Discover what’s new before everyone else:

Get our free on-the-go Nordic hotspot map!

The Nordic Nomad

Helsinki, Finland

The 2022 hot list: Helsinki’s 12 best new restaurants, bars and cafés

The Nordics • Eat & drink • The 2022 hot list: Helsinki’s 12 best new restaurants, bars and cafés

The full list of all-new Helsinki restaurants, bars and cafés for 2022

Do you want to know where to eat and drink in Helsinki, Finland, right now? Restaurant aficionados want to know what’s new, what’s popular, and where their favourite chefs have settled — and with a slew of highly anticipated debuts, there are more places to explore than ever before. We maintain a current list of all new Helsinki restaurants, bars, and cafés that have opened in the last year, conveniently divided down month by month so you can see exactly when they opened. Here is the complete guide to Helsinki’s newest, best and buzziest restaurants, bars and cafés.

November

8/11

Café Savoy

Finnish-born Helena Puolakka, chef patron for well-known Helsinki restaurant Savoy, wanted to create a happy, sunny spot to invite family and friends over for lunch. As a result, Café Savoy was born, a restaurant serving simple, delectable and attractive food made with seasonal ingredients and influenced by Southern French cuisine. Studio Joanna Laajisto designed its exquisite interior, which makes reference to the principles upon which Café Savoy is built: generosity, beauty, comfort and ease.

Café Savoy
Eteläesplanadi 14
Helsinki
Finland

Photography courtesy of Café Savoy

2/11

Bang Bang BBQ

Bang Bang BBQ
Urho Kekkosen katu 1 6. kerros
Helsinki
Finland

Photography courtesy of Bang Bang BBQ

September

10/9

XOXO

XOXO
Aallonhalkoja 5 B
Helsinki
Finland

Photography courtesy of XOXO

August

4/8

Sekel – permanently closed

At Sekel, Filip Langhoff and Linda Stenman-Langhoff seek to replicate the far-off Helsinki restaurant scene’s fare, wine, cocktails and ambiance. The 1920s and 1930s served as inspiration for the menu, wine list and cocktail menu. Beautifully updated classics can be found on the tasting menu as well as the à la carte menu. The restaurant offers sustainable wines from carefully chosen old-world producers, and the bar offers classic cocktails (including a wide selection of gins).

Sekel
Bulevardi 7
Helsinki
Finland

Photography courtesy of Sekel

3/8

Lulu’s

The minds behind Helsinki restaurant hit Yes Yes Yes, Richard McCormick and Alex Nieminen opened their new culinary adventure in 2022. Presenting Lulu’s, a vibrant, daring, and inspiring restaurant in the centre of Helsinki. McCormick has drawn heavily on Southeast Asian flavours when conceptualising the plant-forward menu, having spent a significant amount of time there as a child while also spending time in Thailand, the Philippines and Japan.

Lulu’s
Pohjoisesplanadi 17
Helsinki
Finland

Photography courtesy of Lulu’s

May

25/5

Nabi Korean BBQ

Nabi Korean BBQ
Eerikinkatu 14
Helsinki
Finland

Photography courtesy of Nabi Korean BBQ

10/5

Sanchome – permanently closed

Named after the little-known yet highly enjoyable Tokyo nightlife district Sanchōme, this restaurant and bar ups the game for the Finnish capital’s sushi and sashimi offering considerably. The brainchild of famed restauranteur and chef Tomi Björk, Sanchōme is split into three different gastronomic concepts on the ground floor of renowned historic property Hotel Kämp. There’s the Sanchōme restaurant and bar, as well as the exclusive Roku Omakase dining concept, which only seats six lucky guests per evening. Sanchōme was designed by local studio Franz.

Sanchome
Kluuvikatu 2
Helsinki
Finland

Photography courtesy of Sanchome

April

23/4

Kappeli

Kappeli, built in 1867 in the centre of Helsinki’s Esplanadi, was the place to be seen and heard during the Golden Age of Finnish Art. Its grandeur has largely been lost over the years. The restaurant underwent a much-needed renovation in 2022. The renovations, for which local firm Fyra was in charge of the interior design concept, were founded on drawing inspiration from the building’s original architecture and emphasising its distinctive cultural history. Today, Kappeli provides a distinctive dining experience that includes a bar, café, restaurant, outdoor terrace and new bakery.

Kappeli
Eteläesplanadi 1
Helsinki
Finland

Photography courtesy of Kappeli

1/4

Brasa

In the centre of Helsinki, close to Senate square, Brasa serves food that has been grilled over an open flame, including meat, fish, vegetables and seafood. Under the direction of head chef Taneli Korsiala, the kitchen only uses the finest ingredients every day, including fish from the chilly sea and locally produced vegetables and meat. The restaurant’s dry-aging process and open-fire grilling of the meat and fish elevates the flavours. The wine list is simply outstanding, and the cocktails made at the bar capture the savage spirit of the establishment.