Helsinki Restaurants

Helsinki is dotted with cozy yet decidedly modern-looking venues offering reindeer, herring, and pike accompanied by delicious Finnish mushrooms or wild-berry sauces. Don't be turned off by spare menu descriptions such as "reindeer with lingonberry sauce and chanterelles,"—it's a classic example of the Finnish tendency toward understatement, and the skill will be evident in the taste. You'll find everything from Mexican to Nepalese (quite popular with locals) in the city, though not at every price point. Expect European-size entrées, excellent location, and service at a steep price. A strong café culture makes it easy to find a tasty, reasonably priced lunch.

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  • 1. Café Esplanad

    $$ | Esplanadi

    Situated on the north side of the Esplanade amid stylish design boutiques, this café is a great place to sample a giant version of the korvapuusti, roughly translated as a "slap around the ear"—a sweet bun fresh from the oven and made all the more delicious by virtue of the cinnamon spinkled between its folded layers. Salads, filled bread rolls, and other enormous confectioneries are on offer, eased down with some of Helsinki's best coffee or something stronger if required. It's a good option for evening snacks as well as lunch.

    Pohjoisesplanadi 37, Helsinki, Uusimaa, 00101, Finland
    09-665–496

    Known For

    • Generous portions
    • Fresh cinnamon buns
    • Popular meeting spot

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Weekdays 9–9; Sat. 9–6; Sun. noon–6.
  • 2. Café Engel

    $$ | Senaatintori

    Named for the architect Carl Ludvig Engel, this café on Senate Square serves traditional lunch fare, and it's also open for breakfast. Portions are hearty—you can fill up on a huge bowl of the tomato basil soup or the cold smoked salmon sandwich; for a lighter snack, try a savory karjalanpiirakka or one of the smaller open-faced cold-cut sandwiches. Locals stop in for coffee, wine, and desserts, which include seasonal treats such as lingonberry cheesecake, fruit tarts, and an excellent Sacher torte. The outdoor KesäKino summer cinema is held in the courtyard, which is also the venue for recitals and other events.

    Aleksanterinkatu 26, Helsinki, Uusimaa, 00170, Finland
    09-652–776

    Known For

    • Senate Square location
    • Soups and sandwiches
    • Lingonberry cheesecake

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Weekdays 8–9; Sat. 9–9; Sun. 10–9
  • 3. Café Ursula

    $$ | Kaivopuisto

    Located by the sea, with views across to Suomenlinna, this café has been a favorite with locals since the 1950s. They come for the coffee, ice cream, pastries, and light lunches that include soups and salads made with traditional Finnish ingredients and to sit on the terrace on sunny days after seaside strolls in and around nearby Kaivopuisto Park. The lunch menu, which changes daily, includes fresh fish specialties, fish or root-vegetable soups, and a steak dish.

    Ehrenströmintie 3, Helsinki, Uusimaa, 00140, Finland
    09-652–817

    Known For

    • Seaside terrace
    • Warm-up spot for winter walkers
    • Convenient to U.S. and U.K. Embassies

    Restaurant Details

    Rate Includes: Open daily 9 am–midnight; lunch daily 11–2
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