The Nordic cuisine of the Scandinavian countries attracts the attention of travelers more and more every year. First of all, national Finnish cuisine attracts tourists in abundance fish dishes. The chefs of the best restaurants in Helsinki professionally combine fresh fish, vegetables and berries, making all dishes not only tasty, but also healthy. Russian tourists are very close to taste qualities Finnish cuisine, since the ancient roots of the cuisines of Russia and Finland are related - Finnish-Ugric, northern. An interesting fact is that scientists conducted DNA research and made a sensational report - Russians are “Tatarized” Finns. In other words, the genes of a Russian person contain Finnish and Tatar DNA, judging by their origin and pedigree.
Like Russian cuisine, Finnish cuisine also has a lot various cereals, fish dishes, sauces and fruit drinks made from blueberries, blueberries, cloudberries, lingonberries, mushrooms, etc. Restaurants in Helsinki are, first of all, about following traditions; every dish contains a hint of nationality. Therefore, do not be surprised if quite familiar dishes you will be served with a sauce made from northern forest berries, or a meat dish will be prepared from deer, elk or even bear.
The top best restaurants in Helsinki include the following establishments:
1) Restaurant "Juuri"
This restaurant positions itself in preparing organic dishes, Finnish delicacies "sapas" and serving biodynamic wines.
The restaurant has its own confectionery shop, so for dessert feel free to order sweets, which are always fresh here and distinguished by their original preparation. The most popular dishes of this restaurant are: homemade sausage cranberry sauce, pike perch with caviar under sour cream sauce, baked cheese with oregano, flavored jams and gooseberry mousses. The restaurant menu and wine list are constantly updated and supplemented with unusual new items.
2) Restaurant “Kappeli”
No tourist can pass by this restaurant, which is located near the main ferry crossing in Helsinki. The restaurant building is a tall Art Nouveau structure made of glass and concrete. The restaurant's menu includes a delicious strawberry sorbet that everyone should definitely try.
Also, if possible, try the signature dishes - fried salmon with asparagus, reindeer steaks smoked in the sauna, shrimp on black bread, white fish served spicy sauce and small Karelian pies with various fillings. By the way, all the dishes in this restaurant have names associated with the work of writers, poets, composers, journalists, politicians and other prominent personalities of Finland.
3) Restaurant “Chef & Sommelier”
Another organic restaurant in the center of Helsinki, which locals and visitors love to visit. The establishment is located in a picturesque area on the Eire coast. The restaurant is open only in the evening, offering visitors gourmet dishes made from organic farm products. Even the wines in the restaurant are only organic.
For vegetarians, the chef prepares a special set menu of up to nine dishes daily.
4) Restaurant "Olo"
True gourmets are recommended to visit this restaurant, which has deservedly received the prestigious Michelin star. The table setting, service and taste of the food in the restaurant are impeccable. The interior of the establishment is made in a discreet minimalist design so that restaurant guests are not distracted from their food. By the way, the restaurant is located in former naval warehouses, so the rooms are very spacious with high ceilings. The most popular dishes of this restaurant are: smoked Baltic herring, venison with cranberry sauce and fruit desserts.
In this restaurant you can spend unforgettable evening hours admiring the sunset or retire for a private conversation in the dining rooms.
5) Restaurant "Spis"
The establishment positions itself as a restaurant of original cuisine. Two young creative chefs work on preparing dishes every day.
The menu has many light vegetable snacks. The restaurant hall is small, designed for 18 visitors. Every evening all the tables are occupied. Mostly lovers of vegetarian food and connoisseurs come here good beer, which is supplied to the restaurant from local breweries. It is recommended to book a restaurant table a few days before visiting the restaurant.
6) Restaurant “Teurastamo”
In the north-eastern part of Helsinki there is an amazing restaurant located in a former slaughterhouse.
