Today, I would like to tell you something about being a foodie traveller high up North. You might be tempted to think: Will it really be tasty and focused on food there, when a visit to the high North is mostly marked (and marketed) by the great outdoors, magic landscapes, wild territories?
The capital city of Finland, Helsinki, is refreshingly different though. My taste buds tingle to the surprising varieties of spicy salmon, fresh fish, heart-warming soups and great craft beers. Even – or especially – now during winter.
“HappyGuideHelsinki offer a so-called Food Walk that I can really recommend. The owner, Karri, is a great and inspiring person: I hope you’ll meet him!”, my Finnish friend Eva tells me. As I am contacting HappyGuideHelsinki, I am referred to Daniela, who as an Austrian has been living in Helsinki for more than two years now. I could not have imagined a better guide to spend this two hour food tour through Helsinki with: Both of us keep going back and forth between an official tour and some easy talking among friends, all the while tasting the great variety of present-day, Nordic cuisine here in Helsinki. Check this out.
Off we go on our Food Walk with Happy Guide Helsinki in the Old Market Hall right by the sea of Helsinki …
… where we start off by tasting local cheeses …
… reindeer (!) salami …
… as well as fresh, fresher, freshest! fish!
Love this tasty, spicy salmon we find here! My favourite on that morning tour.
More fish for you ..?
Or some more veggies, happily grown in the green houses of wintery Finland …
… because locally grown veggies …
… as well as the surroundings boast a little less colour during wintertime. However, a word of respect here: These market people selling souvenirs withstand the cold of about -3C ..!
Time for a little chocolate, then. …!
Daniela takes me here knowingly …
… a long-time convert to the delights of Finnish Fazer chocolate.!
Walking next to her, she also fills me in on the curious architecture of Finnish Art Nouveau …
… before visiting her favourite small, local shop offering a huge craft beer selection in the back!
A few streets on, we visit a true liquorish paradise!
That’s if you like liquorish … The Finnish eat it with lots of salt (!) too …!
My real favourite among all the tips presented as part of this Food Walk with HappyGuideHelsinki has been the market hall with its funny-sounding Finnish name “Kauppahalli”. It is located only a few minutes’ walk from our hotel, Indigo Hotel Helsinki at the Boulevard street of downtown Helsinki. During the day, “Kaupahalli” is a (centrally heated!) paradise for families and food shoppers of all sorts, while turning into a funky nighttime place each Saturday: A live DJ adds some music, there is wine, beer, burger and many things more. Very cool indeed: My Helsinki travel tip for you!
Off we go on our way to “Kauppahalli” in Helsinki …
… our meeting point for food lover people of all kind.
At the end of my Food Walk with Daniela, we take a vitamin shot here …
… wetting our appetite to this hearty soup from a place called “Soup Kitchen”.
Or would you rather choose the all-time Finnish favourite: Salmon on rye bread?
Besides all the food, Helsinki of course offers more cool things to do. For a Sunday brunch, I can recommend you head to the popular Café Tin Tin Tango in the city’s Töölö district, right next to the sea with its equally popular Regatta Café. Helsinki with its large main streets and wide open alleys, easily lends itself to a happy city stroll too: I love the fact you always meet either the sea or a park in this city. Must make a point of coming back in the summer, then!
Walking by the market hall of Helsinki …
… with a view of elk or reindeer statues …
… as well as cool fatbikes for the even cooler young people of Helsinki!
For accommodation, I can recommend you to stay at Hotel Indigo Helsinki …
… as well as heading to restaurant “La Famiglia” for dinner: Their beetroot and goat cheese burger is simply sensational ..!
Helsinki, I’ll be back for more warmth & sunshine !!!
Looking for even more images from my trip to Lapland & Helsinki? Here they are. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: We have been invited by VisitFinland on this trip to Lapland & Helsinki. All opinions are my own.