Eating in Helsinki

Helsinki was our starting waypoint for our Finland travels two years ago and some ten years ago. Restaurants come and go.

During our first trip we asked our Finnish guide of Swedish heritage to recommend his favorite Helsinki restaurant. His response? The Santa Fe Restaurant. It's still in business: http://www.santafe.fi/?lang=en

We arrived back in Helsinki Easter Sunday. The only restaurant that we could get a table for Easter Sunday dinner was a Chinese restaurant. But the Russian Bellevue Restaurant was still offering their special Easter dinner the Monday after Easter and it was worth the day's wait. http://restaurantbellevue.com/en/

Deli lunch at the Stockmann department store on Floor 2A. https://info.stockmann.com/info/tavaratalot/stockmann-in-brief/departments-in-helsinki-city-center/

Our hotel was on Katajanokka Island for the start and finish of our last trip to Finland two years ago. The Chinese restaurant was convenient and modestly priced. The locals appeared to enjoy the "buffet" offering but we ordered off the menu. http://furumacuisine.fi/#/main

PS We eat to travel, not travel to eat., the Russian Easter meal being the exception.

DW and I were amazed to find that Helsinki has several Nepalese restaurants. We ate at one that had excellent food for reasonable prices (which were a very pleasant surprise in that city). Unfortunately I can't remember the name--nowadays we write down things like that--but if you like Indian-type food, you could check out some menus on the net.

Edit: It may have been Ravintola Aangan (Hietalahdenkatu 8, Helsinki). This is in the area I remember, and it is well-reviewed.

Yes, I was surprised by the number of Nepalese restaurants in Helsinki - there seems to be a mini-community. But I ate well in several of them.

Several people recommended Santa Fe to me but it looked like a run-of-the-mill Tex Mex place, not what I wanted in Helsinki!

My most memorable & tasty meal was done freshly grilled fish with potatoes and veg from one of the market stalls near where the boats leave for Suomlina - oh, I’m sure it’s got a few more syllables.