The best Scandinavian restaurants Helsinki

At the end of the Bulevardi, this very good restaurant of typical Finnish dishes, held by a family of karelians refugees, after the annexation by the USSR of part of the region, is an indispensable address. The hotel was very clean and comfortable. The garden evokes traditional interiors of the Karelians fishing boats on the island of Uuras.

As soon as you walk through the front door, Gunnar Finne's former studio gives you a touch of elegance and refinement, just like the dishes served in this charming restaurant. On the white walls, wooden sculptures and an old fireplace make you want to lounge by the fire. On the plates, inventive and delicate local cuisine: salmon cake with fresh spinach, Baltic herring and seasonal vegetables. If you're lucky, your taste buds will go wild for the licorice crème brûlée! An excellent address.

This cosy restaurant offers delicious Finnish cuisine. In addition to specialities that remain throughout the year, the chef also offers you, depending on the season, an original and inventive cuisine rooted in tradition. The lunch menu varies every week (the menu is detailed on their website). The cosy and designer setting is very pleasant for a dinner with friends or for a romantic dinner. The good wine list (especially the special champagne evening menu) and the heated terrace are a plus. An excellent address!

A veritable institution, this pavilion with large bay windows has been located on the Esplanade since 1867, near the statue of Havis Amanda. In winter, when the lights shine on the snow-covered promenade, it's a real Christmas tale. The summer terrace always draws crowds. You can simply enjoy coffee and enjoy a pastry and a hot drink, or let yourself be tempted by the restaurant. On the plate side, it's excellent but the price is accordingly... Nice wine list that goes with it all.

With its 1930s functionalist decor, the Maxill is a trendy address where you can spend the day drinking coffee and leafing through stacks of design magazines. Salads, fresh fish and home cooking at lunchtime. Brasserie chic in the evening, with white tablecloths and impeccable service. At dinnertime, the stylish clientele flock to one of Helsinki's most popular café-restaurants.The menu changes 4 times a year - each season, but we recommend the reindeer fillet with red onion compote!

Trendy place, Art Nouveau interior, popular terrace in summer and good Finnish cuisine. Intellos, actors, painters and other artists have been frequenting the place for decades. See the impressive collection of paintings on the walls. If the decor is bewitching, there's no disappointment on the plate. For each dish, there's a wine recommendation to bring out the best of all the flavors. On the menu, an excellent salmon soup, whisky-flavored beef flambé with rösti (potato pancakes) and crème brûlée... A real treat.

Quality local cuisine, a good choice of specialities, such as cabbage stuffed with mushrooms or the Kaarna sandwich (reminiscent of its Danish cousin smørrebrød), and above all, a superb view of Mannerheimintie from the room on the first floor. Nice choice of fish and local beers. Everything is good and very nicely presented, in a decor that is both sober (wooden tables, light lighting) and colourful. The plus: a few choices of vegetarian, gluten-free, lactose-free cuisine... In short, everyone will find their account here!

One of the most gourmet and renowned restaurants in the Finnish capital, proud of its Michelin star obtained in 2011. On the plates, a refined style highlighting fresh, local products that vary with the seasons, such as hiramasa, the Japanese name for amberjack, and its wasabi, langoustine accompanied by butternut, or duck with raspberries... Before discovering the dessert menu, superb. The menu changes with each season and may be accompanied by the sommelier's recommendations for the wine. Expensive, but divine.

Not to be confused with Kuu. If you want to find a simple and authentic cuisine like you would find in a Finnish grandmother's home, KuuKuu is the place for you. It is essential to try the perfectly prepared meatballs that are famous throughout Helsinki. Accompanied by an exquisite purée, they make an excellent meal for a small fee. You can also come here to enjoy a drink at the bar side and KuuKuu offers a sunny terrace in summer. It is recommended to book for weekends when the evenings become more lively.

Several levels in the establishment: restaurant (with more restricted hours, usually until 10pm), bar and nightclub open from Wednesday to Saturday. It is one of the must-see places in the Finnish capital and perhaps one of the trendiest places in Helsinki. Adapt your budget accordingly... On the restaurant side, there are a few salads, a few burgers including a vegetarian choice and dishes such as a salmon steak cooked Asian-style and accompanied by noddles. Delicious! The plus: beautiful terrace in summer.

Beautifully decorated, the address offers typical Finnish dishes at lunchtime at cheap prices. A choice of various starters, a selection of pizzas but also more ready-made dishes such as chicken marinated in herbs and its boletus risotto... To digest, why not try the adjoining discotheque? You can come back for dessert, the restaurant is open late at night. Often, theme evenings are organized there. A must-see address in Helsinki with a pleasant terrace during the summer.

Just after visiting the Place du Sénat, customers flock to this restaurant, which is much more unusual than you might think. In fact, the authentic decor of low vaulted ceilings and rough-hewn wooden tables is a real change of scenery! The waiters, dressed in traditional costumes, are almost like characters straight out of Finnish lakes and cottages. The menu features fish from the lakes and ingredients from the Finnish forest. In summer, the indoor terrace is open to the delight of tourists.

At the foot of the Uspenski Orthodox Cathedral, on the quays of the Katajanokka peninsula, Nokka is today a must, one of the best tables in Helsinki. The brick and old warehouse atmosphere combines wonderfully with the quality of the food. On the menu, chanterelles as a starter, beetroot combined with garlic cream and blinis, crab or artichokes in dishes, before discovering reindeer meat or grilled fish... Finish with Finnish cheese or white chocolate cake... Delicious!

Located on the ^8th floor, it's the place to go for fine dining, architecture and a superb view of the city. Alvar Aalto designed the plans in 1937, and the lamps and chairs are original. Mannerheim also had his table here. That's all there is to it... Very classy and impeccable service. The menu includes a crab salad with velouté, or a salad of crudités with winter truffles and cheese... Before indulging in a risotto or one of the excellent meats on offer, always very well accompanied. Everything is perfect.

In the popular Kallio district, Juttutupa is a simple, original restaurant, more than a hundred years old, with unbeatable prices, where you can also simply enjoy a beer while listening to jazz concerts. The pizzas are huge and excellent. Housed in a tall grey stone building called "Graniittilinna", this restaurant has the distinction of having welcomed the young wolves of the Russian Revolution in exile in Helsinki... Lenin had his table there, which can still be seen today, nicknamed "the table of the revolution"!