8 hidden gems worth the trip across Finland, editor-ranked by TableJourney. All Finland guides.
Owan ★ 4.8 · Helsinki
punavuori · Uudenmaankatu 13, 00120 Helsinki
Owan is a six-seat japanese counter in punavuori serving a short menu of clean, umami-led rice bowls and soups, easy to walk past and hard to book.
Tip: Walk-ins at lunch, bookings for the dinner sets; with only six seats it fills fast, so plan around it.
Aoi ★ 4.7 · Helsinki
ullanlinna · Neitsytpolku 10, 00140 Helsinki
Aoi is a tiny ullanlinna room in the michelin guide on a residential side-street, with a short four-course menu that locals book and visitors rarely find.
Tip: The menu is short and rewritten often, so trust the kitchen.
Kuurna ★ 4.6 · Helsinki
kruununhaka · Meritullinkatu 6, 00170 Helsinki
Kuurna is a small, family-run kruununhaka bistro whose three-week menu and fair prices keep locals coming, on a quiet street tourists rarely reach.
Tip: The menu rolls over every three weeks, so regulars never repeat a dinner. Book; the room is tiny and well-loved.
Cafe Regatta ★ 4.5 · Helsinki
toolo · Merikannontie 8, 00260 Helsinki
Cafe Regatta (Cafe) in Helsinki: Take the coffee and a korvapuusti outside to the shoreline rocks. Busiest on sunny afternoons; the indoor space is minute.
Tip: Take the coffee and a korvapuusti outside to the shoreline rocks. Busiest on sunny afternoons; the indoor space is minute.
Goose Pastabar ★ 4.3 · Helsinki
kamppi · Eerikinkatu 44, 00180 Helsinki
Goose Pastabar is a no-reservations fresh-pasta counter on eerikinkatu with a cult local following, easy to miss and impossible to book, dinner only.
Tip: No reservations and dinner only, so arrive early or wait. The daily pasta special is the order; the wine list is short and smart.
Sake Bar ★ 4.2 · Helsinki
kruununhaka · Vironkatu 11, 00170 Helsinki
Sake Bar is a japanese izakaya room in Kruununhaka. Order in rounds the izakaya way and let the sake list lead. Small and popular, so book a seat ahead.
Tip: Order in rounds the izakaya way and let the sake list lead. Small and popular, so book a seat ahead.
Rams Roasters ★ 4.1 · Helsinki
ullanlinna · Neitsytpolku 10, 00140 Helsinki
Rams Roasters is a small family-run ullanlinna cafe and bakery on a residential street that regulars treat as a second kitchen, off every tourist coffee map.
Tip: Shares its Neitsytpolku block with Restaurant Aoi. Come for the specialty coffee, the home-baked cinnamon buns and the neighbourhood quiet.
Eromanga ★ 4.0 · Helsinki
keskusta · Pohjoinen Makasiinikatu 6, 00130 Helsinki
Eromanga is an old-school bakery-cafe near Kasarmitori in Helsinki; the lihapiirakka meat pie has been made to a secret 1946 recipe, weekday daytime only.
Tip: Order the meat pie with sausage and a fried egg. Weekday daytime only; it is a working bakery, not a destination room.