Guidebook for Helsinki
Shopping
Helsinki's oldest & most classist department store. Fallen on bit of rough times, but you can still find most of the thing you need here.
256 locals recommend
Stockmann Helsingin keskusta
52 AleksanterinkatuHelsinki's oldest & most classist department store. Fallen on bit of rough times, but you can still find most of the thing you need here.
Food Scene
Latest additional to the sea front, the best place by the sea front for enjoying a coffee or one of their excellent burgers. They have a few seats inside for colder days.
55 locals recommend
Birgitta
2 HernesaarenrantaLatest additional to the sea front, the best place by the sea front for enjoying a coffee or one of their excellent burgers. They have a few seats inside for colder days.
Take a boat from the pier in front of the island to this boat club pizza joint on a summery day and enjoy a good pizza – they like to call them 'liuska's. Or try their other restaurant on Erottaja.
36 locals recommend
Ravintola Skiffer Liuskaluoto
Take a boat from the pier in front of the island to this boat club pizza joint on a summery day and enjoy a good pizza – they like to call them 'liuska's. Or try their other restaurant on Erottaja.
Neighbourhood place with decent food that fills in the evenings with locals.
30 locals recommend
LUNGI Kortteliravintola
2 a KorkeavuorenkatuNeighbourhood place with decent food that fills in the evenings with locals.
A Helsinki classic, with a vibe very reminiscent of movie director Aki Kaurismäki's films. Voted number one restaurant in Helsinki by Monocle Magazine. Very basic, very rough Finnish food.
97 locals recommend
Sea Horse
11 KapteeninkatuA Helsinki classic, with a vibe very reminiscent of movie director Aki Kaurismäki's films. Voted number one restaurant in Helsinki by Monocle Magazine. Very basic, very rough Finnish food.
Sis. Deli coffee shop on Korkeavuorenkatu offers also some take-away food.
13 locals recommend
SIS. Delicatessen Oy
6 a KorkeavuorenkatuSis. Deli coffee shop on Korkeavuorenkatu offers also some take-away food.
Hippest new bistro in town. Relaxed atmosphere, open from morning till late serving great breakfast, lunch and dinner.
27 locals recommend
The Cock
17 FabianinkatuHippest new bistro in town. Relaxed atmosphere, open from morning till late serving great breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Beautifully designed & relaxed restaurant & café in the recently renovated Old Market Hall. They serve lunch, burgers, sweets etc. A new addition this summer is a terrace that opens to the harbor.
41 locals recommend
Restaurant Story
EtelärantaBeautifully designed & relaxed restaurant & café in the recently renovated Old Market Hall. They serve lunch, burgers, sweets etc. A new addition this summer is a terrace that opens to the harbor.
Apart from their hugely popular Sunday brunch, Sandro offers a relaxed & tasty maroccan blend of foods. They are especially known for the effort they put in their vegetarian and vegan offer.
37 locals recommend
Sandro Eira
34 D TehtaankatuApart from their hugely popular Sunday brunch, Sandro offers a relaxed & tasty maroccan blend of foods. They are especially known for the effort they put in their vegetarian and vegan offer.
Best falafels in Helsinki. Very small place that spills out to the street, fafa's is perfect for a quick kebab of falafel, eaten there or in a nearby park.
49 locals recommend
Fafa's Iso Roba
2 Iso RoobertinkatuBest falafels in Helsinki. Very small place that spills out to the street, fafa's is perfect for a quick kebab of falafel, eaten there or in a nearby park.
One of the new generation of Cocktail bars in Helsinki, drawing their inspiration for the speak eases of Brooklyn.
39 locals recommend
Liberty or Death
5 ErottajankatuOne of the new generation of Cocktail bars in Helsinki, drawing their inspiration for the speak eases of Brooklyn.
Bit more upscale restaurant serving mediterranean food by the local celebrity chef Tomi Björk. Plates are shared and usually grouped in menus. You can also drop by for cocktail in the front bar.
24 locals recommend
Bronda
20 EteläesplanadiBit more upscale restaurant serving mediterranean food by the local celebrity chef Tomi Björk. Plates are shared and usually grouped in menus. You can also drop by for cocktail in the front bar.
Quality contemporary asian food by Tomi Björk in a nice setting, made for sharing. Book a table, expect to pay a bit more.
