My Best Helsinki Restaurant Reviews 2
      Wherever we go, we eat out all the time. We love good, creative and well
prepared food and good wine, in both formal and casual restaurants. We

particularly enjoy dining with groups of friends and family. These are some
of the restaurants that we and our friends have visited and liked in Helsinki.
ON THIS PAGE (click on name):  SÄRKÄNLINNA, SUNDMANSSUNDMANS KROGNOKKALA COCINAMAXILL,  FAROUGE,   


For years, Finland  has been one of our top destinations partly because of its excellent and constantly evolving culinary scene, that encompasses
not  just the Scandinavian way  of cooking, but also integrates international flavors and styles. Every time we travel back to Helsinki, there is something
new and  exciting  going on in the restaurant  scene. The culinary know-how and  the skill  level  of  many of  these chefs is truly impressive and often
delights even the most demanding and spoiled patrons.

You should now be able to dine totally smoke-free in Finland: A SMOKING BAN IN FINNISH RESTAURANTS TOOK EFFECT  June 1st, 2007LEARN THE DETAILS
                                            
 



RESTAURANT NOKKA  
is located in the beautiful Katajanokka
neighborhood, on Kanavaranta (=Canal bank),
in one of the restored 19th century warehouses,
by the water. The same space  used to be
home to Restaurant Kanavaranta, now long
gone. The Uspenski Cathedral is a block away.
The name, “Nokka”, stems from the
name of the neighborhood: Katajanokka.
Loosely = Juniper tree Peninsula

From the getgo, "hand-picked, clean, and
high-quality raw materials", have been the
guiding ideas of this ambitious restaurant.

We dined here soon after the opening
and found  the familiar, warm rooms
pleasantly pared down. As a result the space
is more elegant and calm. The ambiance is
very pleasing. The restaurant was still
struggling with some glitches, mostly having
to do with the service, but the over all
experience was promising.

In July 2002, we dined here in a group of
three. My husband now found the
restaurant very romantic and said he would
recommend it to anyone who wanted to take
his date for a romantic evening. Since the
service was excellent and the food is very
good, I agree.

We had a very pleasant and enjoyable
evening. Some of our choices for the evening:
Appetizers:
-“HERRING CAVIAR” WITH DARK ARCHIPELAGO
BREAD CHIPS
-LIGHTLY SALTED BEEF SLAKED WITH
CALVADOS, SUMMER VEGETABLE PICKLES
Main courses: -CRISPY PAN-FRIED PERCH
FILLETS, SMALL FINNISH MORELS AND NEW
POTATOES
-RIVER TROUT FROM PYHÄMAA STUFFED
WITH CRAYFISH, FENNEL SAUCE
Dessert: -MERINGUE, BOURBON VANILLA
ICE CREAM AND WARM COCOA BEAN
SAUCE

Barbadillo, Pedro Ximenez ”Extra Rich”

July 2003: A lovely dinner on Nokka's summer

patio, by the water, confirms the praises above.
Address: Kanavaranta 7, 00160 Helsinki
Tel: +358-9-687 7330

Nokka's summer patio:





is a beautiful restaurant located in an old
mansion-like building (empire style) located
next to the harbor. It is a very romantic spot
for a dinner for two, but it is just as delightful
for bigger groups who want to enjoy a world-
class meal in a stately setting.

Over the years, we had visited Sundmans
several times, since it is practically next to
our hotel. We had fallen in love with the
restaurant after one strikingly good dinner
for four. The service was friendly and
professional, and the food, from the starters
to the main course (we had mostly fish)
was remarkably good.

In July 2001 we dined there again. We were
in a group of four. The atmosphere was very
upbeat and welcoming from the moment we
walked in through the downstairs main door
and up the stairs to the beautiful restaurant.

We were seated in the lovely main dining
room. Our waiter who was a friendly, very
professional and good-humored gentleman,
(who returned Lawrence’s New York humor
and repartee with admirable speed) helped
make the dining experience perfect.

Both the starters and the main courses were
truly excellent. The wine list was, in our
experience, one of the very best, if not the
best, in Helsinki.

