Eating & Drinking in Helsinki
Helsinki's food scene has rapidly developed in recent years. Several Michelin-starred restaurants, an innovative New Nordic cuisine, and a vibrant street food scene make the city a culinary hotspot in Northern Europe.
Must-Try in Helsinki
- Lohikeitto (Salmon Soup) — Creamy soup with fresh salmon, potatoes, and dill. Try it at the Old Market Hall or Kauppatori (8–14€).
- Karjalanpiirakka (Karelian Pies) — Small oval pastries filled with rice porridge, served with egg butter. The Finnish national dish, available everywhere as a snack (1–3€).
- Kalakukko — Fish pie from the lake district: whole fish (vendace or perch) baked in rye bread. A unique delicacy.
- Ruisleipä (Rye Bread) — Dark, sour whole grain rye bread is THE Finnish staple. Buy it at the supermarket and enjoy with butter.
- Pulla (Cardamom Bun) — Sweet yeast buns with cardamom and sugar. Available in every café, often homemade (2–4€).
Where to Eat?
- Old Market Hall (Vanha kauppahalli) — Salmon, reindeer meat, cheese, pastries. Perfect for lunch.
- Hakaniemen kauppahalli — The less touristy market hall in Hakaniemi. More authentic and cheaper.
- Tori Quarters (Torvehallarna) — Food hall in Hietalahti with international cuisine.
- Kallio — Helsinki's trendy district with the best bars and affordable restaurants. Ethnic cuisine, vegan spots, craft beer.
- Restaurant Day — Four times a year (February, May, August, November) hundreds of pop-up restaurants open all over Helsinki. Anyone can cook and sell — a brilliant concept.
Coffee Culture
Finns are world champions in coffee drinking — 12 kg per capita per year, more than any other country. Coffee in Finland is not a beverage, but a basic right. Every meeting, visit, workday begins and ends with coffee. Good cafés in Helsinki: Kaffa Roastery, Good Life Coffee, Johan & Nyström.