80 locals recommend
Ravintola Juuri
27 KorkeavuorenkatuQuality contemporary asian food by Tomi Björk in a nice setting, made for sharing. Book a table, expect to pay a bit more.
Best & hip döner in Helsinki, in the neighborhood of Kallio. The diner's are simple but different from the usual sort, with emphasis on good ingredients and side salads.
118 locals recommend
Döner Harju
23 FleminginkatuBest & hip döner in Helsinki, in the neighborhood of Kallio. The diner's are simple but different from the usual sort, with emphasis on good ingredients and side salads.
Beautiful restaurant set in an old artist studio with high ceilings founded by the hip Antto Melasniemi. Favorite of people. Dinner is a three course menu that changes daily. Book a table beforehand.
29 locals recommend
Ateljé Finne
14 ArkadiankatuBeautiful restaurant set in an old artist studio with high ceilings founded by the hip Antto Melasniemi. Favorite of people. Dinner is a three course menu that changes daily. Book a table beforehand.
Hip pizza restaurant founded by Antto Melasniemi. Roberta's from NYC is a distant reference. People from cultural backgrounds might end up here. Hosts the occasional DJ bar gig downstairs.
71 locals recommend
Putte's Bar and Pizza
6 KalevankatuHip pizza restaurant founded by Antto Melasniemi. Roberta's from NYC is a distant reference. People from cultural backgrounds might end up here. Hosts the occasional DJ bar gig downstairs.
Drinks & Nightlife
Sip shampagne in a beautiful setting, with views to the islands in front of Helsinki. Mattolaituri is packed with the wealthier sort of people on warm summer weekends.
70 locals recommend
Kaivopuiston Mattolaituri Oy
3 A EhrenströmintieSip shampagne in a beautiful setting, with views to the islands in front of Helsinki. Mattolaituri is packed with the wealthier sort of people on warm summer weekends.
Best nightclub in Helsinki, recognized internationally for the quality of their DJs, both domestic and international. Check the night's program beforehand. Part of a compex of three clubs/bars.
140 locals recommend
Kaiku
4 KaikukatuBest nightclub in Helsinki, recognized internationally for the quality of their DJs, both domestic and international. Check the night's program beforehand. Part of a compex of three clubs/bars.
Not a cafe but a bar, with a nightly program of DJs playing everything from house to raggae. Usually the busiest place on any given night. Part of a three club complex, people switch between places.
119 locals recommend
Onda
13 b HämeentieNot a cafe but a bar, with a nightly program of DJs playing everything from house to raggae. Usually the busiest place on any given night. Part of a three club complex, people switch between places.
Concert venue & club, bit older but recently renovated. Check concert program beforehand. Part of a three club complex, so people might start in one place, end up in a different place.
128 locals recommend
Kuudes linja
13 B HämeentieConcert venue & club, bit older but recently renovated. Check concert program beforehand. Part of a three club complex, so people might start in one place, end up in a different place.
Arts & Culture
Design Museum of Helsinki. Apart from the standing exhibition they always have a temporary exhibition. The institution has also opened up and hosts hip events on special occasions.
149 locals recommend
Design Museum Helsinki
23 KorkeavuorenkatuDesign Museum of Helsinki. Apart from the standing exhibition they always have a temporary exhibition. The institution has also opened up and hosts hip events on special occasions.
Kunsthalle of Helsinki, with temporary exhibitions worth the visit.
41 locals recommend
Kunsthalle Helsinki
3 NervanderinkatuKunsthalle of Helsinki, with temporary exhibitions worth the visit.
Everything Else
Beautiful island, spend the day on the beach or on the nordic cliffs next to sea. The island boasts a restaurant with old-school basic food.
49 locals recommend
Pihlajasaari
Beautiful island, spend the day on the beach or on the nordic cliffs next to sea. The island boasts a restaurant with old-school basic food.
Essentials
Alepa Ullanlinna
29 VuorimiehenkatuBasic groceries, open until late.
S-Market Kasarmitori
19 KasarmikatuBigger grocery store.
Quality organic groceries, fresh meat, fish and good bread selection.
25 locals recommend
Anton & Anton Ullanlinna
52-54 KapteeninkatuQuality organic groceries, fresh meat, fish and good bread selection.