During the “Edible Helsinki” weeks, the city’s diverse culinary culture will be highlighted through a hundred events.
Helsinki is gearing up for its first-ever “Edible Helsinki” weeks, a celebration of the city’s rich culinary culture scheduled from May 24 to June 16, 2024. This innovative food festival is the result of a collaborative effort among local restaurants, tourism bodies, and event organizers, aiming to highlight Helsinki’s gastronomic diversity through a hundred unique events.
The festival kicks off with a press event that offered a sneak peek into the planned activities and sparked discussions on Helsinki’s culinary innovations and restaurant culture.
Edible Helsinki events can be identified by stickers depicting Helsinki flavors. Photo: City of Helsinki / image processed illustration.
Helsinki is set to host its inaugural “Edible Helsinki” food weeks from May 24 to June 16, 2024, celebrating the city’s diverse culinary scene. Nearly a hundred events have been organized in collaboration between local restaurants, tourism bodies, and event organizers, offering something for everyone from fine dining aficionados to burger enthusiasts, and lovers of both traditional and ethnic cuisines.
The Helsinki-based Palace Restaurant won the first place in the Finland’s Best 50 Restaurants 2024 poll. Photo: Andres Teiss
In an impressive showcase of culinary excellence, Helsinki’s Palace Restaurant has been named the number one restaurant in Finland for the fifth year in a row, according to the 2024 edition of the “Finland’s Best 50 Restaurants” list. This prestigious accolade was awarded at the Gastro Helsinki fair, held at the Helsinki Expo and Convention Centre, highlighting Palace’s continued dominance in Finland’s gastronomic scene.
LEHTIKUVA
Beer is considered the best summertime brewery beverage, with light lager being the top choice for a summer beer. Mineral water takes second place as the best summer drink. The popularity of hard seltzers, which secured third place, is rapidly growing. These findings come from a survey conducted by the Finnish Breweries Association and the Beverage Industry Association.
Running until August 27th, the Torikorttelit summer terrace, created by well-known restaurateurs Mikko Leisti from Sofia Helsinki, Ville Tikkanen from Valkoinen sali, and Sami Benamed from Via Tribunal and Son of a Punch, will offer a delightful array of food and drink concepts to visitors.
The restaurant concepts will feature high-quality seasonal ingredients, classic flavors, and the latest food trends.
A summer terrace for the restaurants of Torikorttelit will be built on the side of Senate Square in July. Photo: Camilla Bloom, Helsinki City Spaces Ltd.
The restaurant operators of Torikorttelit are joining forces to open a summer terrace on the side of Senate Square in July. The terrace will feature four different restaurant concepts, offering a variety of summer food and drink options. With a seating capacity of 410, the terrace aims to bring a vibrant atmosphere to the heart of Helsinki.
The initiative to establish the summer terrace on Senate Square has been met with enthusiasm from Torikorttelit’s restaurant operators.
Miika Lönn, Hans Välimäki and Arto Rastas also run the restaurant on Kluuvikatu, Bistro Bardot.
Hans Välimäki and Arto Rastas, together with their team, are set to open two new restaurants in the heart of Helsinki in the autumn of 2023. The new Italian “bistro” and the British-inspired gastropub will emphasize seafood and game dishes. The Italian Bistro Gina will open its doors at Korkeavuorenkatu 34 in early September, serving customers from Monday to Saturday. Bistro Gina will be a casual and informal bistro-brasserie, serving seasonally inspired and high-quality Italian classics.
Restaurant Palace, located on the southern shore of Helsinki was chosen as Finland’s best restaurant for the fourth consecutive time. Photo: Andres Teiss
Ravintola Palace in Helsinki has been named Finland’s best restaurant for the fourth consecutive year. The restaurant industry professionals voted Palace as the winner of Finland’s 50 Best Restaurants list. BasBas from Helsinki was ranked second, and Kaskis from Turku was third.
All of the top 10 restaurants on the list were located in Helsinki, including Bistro Bardot, Vinkkeli, Luovuus kukkii kaaoksesta, Savoy, Grön, Café Savoy, and Alexanderplats.
Dishes by Savotta restaurant.
It may be a surprise how exotic and varied the food in Helsinki can actually be. If you do end up taking a trip here, you will be umming and scratching your head on what cuisine to single out for yourself. But finding a great place to dine should not be a gamble, but an informed decision. Here are a few tips and suggestions to start with.
There is good news for those Helsinki residents who have missed the Lebanese restaurant Farouge. The owners have re-opened the legendary restaurant in a new location. The new Farouge located in Fabianinkatu 9 on the street level of Hotel Fabian is now much bigger and fancier, but with the same old warmth of service and quality food as before.
Founders Viviane and Aki Kallio are well known to many of their regular customers from their old restaurant in Yrjön St.
