Helsinki’s Top spots
Gay karaoke or pike pizza? The Finnish capital certainly knows how to surprise.
Helsinki is the Scandinavian capital that feels both the most exotic and the most modern. Alvar Aalto’s modernist architecture and design mix with Finnish tango and karaoke, while the Finns themselves are renowned for being both austere and futuristic.
It’s a capital city you can discover time and again, with a proud cultural tradition and an exciting—somewhat undiscovered—food scene. Here’s our guide to Helsinki’s top picks.
THREE HIP RESTAURANTS... AND A BAR
Local delicacies and art
Ateljé Finne
Gunnar Finne was a sculptor and architect and it’s in his old studio that you’ll find yourself dining at Ateljé Finne. The food here draws inspiration from traditional Finnish flavors but with a modern, playful flair. Dishes include fermented potatoes with sour cream and rum and a reindeer steak with Madeira sauce. Everything is enjoyed in the gorgeous venue, surrounded by Finne’s artwork.
Great pizza
Pontus
For those who have never tried smoked pike pizza, a visit to the lively Pontus—a neighborhood restaurant in Ullanlinna—is not to be missed. Gluten-free options are available here and it is of course possible to order something less unorthodox, like a classic margherita, washed down with crisp, natural wines or Finnish pale ale.
Small dishes to die for
Bona Fide
At Bona Fide, you’ll eat a menu of four or six dishes from a constantly updated and uncomplicated menu. Dishes like marinated eggplant with grape vinaigrette and shiso cucumber salad or grilled venison with spicy kale relish have given the restaurant a well-earned reputation for making well-prepared, affordable food with great care taken when it comes to the ingredients.
Karaoke with the LGBTQ community
Mann’s Street Gay Karaoke Bar
Karaoke is deadly serious in Finland. It was here in 2003 that the World Karaoke Championships were born, and the country has thousands of karaoke bars. At the same time, this is where you’ll find Finns at their warmest and friendliest. The LGBTQ community has its own karaoke bars, like Mann’s Street, where drag queens and illustrations by Tom of Finland welcome you.
SIGHTS, ART AND SAUNAS
Finland’s national artist
Gallen-Kallelan Museo
If there’s an artist who feels almost welded to the Finnish national soul, it is Akseli Gallen-Kallela. His scenes for the national epic Kalevala are some of his most famous works, but it was in the late 19th and early 20th centuries that he quickly became Finland’s most important artist. His house and studio in Espoo, outside Helsinki, is now a museum that showcases some of his works.
National gallery
Ateneum
The Ateneum, Finland’s national gallery, collects the most important works of Finnish art, besides Akseli Gallen-Kallela (don’t miss the painting Lemminkäinen’s Mother from 1897) you will also find important painters like Albert Edelfelt and Helene Schjerfbeck. The Ateneum was also the first museum in the world to include a painting by Vincent Van Gogh in its collection in 1903, and you can also enjoy paintings by Amedeo Modigliani and Edvard Munch.
Modern art gallery
Helsinki Contemporary
Helsinki has a young and vibrant art scene, and if you want great modern Finnish art, head to Helsinki Contemporary, where there are regular noteworthy art exhibitions. Finnish superstars like Elina Brotherus and newer names like Artor Jesus Inkerö get to showcase their new work—just check out what’s on when you’re in town.
Restaurant and sauna in one
Löyly
Sauna culture is important in Finland and Helsinki has several large sauna facilities that are open to everyone, and others where a booking is needed. Löyly is one where you need to make a reservation, but then you also get an extraordinary experience as it is also a restaurant with a sea view. Here you can sit in a wood-fired sauna or a traditional smoke sauna followed by a drink and a rentataki. During the summer months, the restaurant is self-service and has a summer menu.
Underground church
Temppeliaukion kirkko
One of Helsinki’s most visited buildings—and there’s stiff competition, it has to be said—is the Temple Square Church, a church carved into a cliff. One tip is to book a ticket for a concert here, as the rough stone walls of the venue produce special acoustics and you get a visually fascinating experience at the same time.
DESIGNER SHOPPING AND BOUTIQUE LIVING
Contemporary Finnish design
Klaus Haapaniemi & Co.
You’re bound to visit Marimekko, Iittala and Artek during your stay in Helsinki, but our tip is to pay a visit to Klaus Haapaniemi & Co., located at Kämp Galleria. Haapaniemi is an example of how a younger generation of designers have abandoned functional minimalism and instead create geometric, colorful and organic patterns that can be found on everything from clothing to cushions and wallpaper.
Playful decor and the best bar in Finland
Hotel F6
The Runar hotel bar has been named Finland’s best bar and for those who like a drink at their hotel, the centrally located boutique Hotel F6 is a reason in itself. Designed by Jaakko Puro, the interior is playful and chic with blend of colors, shapes and old and new.
Text by Daniel Björk