Helsinki Restaurants
These restaurants are divided into four different pricing categories. The prices quoted below are for an average three-course meal and for half a bottle of house wine or cheapest equivalent per person; they do not include tax or tip.
$$$$ (over €90)
$$$ (€60 to €90)
$$ (€30 to €60)
$ (under €30)
A number of restaurants around the city offer the 'Helsinki Menu' scheme: a chance for the visitor to experience traditional local cuisine.
Gastronomic
Offering a wonderful view of the sea and a lovely 1950s atmosphere, Palace Gourmet also has plenty to satisfy the taste buds. The restaurant has been at the forefront of Finnish gastronomy since it started in 1952, and it offers modern continental cuisine based on the finest and freshest ingredients available. The exciting à la carte menu changes every month, and the wine list is excellent.
Eteläranta 10
Tel: (09) 1345 6715.
Website: www.palacekamp.fi
Price: $$$$
In the plush surroundings of an Engel-designed house once belonging to a naval commader by the name of G W Sundman, this is known as one of Helsinki's best restaurants. Specialities include zander, arctic char and reindeer fillet, plus a variety of imaginative puddings, for which the establishment is particularly famous. Closed Saturday lunchtime and Sunday. The cheaper Sundmans Krog is an alternative eatery at the same address.
Eteläranta 16
Tel: (09) 622 6410.
Website: www.royalravintolat.com/sundmans/index_eng.asp
Price: $$$$
Business
Another interesting alternative is Lappi, where the cuisine of the Laplanders is celebrated in style. Reindeer, white-tailed deer, snow grouse, elk and arctic char all feature on the menu here, as do traditional cheeses. The menu is available in 11 languages. Open daily from 1200 to 2230.
Annankatu 22
Tel: (09) 645 550.
Website: www.lappires.com
Price: $$$
Opened in the early 1930s, Restaurant Torni has a rather staid appearance contrasting with a lively and imaginative menu based on locally sourced ingredients - the 'Helsinki Menu' is also available here. Three private rooms are available as well as the main 150-seat restaurant. Scandinavian ingredients like herring, salmon, moose and reindeer feature strongly on the menu. Closed Sunday.
Kalevankatu 5
Tel: (09) 4336 6320.
Website: www.ravintolaopas.net/torni
Price: $$$
Trendy
Small (26 seats) but centrally located Mediterranean-style venue that becomes a club in the evenings. At lunchtime the fare consists of pastas, soups and salads, plus a wide range of tapas, complemented by Spanish wines and beers. For the summer, there is an outdoor terrace. Closed Sundays.
Uudenmaankatu 13
Tel: (09) 640 724.
Website: www.marcante.fi/tapasta
Price: $$
Since the 1930s, Restaurant Elite has been a gathering place for the creative fraternity - musicians, writers, poets and actors. Paintings by some of its illustrious guests adorn the walls. The menu is interesting and has a strong Finnish feel, with fish and meat prepared in rich sauces. Open daily.
Eteläinen Hesperiankatu 22
Tel: (09) 434 2200.
Website: www.royalravintolat.com/elite
Price: $$-$$$
Budget
Popular with the media crowd, Bar9 offers a wide selection of bar snacks and meals at affordable prices. Open daily from late morning until the early hours, its menu ranges from an 'all-day' breakfast to Thai soups, pastas and curried chicken.
Uudenmaakatu 9
Tel: (09) 621 4059.
Website: www.bar9.net
Price: $-$$
For lighter snacks and buffet lunches, Café Ekberg is a perfect venue in which to enjoy good quality at a reasonable price. Salads, bruschetta and soups are the order of the day at lunchtimes, while in the afternoons the on-site patisserie takes over. The cafe dates from the mid 1850s. Open daily, early morning until early evening.
Bulevardi 9
Tel: (09) 6811 8660.
Website: www.cafeekberg.fi
Price: $-$$
Personal Recommendations
A relatively new addition to the Helsinki restaurant roster, Havis specialises in top-quality seafood. Located close to the sea, it offers both à la carte and fixed menu meals. Menu highlights include blue mussel soup, zander, tuna and salmon prepared in a variety of unusual styles. Closed Sunday.
Eteläranta 16
Tel: (09) 6869 5660.
Website: www.ravintolaopas.net/havis
Price: $$$
An idiosyncratic, almost legendary Helsinki venue that really should be experienced by everyone who visits the city. A combined bar/restaurant, it features a décor consisting of tractors, assorted agricultural machinery and other countryside items, creating unique surroundings. Even the website and menus are entertaining, reflecting its slightly zany atmosphere. Open daily until late.
Mannerheimintie 3-5
Tel: (09) 666 966.
Website: www.ravintolazetor.fi
Price: $$
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