The Best Restaurants in Uusimaa
Palace has the only two stars in Finland. Star chef Eero Vottonen mixes French and Nordic techniques with Japonism. The wines sing in unison. The harmony of the salon, the light and the view from the top floor are captivating. The service, in which the chefs participate, is informal but dignified.
Toni Kostian's and Lauri Kähkönen's one-star Grön is a civilized savage of northern tastes. The treasures of local producers, wild herbs and fermentation create stunning flavours and elegant dishes. Grön stands for eco-philosophy with passion, creativity and a playful twist on drinks and recycling.
Awarded its 14th Michelin star, Olo's Tuomas Vierelä combines a sophisticated interpretation of Nordic gastronomy, respect for raw ingredients and an unfailing minimalist sense of style with nuanced wines. The Scandi-style ambience is fresh and calming. All topped off with excellent service.
Located next to the Helsinki Art Hall, Finnjävel is an ode to Finnish food culture. Traditional recipes are deconstructed and rebuilt into delicious fine dining. Consistencies and flavours evoke images of traditional dishes, but new experiences are created, supported by an excellent choice of wines.
This is as close as you can get to a French bistro in the North. There's an honest, full French flavour on offer, always with an element of excitement. Bardot focuses on classic Mediterranean fish, seafood, vegetables and seasonal dishes. Great flavours, resonant wines and a wonderful buzz.
Behind it all is the life story of chef Kozeen Shivan, from the Middle East to the North. An identitarian, 8-course immersive sensory menu will be eaten in a 14-seat room with the provocative Shiwan and cuisine at the centre. The wines are biodynamic. Also taste hand-made non-alcoholic options.
Nokka, located in the old Katajanokka warehouses, is a place to enjoy Finnish food and drink. The focus is on local food, seasonal produce and raw materials from small producers. Chef Ari Ruoho fishes and hunts himself. Berries, mushrooms, wild herbs and local drinks are also on the menu.
Bona Fide is a progressive, surprising and bold Neo Bistro. The food is modern, unpretentious, light, seasonal and skilfully prepared with ethically and sustainably produced ingredients. The value for money is solid and the mood is cosy. The wine selection is a hand in hand with the overall idea.
Scolare, on the corner of Kasarmintori, and its bar Enoteca Banco Vini are born from a love of Italian food culture. It renews the vision of Italian cuisine. Many of the ingredients are the best you can get from the different regions of Italy. Italian wines and a magnificent hall will delight you.
Natura is a pioneer in sustainable development. Northern gastronomic flavours are influenced by France, the Basque Country and Spain. Natura has its own garden and 30 different producers, gatherers and hunters, so seasons and freshness are at their peak. The wines are organic or biodynamic.
The zero waste restaurant of three immigrants has created its own genre. Seasonal and sustainable European food with a Nordic twist is interesting and delicious, and the service is warm. The wines are organic from small producers. With its own microbrewery, the beers are well presented.
In Brasa, food is cooked over an open fire. Smoke and fire are also used as seasoning. Meat, fish and game birds hang in dry-age cabinets. Mussels, shrimps and vegetables are cooked in a cooling broth and finally grilled. Old world wines lead the way, but naturals keep up with the times.
In a classically elegant and cosy meeting place on the Eteläesplanade, Café Savoy offers dishes inspired by French, Finnish and British cuisine. Breakfast, pastries, lunch and dinner are available. The environment, food, wine and service work seamlessly together.
Le Coucou Vert, on the Boulevard, represents a return to the heart and flavours of French bistro. The food is delicious, and there is no need to reinvent the classics. Step through the door for drinks, snacks and a lingering dinner with insightful wines and sparkling wines with a French focus.
"Creativity blooms from chaos" is an experience of brutal bistro milieu, service, music and creative neo-bistro. The visit is somewhere between an amusement park and an art performance. Feeling is as important as ingredients or seasons. Inventive wines are also available by the glass.
In a classically elegant and cosy meeting place on the Eteläesplanade, Café Savoy offers dishes inspired by French, Finnish and British cuisine. Breakfast, pastries, lunch and dinner are available. The environment, food, wine and service work seamlessly together.
The white tablecloth Vinkkeli is conservative, classic and tradition-conscious. The kitchen is French Scandinavian with a pure taste of the above. The service is also classic and caring, which carries you along, as does the excellent wine list. The Vinkkel's lunch is said to be the best in town.
Alexanderplats in the city centre is designed in a cosy Nordic modernist style. The brasserie/husmanskost ideology puts French-Swedish-Finnish classics on the plate. The emphasis is on the quality of the raw materials and the season. The service is warm and the wines and other drinks are in line.
Ego offers the security of the classics of gastronomic history, but it also experiments with variations. Ego is a celebration of relaxed service, seasonality, flavours, freshness and lightness on a plate, beautifully crafted. The wine expertise is of the finest level, along with Olo, Brasa and Ego.
Muru is a Helsinki bistro classic, whose popularity is based on daily changing offerings, good ingredients, playful dishes, smart wines, storytelling service and a warm atmosphere. The most popular is the four-course Menu of the Day, which lives up to the seasons. The wine selection is staggering.