The restaurant owners position their establishment as a “gastronomic center”, as the chefs are constantly experimenting with the menu, adding new dishes. Amateurs love to come here meat dishes, because the menu consists of 90% meat components. The restaurant has a branch of the world's best bar under the A21 brand.
7) Restaurant "Dominika"
This is one of the best restaurants in the city, which are usually called “decent”. The restaurant is among the top 50 best restaurant establishments in the world.
You should immediately warn that the cost of the dishes is high, from 99 euros and above. The most popular dishes are “wood-roasted pork” and “stingray with anchovies.” The restaurant's regulars include wealthy politicians and businessmen, among whom you can often see leading shareholders of Nokia and Gazprom. The restaurant is located at: st. Ludviginkatu, 3–5.
8) Restaurant "Savoy"
This is one of the “greatest” restaurant chains in the world. The restaurant is located in a prestigious location in Helsinki - on the esplanade. The windows offer a wonderful view of the surrounding area. Rich and successful people also like to go here, so the prices on the menu are sky-high.
As some visitors say about this luxurious establishment, “We don’t remember what we ate and drank, but everything was very expensive.” The restaurant's interior was designed in 1937 by designer Alavro Aalto. Since those times, almost nothing has changed here; after another renovation and restoration, everything looks the same.
9) Restaurant "König"
This establishment has a “simpler” crowd, the prices on the menu are quite reasonable, and there are many foreign tourists among the visitors.
The King restaurant is a historical establishment, although its rooms are located in the basement of an old mansion. The restaurant owners tirelessly tell guests that Sibelius and Gallen-Calella loved to dine here. The restaurant's most popular dish is baked venison, served with cranberry or lingonberry sauce. The restaurant is located at: st. Mikonkatu, 4.
10) Restaurant “Ask”
Guests of the city should pay attention to this “young” restaurant, which has not yet earned due attention among gourmets. The restaurant is remarkable because it prepares a small number of dishes (4-8 daily), but all of them are prepared from pure organic products. The wine list is also small, all types of wines are selected with great knowledge. The chef likes to go out to the guests and ask for comments or wishes. The atmosphere of this recently opened restaurant is very cozy, homely and comfortable.
In Helsinki restaurants, guests of the Finnish capital have the opportunity to learn a lot of new and interesting things about the national Scandinavian cuisine. Price options for restaurant establishments are very different, from luxurious “star” ones to quite budget ones. Guests are greeted warmly everywhere; there are no language barriers when communicating with waiters.
By the way, you can watch a video about Helsinki restaurants on YouTube. And if you want to create your own channel about Helsinki, then it makes sense to explore the site https://piar4you.com, which offers promotion in this area.
The Finnish capital has excellent cuisine different countries: from French to Nepali. But while you can find a French bistro or an Italian pizzeria in any more or less decent European city, Finnish cuisine is not prepared almost anywhere in the world. Except, of course, Finland. And since you are here, getting to know the traditional food of this country should be a mandatory part of your program.
First of all, in Helsinki, of course, you should order fish- deep-fried, salted or smoked with any spices, in any form it will be magnificent, and most importantly amazingly fresh. Moreover, Finnish cuisine is a paradise for all meat lovers who should not miss the chance to try some dish of venison or bear meat. It is an integral element of traditional Finnish and Lappish cuisine. Other popular dish - ear, prepared from trout or salmon, is also recommended for consumption. All national dishes are very filling, and some may even find them a bit heavy, but don’t despair, you won’t go hungry anyway.
Helsinki, of course, is not a cheap city, not to say expensive, and the price tag in its restaurants once again confirms this fact. But, as you know, there is always a way out, and even here you can save money, while avoiding visits to McDonald's. Firstly, the buffets, often organized at shopping centers, are quite good. Most of them operate on the principle buffet, and they cost quite adequately: 8-10 euros, and you can eat as much as you like. The main thing is not to be greedy, so that later you don’t feel painfully ashamed of your stomach. Many small open cafes are located on Market Square on the shore of the Gulf of Finland. Here you can eat for a few pennies fried fish, potatoes or pancakes with lingonberry jam , and at the same time admire the sea. All this deliciousness is prepared right on the spot, on special roasting pans. You can also taste the salad with smoked venison, and if you like it, immediately buy a kilogram (or maybe even several) for your home. Such establishments are loved not only by tourists, but also by the Finns themselves, which already says a lot. However, if you still don’t want to dine outside or it’s raining (which is not uncommon for the capital of Suomi), then welcome to one of the places that Tripadvice has selected for you.
