch buffet which includes nigari as well as some vegetarian sushi. It is only a few blocks away from the train station and makes for an ideal and affordable place to stop and fill up on some delicious sushi or a Japanese beer.

5. Mamma Rosa

Restaurant, Finnish, Italian, Mediterranean

Mamma Rosa, Helsinki
Courtesy of Mamma Rosa

Located on Töölö Square, this restaurant has been operating since 1981 and offers an a la carte menu including salmon roe, scampi salad, and even an unusual salmon pizza. Its location on the square makes it an ideal place to eat after an event or to try a slightly more international cuisine with a Finnish twist.

6. Zetor

Restaurant, Finnish, European, Vegetarian

Zetor, Helsinki
Courtesy of Zetor

This restaurant combines new and old with a modern exterior and classic internal decorations and disco era music at night. The equally classic menu includes a seafood platter, blini, smoked perch pie, and many other old fashioned Finnish dishes from throughout the country, and all in relaxed but quirky surroundings which are ideal for meeting friends or enjoying a night out. It is also known as a welcoming place to take foreign visitors.

7. Juuri

Restaurant, Finnish

7. Juuri
© Juuri

Juuri serves classic Finnish cuisine in simple contemporary surroundings, intended to provide a nostalgic experience of traditional Finnish meals. The food and drink is all local, and includes arctic char, perch, Baltic herring, pike, and many more of Finland’s best fish and seafood dishes for good prices. There is also a tasting menu and the Finnish take on tapas, known as Sapas, which makes for a great way to sample Finnish cuisine.

8. KuuKuu

Restaurant, Finnish, European, Vegetarian

Restaurant KuuKuu, Helsinki
Courtesy of Ravintola KuuKuu

The slightly unusual name of this restaurant doesn’t deter from its high quality food and wine, and attractive modern aesthetic. Located in Töölö, it is an ideal pre-theatre restaurant or a place to stop by after a day of shopping or sightseeing. Courses include shrimp sandwich, whitefish, salmon soup with malt bread, and crayfish all provided by the best local fishermen.

9. Mashiro

Restaurant, Japanese, Asian, Vegetarian

Mashiro, Mäkelänkatu
Courtesy of Mashiro

This Japanese restaurant reflects both Finland and Japan’s attitude of good service, quality food, and a friendly atmosphere. Their traditional Japanese recipes use locally caught fish. The restaurant also serves Japanese deserts, Japanese beer and sake, and an equal amount of tasty vegetarian dishes.

10. Savotta

Restaurant, Finnish

Restaurant Savotta, Helsinki
Courtesy of Restaurant Savotta

Serving the ‘real taste of Finland’, this is a highly nostalgic restaurant just outside of the Senate Square overlooking the cathedral. Every part of this restaurant from the interior decorations to the traditional menu screams of an authentic Finnish experience, including the fish soup of the day, breaded perch, and Lappish arctic char. Even the floor planks are over 100 years old. Savotta uses local suppliers, authentic antique decorations, and even Moomin mugs to give a feel of grandma’s living room rather than a restaurant. For those who want something a little different, there is also reindeer and even the rare opportunity to try bear meat.

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