Helsinki is gaining reputation as a culinary destination thanks to vibrant businesses and passionate professionals. Successful restaurant businesses enhance the city’s reputation and attract tourists interested in the city’s restaurant offerings to explore Helsinki further afield.
“Food tourism is a growing trend worldwide and it is important that Helsinki keeps up with the competition. In addition, the indirect effects of food tourism, such as tax revenues and employment, are significant,” says City of Helsinki’s Business Liaison Jukka-Pekka Tolvanen.
Helsinki is investing in food tourism and supporting businesses in the industry by developing the city’s operating environment. From the restaurant industry’s point of view, this means, for example, good licensing and zoning practices and accessibility of restaurants. When the city works well and systematically, businesses also have the opportunity to develop and express their creativity.
Helsinki celebrates success in national food tourism competition and gains a new Michelin-starred restaurant
The success of Helsinki restaurants has been particularly impressive during the early autumn, as the success of restaurant businesses has been measured in both national and international competitions. In September, the city’s reputation was enhanced by the Michelin-starred Finnjävel Salonki, which became the seventh restaurant in Helsinki to earn a Michelin star. Meanwhile, forest restaurant Nielu in Nuuksio, Espoo, won the Finnish Food Tourism Contest.
The award gala of the Finnish Food Tourism Contest, held on 16 September in the ballroom of Helsinki City Hall, was a success for the Katajanokka restaurant Nokka as well. Restaurant Nokka and the menu they developed received a prestigious honourable mention in the competition as an outstanding food tourism achievement.
This week brought international attention to Finnish restaurant expertise. At the end of September, the world’s best chefs were able to showcase their skills at the internationally renowned Bocuse d’Or gastronomic competition in Lyon, France. Finland was also represented in the competition. The national team’s training kitchen is located in Helsinki.
Participation in international restaurant competitions is important both for Helsinki and for Finland as a whole. The City of Helsinki will continue to invest in developing the operating environment for the restaurant industry so that businesses in the industry have the best possible conditions to succeed in the future.
Together with restaurants, professionals and an interesting culture, Helsinki has an excellent opportunity to become an even greater culinary destination.
More information:
- Restaurant Nokka(Link leads to external service)
- Forest restaurant Nielu(Link leads to external service)
- Finnjävel Salonki(Link leads to external service)
- Bocuse d'Or(Link leads to external service)
Image: Kasarmitori Summer was Helsinki’s new culinary destination for
summer 2021. It attracted over 300,000 visitors during the summer. (Camilla Bloom)