A rather pretentious restaurant between the Market Square and the capital's main boulevard, Esplandi, was nominated for the "Best Restaurant in Helsinki 2009" award. Lunch menu from 30 euros, dinner with a change of four courses - 71 euros. However, the price tag and pathos are fully justified by the excellent national cuisine
Another restaurant serving Finnish and Lapland cuisine, and with a much less steep price tag, a lot of meat and fish dishes. The interior is in a traditional Lapland style, excellent service - everything invites you to visit it.
Salmon soup - 9 euros
Fish plate with smoked meats for two - 50 euros
A place with a hundred-year history, the first owners of which started their business at the end of the nineteenth century from a small stall on the Market Square. Pleasant interior, paintings, engravings, old photographs - ships and maritime romance are everywhere. Lunch from 10:30 to 14:00
Sea cocktail - 15 euros
Large steak - 21.50 euros
A restaurant and bar in the very center of the city, next to the Stockmann shopping arcades, and the atmosphere of a real country club. Wooden benches and tractors converted into tables, a lot of simple, relatively inexpensive Finnish food and huge portions. In the evening there are discos.
Trout soup - 8 euros
Fried reindeer stroganina - 19 euros
A cafe, bar and restaurant under one roof of an ancient building and a place with more than a century of history. In the 19th century, it was a meeting place for poets, artists and other bohemians; the Finnish national hero, the composer Sibelius, also came here. As in many similar places, little remains of Kappeli’s bohemian past, and the restaurant is visited more by tourists, but the interiors and surroundings are still impressive. Well, and besides, having lunch with a view of Senate Square, or drinking coffee with a view of Esplandi Park is still pleasant.
Venison in a pot - 20 euros
Large fish plate - 14 euros
If venison and bear meat are still not for you, and you want something light, then this is the place for you. Only on the menu vegetarian food, so popular among Europeans today. During lunch, a buffet is served (8 euros), but the payment will still be proportional to the weight of the plate.
Zucchini
Fabrianinkatu, 4
Another good vegetarian restaurant with prices ranging from 7 to 22 euros. Connoisseurs say that this is where the best vegetarian pizza in the city is. There is only one drawback - it is only open during lunch from 11:00 to 16:00
Pasta La Vista
Urho Kekkosen katu, 5
www.pplavista.fi
Here come the Italians! No list of restaurants is complete without them, and ours will be no exception. A nice pizzeria very close to the Athenium Museum, everything is cozy and satisfying in Italian style. Lunch from 11:00 to 14:30
Lasagna - 11.90 euros
Pizza - from 9 euros
Espresso - 3 euros
The Turkish buffet is from the “cheap and cheerful” series, but nevertheless tasty and satisfying. In addition to pizza and kebabs, there are many other Arabic dishes - salads, side dishes and snacks. In principle, Turkish establishments are the same everywhere, but one way or another, this is an excellent option for an inexpensive lunch.
Pizza from 6.70 euros
8 euros - the most expensive and largest döner
Tokyo 055
Runeberginkatu, 55
www.tokyo055.fi
Finland is certainly far from Japan, but given the tender love of half of our compatriots for sushi and rolls, we simply could not include it in our list Japanese restaurant. Nice restaurant, opened in 2008. The menu is the same as in domestic sushi bars; the prices, by the way, are also almost the same. They say that the chef of the restaurant is a real guru of his business, so if you happen to see him at work, you can count on a whole performance.