A recent review of their current list, available
on the web, shows an amazingly thorough
representation and is even stronger than we
remembered from our visit. Their Champagne
selection is also compelling.

Since we talked so much about wine, our
waiter told us about Sundmans’ wine cellar
and arranged a tour for us after our dinner.

We discovered why the staff sounded so
proud while mentioning the wine cellar:
The beautiful, vaulted cellar has a broad
selection of fine wines and a long, handsome
table and chairs in the middle of the room,
for wine tasting and other events. It can be
privately rented.

This was an absolutely wonderful and satisfying
evening that left us wanting to come back soon. 

Several later visits during the past years confirm
previous statements.

Sundmans has had a Michelin for years and has
won the American Express Service Award three
times.

Address: Eteläranta 16, 00130 Helsinki
Tel: +358 - 9 - 622 64 10




is a gourmet restaurant in the center of Helsinki.

It has been receiving awards and accolades
for years, including two Michelin stars, several

Finnish "best" awards, and is also mentioned in
the "50 Best Restaurants in the World" - list  
(at no. 39).

We know several people who really love this
place and we hear a lot of praises.

We (a group of 4 gourmands), however, were
unimpressed (with the food) during our one and
only lunch here some years ago. Maybe they
had a bad, uninspired day. Yes, we know we
should give the place another chance, but have
not been motivated enough / have not had
enough time to do so. Next time we travel to
Helsinki we probably will pay a visit.

We did, however, give huge credit to Chez
Dominique for the wisdom and good taste of
making their old restaurant 100% smoke-free,
way before the smoking ban in Helsinki restaurants 
took effect in 2007, thus letting their patrons enjoy
the  aromas of
the food and the wine, without the
interference
of tobacco smoke.

Chez Dominique has moved to a new location,
which now seats 50, plus an additional 14 in their
cabinet.

New address: Rikhardinkatu 4, 
00130 Helsinki. Tel: + 358 9 612 73 93.



    
is a lovely, casual "sibling" of Sundmans.

The room is intimate and cozy (especially
during the winter months) and the food is
good. We, 5 adults & a child, had a lovely
dinner there in November -02.
We all loved it.

Our "agents" in Helsinki went back that
February and still loved it. The only (little)
complaint we had both times was that the
service, while very friendly, was a bit too
slow.

Later visits confirm that this is still a lovely
spot to come for a very good, casual dinner.

There is something for everyone. The fish
eaters in our group have anjoyed their fish
and the herring selection. The carnivores
have enjoyed the meat dishes.

The wine list is a bit short, but you can also
order wines from the "upstairs" wine list.

The service is always very friendly, and
lately, it has not suffered from the slower
tempo that we complained about earlier.

Recommended for cozy, casual dining.

Address: Eteläranta 16, 00130 Helsinki
Tel. +358 - 9- 6226 4120





 is the joint effort of chef Hans Välimäki and Palace
Restaurants. It consists of four different spaces;
Mecca Restaurant, Mecca Fresh Bar, Mecca Patio
and Mecca Lounge.

The restaurant has been wildly popular from the start.

Address: Korkeavuorenkatu 34, 00130 Helsinki
Puh. 09-1345 6200, tables@palacekamp.fi

   
is a charming -and very different- gourmet
restaurant, open during the summer season
only.  It is located on the tiny, historic
fortress island, Särkkä. (Which is a part of the
Suomenlinna Fortress Island).

The taxi boat ride off the Kaivopuisto/Ullanlinna
shore to Särkkä takes abut 5 minutes, and
costs 5 Euros per person.  (Before ending your
meal, ask the staff when the next boat back
leaves. That way you can linger indoors a little
longer, if necessary. Of course, if the weather
is nice, its nice to take on the view from the pier).
.


Helsinki skyline.  Taxi boat from Katajanokka to Särkka.
Click for larger view & information: place names, etc:


is a restaurant we had heard many good
things about over the years. We were told
that the service is extremely good and
friendly  and that the food is consistently
delicious.

