The Top 10 Restaurants in Helsinki, Finland
Helsinki’s growing restaurant scene is underappreciated by outsiders but a great reason to visit the city. The capital’s cafes, independent bistros and fine-dining establishments are full of food from all over the world with a Finnish slant and made with quality local ingredients. Here are our top 10 places to stop by for a great meal.
1. Ora
Restaurant, Finnish
Recently rebranded from Chef & Sommelier with the same chef, Ravintola Ora has been just as popular with critics and customers alike as the previous restaurant. Ora reaches amazing peaks of creativity and taste. When the dish comes to the table looking like a stunning work of food-art, guests are left astonished. Devoted to organic, seasonal and fresh produce, Ora offers a set menu of six courses.
2. Gaijin
Restaurant, Japanese, Vegetarian
Gaijin ranks highly among Helsinki’s best Asian restaurants, and among the best restaurants in the city. The kitchen puts particular emphasis on the centuries-old gastronomic traditions of Asia’s northeastern countries: Japan, Korea and northern China. Here guests can try such delicacies as miso chicken and softshell crab paired with matching beverages such as Koshu private reserve and the Gaijin Red. While taking the utmost care in offering beautiful food, this restaurant also envisions dining as a way to bring people together with tasting menus offered to the entire table. Great efforts were made to create an outstanding atmosphere, which Gaijin’s venue, built entirely with Finnish wood, perfectly delivers.
3. Hoku
Restaurant, Japanese, Fusion
5. Kuu
Bistro, Restaurant, Finnish, Northern European
6. Olo Ravintola
Restaurant, Northern European
Ravintola Olo has been receiving widespread acclaim in the Helsinki foodie scene for a number of years now. Holding a Michelin star, Olo’s chefs brilliantly update the basics of Finnish cuisine by employing both traditional and modern cooking techniques. Olo’s selection of wines is also worthy of note; its cellars hold a range of fine, local wines, including a few exclusively available in the restaurant. Join Olo to taste the best that contemporary cooking has to offer, and while you’re at it, aim for a table in the restaurant’s remarkable courtyard, the Olo Garden.
7. Cafe Regatta
Cafe, Finnish
8. Sandro
Restaurant, African, Middle Eastern
9. Finlandia Caviar
Restaurant, Finnish, Russian, French, Seafood
For a true taste of luxury at a reasonable price, Finlandia Caviar offers finely crafted caviar made from local fish brought in fresh from the adjacent harbour. With the tasting menus you can sample caviar from Paris, Moscow or Helsinki as well as roes, oysters and other specialties. These are washed down with equally refined drinks from a selection of wine and champagne plus Finlandia’s famously strong vodka with an amazing 38% alcohol content.
10. Restaurant Ask
Restaurant, Finnish
Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.
Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.
Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.
Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.
We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.