Sushi - assorted - from 10 euros
California roll - 8.50 euros
Hot Mexico in the very center of cold Helsinki, and the street crossing Esplandi Boulevard. The portions in the restaurant, as expected, are huge, so we advise you to think carefully before ordering a large one instead of a classic one. Lunch runs from 11am to 3pm and costs just €9.50, including water, coffee and even a serving of nachos and salsa.
Burrito - from 13 euros
Grilled chicken wings - 16 euros
Boulevard Kluuvikatu
A cafe from the producers of the famous Finnish chocolate, which, by the way, has a rich history. Karl Faser, the founder of the company, opened it back in 1891, and in exactly the same place where it is located today. There are also several other coffee shops of the same brand in Helsinki, and the flagship is located right in the Stockmann shopping center. Recommended for all fans good coffee, cakes and pastries, and of course, fans of the famous Phaser chocolate.
The establishment is a veteran of the Finnish restaurant and confectionery world. Combines a coffee shop - bistro and pastry shop. In the bistro you can simply drink coffee, have a cake or a sandwich, or have a good lunch. In a pastry shop, you can spend a long time choosing sweets, the abundance of which will make your eyes wide open, and after choosing, you can take home a bag of something tasty.
Omelet with shrimps - 9.20 euros
Lamb stew - 9.20 euros
It has about 20 locations throughout the city, and while walking around the center, you will certainly come across more than one such establishment. Somewhat reminiscent of the usual Subway, but everything is much fresher and tastier. Every day a certain type of pasta and soup is served, and there is also a whole system of complex offers. Great option for quick breakfast or lunch.
Ham sandwich - 4.90 euros
Cappuccino - 2.80 euros
Another Finnish cafe chain, essentially an Italian buffet. The principle is still the same: you pay 9.50 euros at the checkout, get your plate and dine until you get bored. By the way, this place is quite popular among the local population. The buffet has several types of pizza, as well as different types of salads, pasta and lasagna. Hot and cold drinks are also included in the price. There are three such establishments in Helsinki - two are located in the Forum and Itakeskus shopping centers, and one is in Mikonkatu. It is recommended for all lovers of a hearty meal, since of all the cafes in Helsinki, this is perhaps the cheapest place to do so.
An article about where you can eat inexpensively and deliciously in the Finnish capital of Helsinki. Tourists note that this is not cheap, but there are many restaurants designed for the average consumer. In those places that are tourist centers, prices are high. Nice lunch will cost 40-50 €. Further in the article we will talk about the most budget places.
Since Finland has a harsh climate, the cuisine is high in calories.
While in the capital, you should try:
- morel soup;
- fish pie;
- smoked salmon;
- creamy salmon soup;
- Lapland cheese;
- herring appetizer.
The signature dishes are trout and partridge in sour cream. Venison and elk dishes are staples of Lapland cuisine. Pancakes with caviar, goat milk and pickled onions can be seen quite often on the Finnish table. Mustamakkara or blood sausage is very interesting dish, which everyone should try. Salmaakki are sweets flavored with ammonia, often with menthol added. For alcohol, you should drink beer; it is prepared according to a special recipe. Famous Finnish berry liqueurs. Currant-gooseberry champagne is a truly Finnish alcohol, you should try it.
Cheap restaurants in Helsinki
There are many roadside cafes in Helsinki where you can have breakfast relatively cheaply. A donut with jam and a cup of coffee will cost 1.5 euros. There is a coffee break in the center of the capital; breakfast in this place costs from 6 to 10 €. You can enjoy the atmosphere of the morning city and look at the local residents.
Robert's Coffee is open every day from 8:00 to 00:00, on Saturdays and Sundays from 10:00. A cup of coffee with a croissant will cost about 5 euros. It is best to visit this place in spring or summer, when there is a cozy summer area. The menu includes not only pastries and desserts, but also more substantial meals. Different types of the first and second are offered.