In the beginning there were not
many choices for fish eaters, but wisely,
the owners have listened to feedback and
added fish entrees to the menu. There still
is only one vegetarian entrée daily. But the
starters include lots of vegetarian dishes, so,
if one wishes, it is possible to build a meal
out of them.

In Nov 2001, a visit by a couple of our
Finnish friends once again confirmed these
positive statements. Our “agents" also added
that the dessert was something out of this
world. So, especially for meat eaters, Farouge
seems to be a very good bet for a delicious
meal accompanied by a well-flowing, very
friendly service.

Revisited in April 2003: Lovely lunch -and
now more fish choices. We were warmly
fussed over by a delightfully caring hostess.

Later visits again confirmed everything above.
Farouge has now expanded, and serves
customers on two floors.

Although Farouge serves mostly Lebanese
food, some of their dishes have a "European
twist." Especially the lunch menu, which
serves food that is more international than
strictly Lebanese. Warmly recommended. 
Address: Yrjönkatu 6, 00120 HELSINKI
Tel: +359- (0) 9- 612 34 55
 Helsinki Skyline viewed from Särkka island a late summer evening.

The restaurant is located on the top floor of
the old fortress, a long and narrow room with
sloping floors and wonderful views of the sea
on the other side, and the charming Helsinki
skyline on the other side. The room and the
deep window sills are decorated with historic
artifacts, beautiful tall ship miniatures,etc.

The restaurant is popular and for good reason.
The food is very good and the setting is one of
it's kind, and even though the decor at
Särkänlinna is a little rustic, I find the place very
romantic.

In July 2001 we thought that Särkänlinna was the
best restaurant in the city, even though it is only a
seasonal restaurant. The meal the four of us had
(fish, of course.) was the best we had in Helsinki,
and the staff, especially the Maitre´d, was splendid.

In July  2002, the restaurant is under new
ownership. There is a new chef and a new staff
and while the service is very friendly, something got
lost in the changes. The service was at times
maddeningly slow or forgetful. For example, the
waitress brought our wine to a serving table close to
our table, but then disappeared back to the other end
of the restaurant, to the kitchen, and the wine sat
 there -unopened- even though we already had our

appetizers. Several times we had to ask the friendly
hostess to do what our waitress was supposed to do.


Palace Terrace Bar. South Harbor. Click for larger view
That detracted from our dining experience.

The food was still very delicious, but not as superb
as the previous summer. The restaurant is open from
May 1 to September.
Reservations are highly recommended.
Address: Särkänsaari, 00130 HELSINKI
tel. +358 9 1345 6756



PALACE GOURMET
Finnish-French, global cuisine, with modernist
touches. Make sure to reserve one of the window
tables that face the South Harbor.
Address: Eteläranta 10, 00130 Helsinki
Tel: +358. (0)9 1345 6715.


Serves food that is strongly inspired
by Catalan and Basque cuisine. The
restaurant has been very well received,
and that is no surprise, the food is good:

The chef de cuisine, Sami Rekola, who
already is quite well known and respected
in the culinary world,  has traveled in
Catalan and Basque regions, tasting,
learning & getting inspired, among
others, by one of the foodie-world’s
“cult” chefs, Jean Arzak (of 3 star
restaurant Arzak, in San Sebastian).
Chef Rekola has also worked in top
restaurants both in London and in
Helsinki, before becoming the master
of tastes at La Cocina.

The space is dominated by dark colors:
Chocolate brown and red. The waiters are
dressed in black. This is actually a refreshing
change to the now so typical sleek, white or
light neutral walls & spaces that dominates
restaurant design today.

The Cocina Bar / Lounge on the street level
serves pintxos. You can have a snack of
piquillo sweet peppers, sausages, fish or
seafood. Wash them down with wine or drinks.
La Cocina is now located in the GLO hotel.
Address: Kluuvikatu 4 (2nd fl),
00100 Helsinki
 Tel +358-9-13456749









































SANTA FÉ
serves, you guessed it, Texmex ( & Cajun and
international foods).The prices are low and the
plates are large. The food is pretty good the prices.

