Story Old Market Hall is a cafe restaurant in Keskusta, Helsinki.
Editorially verified May 28, 2026 by Lewis Vaughan, TableJourney editor. Source.
Signature dishes: Breakfast and brunch, Finnish hall food
Must order: The all-day breakfast, or a bowl of salmon soup from inside the historic hall.
Tip: Inside Vanha Kauppahalli by the Market Square. Comes into its own at breakfast and brunch; the hall closes by early evening.
Address: Eteläranta 18, 00130 Helsinki
Forza in Punavuori bakes round Neapolitan pizzas in a wood oven and crunchy Roman slices in an electric one, near the Kaffa roastery in Punavuori.
Signature: Wood-fired Napoli pizza, Roman electric-oven pizza
Order: A wood-fired Napoli pie, or the crisp Roman style if you want it by the slice.
Tip: On the same Pursimiehenkatu block as Kaffa Roastery and Levain. Two distinct pizza ovens, so order across both styles.
Goose Pastabar on Eerikinkatu became a cult fresh-pasta spot: dinner only, no reservations, a short handmade-pasta menu and a tight wine list.
Signature: Fresh handmade pasta, Daily pasta specials
Order: Whatever pasta is the daily special; the menu is short and changes often.
Tip: No reservations and dinner only, so arrive early or expect a wait. Cash and card; the line moves once seats free up.
Baskeri & Basso on Tehtaankatu pulls from Parisian bistros and Italian osterias, with ingredient-driven cooking and a deep natural-wine list.
Signature: Ingredient-led bistro plates, Natural wine
Order: Whatever vegetable plate is on; the kitchen lets one or two ingredients carry a dish.
Tip: Entrance is through the courtyard. The BasBas group also runs BasBas Kulma and BasBas Studio nearby in Punavuori.
The Bull and the Firm in Kallio pairs an a la carte kitchen with a cocktail bar, with dishes like confit black salsify and a cracker-thin beef-cheek lasagne.
Signature: Confit black salsify, Beef-cheek ragu lasagne
Order: The cracker-like lasagne stuffed with beef-cheek ragu, then a cocktail at the bar.
Tip: Restaurant and cocktail bar in one Kallio room. Good for a dinner that slides into late drinks without moving.
Maukku is the dinner sister to Way Bakery in Kallio, channelling modern French bistros with veg-forward small plates and a natural-wine list on Agricolankatu.
Signature: Veg-forward small plates, Natural wine
Order: A spread of the veg-forward small plates with a glass from the natural list.
Tip: Shares an Agricolankatu address with Way Bakery, which runs the daytime. Maukku takes over for evening small plates.
Boon Nam on Lönnrotinkatu cooks regional Thai with more heat and herb than the usual takeaway versions, a small room locals rate among the city's best.
Signature: Regional Thai curries, Som tam
Order: A proper green or jungle curry, and som tam if it is on the board.
Tip: Small and popular, so book or come early. The kitchen does not dial the spice down to Nordic levels.