Robert's Coffee
Ciao! Caffe is located on Senate Square, in the very center of the city. Despite this location, the place is distinguished by its affordable pricing policy. Coffee may be offered for breakfast different types and desserts, as well as light snacks: salad bar, ciabatta, foccaccio. Tourists celebrate delicious buns and coffee, what else do you need for a good start to the day? This place opens from 10:00.
Cafe Ekberg is a bakery with an antique interior. Since 1852, the cafe has been delighting visitors with fresh pastries and aromatic coffee. Products include cold cuts, fresh buns, omelettes, and salads. The cafe opens early - from 7:30, so you can come here for a fresh breakfast.
Ursula is a romantic place, located near the sea coast, with wonderful nature. Breakfast prices are higher than in other cafes: a serving of salad costs 12.5 €.
A good family cafe is called Konstan Molja, they offer a buffet, desserts and wine for a fee. This budget place, which is great for relaxation.
Selection of dishes at the Konstan Molja cafe
Where to eat inexpensively in Helsinki?
Unicafe Ylioppilasaukio is a great place to grab a quick bite. It is located near the station. A full lunch costs only 8 euros, with significant discounts available for students. The establishment is designed for students and is also popular among tourists. The cafe opens at 11:00 and is open until 17:00, so you should have time to try it.
Unicafe Ylioppilasaukio
Golden Rax Pizzabuffet is a chain of cafes that offer a buffet. Everything is prepared with taste, reminiscent of national cuisine. The choice is quite large; they sell pizza, salads, chicken, sausages, and potatoes. You can come here with children, the atmosphere is relaxed, the cuisine is varied, but since there are a lot of visitors there every day, it is very noisy. You can eat for 10 €, and visiting hours are from 11:00 to 21:00.
Golden Rax Pizza buffet
SFC – located near the station, it will be difficult to find a lower cost for a hearty lunch in this area. The menu is varied, similar to a homemade forge: puree soups, vegetable salads, beans, potatoes. Fast food is sold on the ground floor, lunch will cost 8-9 dollars, and in the basement there is a pizzeria and a buffet. The staff is Russian-speaking, which is very helpful for those who do not know foreign languages.
Eerikin Pippuri is a chain of kebab establishments, the service staff understands Russian. The quality of food varies significantly, as dishes are prepared according to different recipes.
Where else can you eat tasty and inexpensive food? Veggie is a place with a beautiful interior, a simple and affordable menu: coffee, tea, salads, pies. Everything you need for healthy eating presented in it. This is the place to eat cheaply in Helsinki.
Gran Delicato is a Greek restaurant located in the port. You can eat for 10 euros. There is a friendly atmosphere, beautiful views, and a romantic setting. Open from 8:00 to 20:00.
Soppakeittio Tapaste oy is a Spanish soup restaurant. Soups with seafood are sold, they are prepared according to a special recipe. Lovers of mussels and shrimp will love this place. You can have a delicious meal in Helsinki in this place, since the cost of lunch is from 8 to 10 €.
Where can I have dinner?
When purchasing souvenirs on the ancient Kauppatori square, do not forget to stop by one of the many street cafes, many of them are distinguished by their cozy interior. They mainly sell sandwiches, pizzas, and buns; you can dine in this place until 17:00. Every year a herring festival is held in these parts.
Fine cuisine is worth trying at the Ravintola Lasipalatsi restaurant. The interior is made in red and white colors. Specialty dish considered potatoes baked with reindeer meat. The prices are not cheap: main course costs 28 €, dessert – 9-12 €.
Ravintola Lasipalatsi
Where else can you eat tasty and inexpensive food?
Cesar's Daily Buffet is located near Vantaa-Helsinki Airport and offers different variants buffet. The menu is varied - for 10 euros you can eat well. The downside is that the place is very crowded, there is a huge flow of tourists. For those who want to sit in a quiet family circle, this place is not suitable.