The space is pretty cozy, despite it’s size. It seats
240 people in its different rooms.

They serve drinks, international beers, cocktails &
 wines.

The wine list is short and includes mostly low
wines. The most expensive wine being (in Feb.,
2007) a Montecillo Gran Reserva at 43 Euros.
(Vintage not mentioned.)

All the other wines are in the 27-31 Euro range.

It’s a fun, very popular place among locals, for a
casual snack together with friends or family.

Address: Aleksanterinkatu 15, 00100 Helsinki
Tel +358 9 4242 6010   










    Restaurant Torni has been in business
since 1931 (since the building, that also
hosts Hotel Torni, was constructed).

The interior design of the restaurant tries to
stay true to the traditional Finnish functionalism
(modernism).

It has been a while since we had a chance to
sample this restaurant, but when we did, we
thoroughly enjoyed it: The food was made of
very fresh ingredients, with nice layers of flavors
and the presentation was beautiful.

The service was friendly & unpretentious.
We have heard that the restaurant is still
very good and cannot wait to try it again.
Address: Kalevankatu 5, 00100 Helsinki
Tel +358 9 4336 6320   





Is a casual restaurant, serving good casual food.
For the price it is a real bargain.  

We dined here in different groups of four.

The food was consistently tasty and the service
attentive and friendly.

The menu contains delightfully many seafood
dishes, but has choices for everyone.

The wine list features a broad range of low to
medium end wines.

This restaurant became immediately popular when
it opened in 1992; the food was good and the
restaurant was refreshingly different compared to
most other restaurants in Helsinki back then.
It is not a place that tourists would easily find on
their own.

That already is a good reason to pay a visit:

You get a satisfying meal in a "cool" setting,
 for a reasonable price with almost only locals
This historic and well known structure has
been one of the gathering places of locals
and tourists alike, since it opened in 1867.
And when the famous composer Jean
Sibelius and other Finnish artists were
not hanging out at Kämp, they were here.

Casual fare for good prices.

It is hard to beat the location: in the heart
of Helsinki, in the Esplanade Park, right
next to the Havis Amanda Fountain and
the Market Square by Helsinki South Harbor
& the sea.

Throughout the years, this old gem of
a building has suffered trough different
kinds of restaurants, interior designs,
and patrons. There has been times when I
have not cared for any of them. Which is too bad,
since it is in such a nice spot.

Kappeli now conists of: Kappeli Bar, Bar
Café, the “Sali” dining room, Cellar, and the
most popular Summer Patio in Helsinki.

as patrons.

The room is a small rectangular space.
The ceilings are high.
The two walls that face the street are
basically huge windows. That gives a more
spacious feeling to the small room and also
provides a nice overlook of the street.

The tables have tablecloths, and there are some
decorative pieces of "art" on the walls.

The place is still quite popular among locals,
so
Reservations are  recommended for dinner.

First reviewed in 2001. Later visits confirm our
original thoughts, with some variations.
-Still good.

 

Address: Korkeavuorenkatu 4, 00150 Helsinki,

Tel:. 09 638873


Kappeli was featured in last seson’s

“Amazing Race”.
Address: Eteläesplanadi 1, 00130
Helsinki tel +358 9 6812440

P.SPHOTOS OF KAPPELI ON OUR
HELSNKI (WINTER) PHOTOS 4 -page.



RESTAURANT KLIPPAN
An absolutely wonderful setting for a
summer restaurant, on a tiny island
in the South Harbor. A must.
Klippan island & restaurant.
Click photo for larger view and place names.




RESTAURANTS & CAFES ON SUOMENLINNA
(SVEABORG) ISLAND
, which is a wonderful
picnic and/or excursion destination. Take advantage
of the info, destinations of this list. If you go sightseeing
anywhere outside the center in Helsinki, Suomenlinna
should be it.

on the historic Suomenlinna Fortress Island serves

surprisingly good fare both indoors and in their back
yard garden. We absolutely love this unpretenitous
cafe/restaurant and make sure to have lunch in their
garden every time we visit the Suomenlinna Islands.