Helsinki, Finland

Sanchome –
– permanently closed

The Nordics • Eat & drink • Sanchōme in Helsinki, Finland

What’s the restaurant in a nutshell?

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.

What are the signature dishes?

In the sophisticated restaurant, guests are served an extensive variety of Japanese dishes – sushi and sashimi are naturally present on the menu, which also features robata, tempura and otsumami (the Japanese term for snacks and simple dishes eaten alongside alcohol). At 18.30 every night, six guests are seated at the sushi bar for the Roku Omakase dining experience. Here, the chef serves up a series of approximately 20 smaller dishes of their choice – previously, the menu has included scallop sashimi with truffles, spicy prawn miso soup, pork chawanmushi, crab royal with wasabi emulsion and a yuzu cheesecake.

Drinks, anyone?

Kick back and relax in Sanchōme’s stylish bar area, where the cocktail menu features an impressive list of signature cocktails. The Soba Sour, Sanchōme’s liberal interpretation of a Whisky Sour, consists of Soba cognac, apricot brandy and oolong orgeat syrup. The bar even has its very own Junmai Ginjo sake, which is produced in the Kochi region in southern Japan, as well as a house gin.

What’s the neighbourhood like?

Helsinki’s commercial centre Kluuvi is blessed with a fascinating array of architectural styles, including some fine neo-romantic buildings. The district’s smart boulevards are lined with chic restaurants and upscale shopping, and the two major department stores Stockmann and Sokos are found here. This is also where Helsinki’s art nouveau Central Station, the Ateneum art museum, the National Theatre, the Kaisa House and many buildings belonging to the University of Helsinki are. The Kaisaniemi Park and the Kaisaniemi Botanic Garden are the lungs of Kluuvi.