Caesar's Daily Buffet
Popular bars of the capital in 2019
There are several bars in the city where alcohol prices are low. Despite the fact that the city is quite expensive, there are establishments where you can relax on a fairly budget. It's fun, interesting, you can communicate and meet people.
On The Rocks - a rock bar located next to the station, where heavy music is constantly playing, and various concerts are also held. Alcohol prices range from 6 to 10 euros. There are age restrictions: visitors must be at least 23 years old. The establishment is open from 16:00 to 4:00. The bar is very noisy, you won't be able to sit quietly and calmly.
Molly Malone's Irish Bar is an Irish bar located in the city center. It should be noted the live music and colorful interior. You need to be prepared for the fact that on Friday you won’t find a free table here. The bar has a cheerful atmosphere; you shouldn't be surprised at the dancing with glasses in your hands. Quite a wide selection of drinks: beer, cider, ale. This is a great place to find new acquaintances, friends, and have fun. It's open until 3:30.
Molly Malone's Irish Bar
Rymy-Eetu is a bar that features high-quality German and Finnish beer. The atmosphere is quite cheerful and there are live music concerts. Hot snacks cost from 9 €, beer – from 7.5 €. This bar is more relaxed, the atmosphere is friendly and conducive to a pleasant stay.
Here is the answer to the question of tourists, where in the capital you can eat inexpensively and tasty. There are quite a lot of different interesting establishments in the city. Each of them is especially original, so everyone can choose what they need: family dinner or a noisy night out, a romantic walk or lunch at a restaurant national cuisine.
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A real paradise for organic food lovers, located in the coastal area of Ayr. It is open for dinner only and offers set menus ranging from three to nine courses. All produce comes from farms, and even the wines are organic, although not local.
With prior agreement, the chef can prepare a special vegetarian set menu.
Restaurant Juuri and the nearby patisserie of the same name specialize in sapas, Finnish delicacies and organic snacks. Here you can try pike perch with sour cream and caviar, baked cottage cheese with oregano, gooseberry and paprika jam or homemade sausage with cranberry sauce. The menu is constantly updated, and the wine list includes both conventional and organic and biodynamic wines.
You can't miss one of the most famous restaurants in the Finnish capital - Nokka. This place is perfect for those who want to experience traditional northern cuisine: venison with cranberry sauce, smoked Baltic herring, beet salad and much more.
The restaurant boasts a wide selection of wines, including fruit wines for dessert. It is necessary to reserve a table in advance, since even the spacious halls of the former maritime warehouses cannot accommodate everyone.
Behind haute cuisine Scandinavia is worth a trip to the restaurant Olo, who received Michelin star. The laconic interior will not distract from the chef’s works of art, and the impeccable service will help you spend unforgettable hours here. Visitors are offered a seasonal menu and several set options to choose from. Those wishing to have some privacy can book a dining room.
Newly opened cozy restaurant Ask has already earned good recommendations from the capital's gourmets. Here you can choose from two set menu options of 4 and 8 dishes, prepared only from natural products. Wine connoisseurs will be pleased with the small but tastefully selected wine list. The chef himself quite often comes out into the hall and communicates with guests, which makes the atmosphere of the establishment even better.
Restaurant Spis- a representative of modern Scandinavian cuisine with original elements from two young chefs. The menu consists mainly of vegetables, although fish and meat are also present. The establishment will please not only vegetarians, but also beer lovers: they offer several unusual varieties from local breweries. The restaurant itself seats only 18 people, so it’s best to book a table in advance.
A new gastronomic center has opened in northeast Helsinki Teurastamo, which was once a slaughterhouse. Now Teurastamo is famous for gastronomic experiments. Opens its branch here best bar world A21, they make pasta with unusual additions from organic products, and B-Smokery has no end to meat lovers.
If you don’t feel like going to a restaurant, you can stop by the farmers’ market Eat & Joy in the Kluuvi shopping center in the center of Helsinki . Here you will find fresh fish, berries, bread, cheeses, venison and many vegetables.
