11 editor picks in Helsinki.
Helsinki sits at the heart of modern Nordic cooking, where Finnish produce and foraging meet fine-dining technique. The high end runs through Olo on Pohjoisesplanadi, Grön in Punavuori and Demo, all kitchens working at the top tier, while Palace overlooks the harbour from Eteläranta. Newer rooms like 305 in Kallio and Skörd in Punavuori push the contemporary Finnish style in a more relaxed setting.
11 modern nordic places in Helsinki we have eaten in, sorted by editor score. All cuisines in Helsinki · Modern Nordic across every city.
Order Whatever the short seasonal menu offers; the natural-wine list is the real draw.
305 on Toinen linja in Kallio holds a Michelin Bib Gourmand for inventive seasonal cooking and natural wine, run by chefs Janne Keskevaari and Dani Hänninen.
Order The seven-course menu; the only imported ingredient on the plate is the salt.
Skörd on Fredrikinkatu in Punavuori cooks a seven-course menu where every ingredient except the salt is Finnish game, fish, herbs and berries.
Order The fish course; the kitchen builds the menu around the day's sustainable catch.
Bona Fide on Vironkatu in Kruununhaka holds a Michelin Bib Gourmand for fresh, modern Finnish cooking built on sustainably sourced fish and vegetables.
Order Let the kitchen send the seasonal menu; pair it from the long, well-chosen wine list.
Plein in Vallila is a Michelin Bib Gourmand bistro known for a tight seasonal menu and an unusually deep wine list, a tram ride north of the centre.
Guided tour · 6 hours
Explore Nuuksio National Park near Helsinki on a 7.5 km hike through authentic Finnish nature, with beautiful lakes, scenic views, and campfire snacks.
Viator · 5 h
Finland’s stunning wilderness is just a short trip from downtown Helsinki, offering an easy-going city break suitable for all fitness levels. On this nature walking to...
Viator · 3.5 h
On our Secret Food Tour Helsinki, get onboard a journey through one of the most secretive country of the Nordic Regions . Step into the heart of authentic Helsinki lif...
Order The full tasting menu; Vottonen leans hard on Finnish lake fish and game in season.
Palace holds Finland's only two Michelin stars, on the tenth floor of a 1952 Olympics building, where Eero Vottonen cooks a Finnish tasting menu.
Order The OlO tasting menu; the kitchen builds it around the best northern produce of the week.
Olo on the Pohjoisesplanadi has held a Michelin star since 2011, serving a long Nordic tasting menu of northern ingredients in a grand 19th-century townhouse.
Order The set tasting menu; the full menu is also available as an entirely plant-based version.
Grön in Punavuori holds a Michelin star and Green Star; Toni Kostian cooks a plant-forward set menu of foraged Finnish produce in a 16-seat room.
Order The chef's menu at dinner, or the four-course lunch for the city's best-value star meal.
Demo has held a Michelin star since 2007 and in 2024 moved to a Ruoholahti tower with near 360-degree views, where Tommi Tuominen serves three tasting menus.
Order The eight-course menu; dishes reread Finnish staples like liver, herring and root vegetables.
Finnjävel Salonki, in the Kunsthalle building, won a Michelin star in 2021 for refined, modern takes on traditional Finnish home cooking by its kitchen.
Try Lihapiirakka meat pie
Eromanga near Kasarmitori sells the lihapiirakka meat pie to a secret 1946 recipe, loaded with sausage and a fried egg for just a few euros, very cheap.
Try Fried vendace and pea soup
In summer the Market Square stalls fry vendace and salmon and ladle pea soup for around 10 euros, an open-air harbour lunch as cheap as it is local.
