Helsinki

A zero-waste pioneer practising nose-to-tail cooking, with an ever-changing menu of freshwater fish and game from regional hunters. Thoughtful and inventive.

An art-and-design hotel anchored by an Ai Weiwei sculpture in the lobby, with oak-and-Artek rooms and a homely feel. A magnet for creatives and well-heeled locals.

A 1924 classic still in family hands, serving traditional Finnish fare like vorschmack amid white tablecloths and period detail. A favourite of local artists and Kaurismäki films.

Two storied Finnish design houses sharing a flagship, with glass and ceramics shaped by legends like Kaj Franck and Timo Sarpaneva. A cornerstone of Finnish design.

The heritage house behind bold prints like the Unikko poppy, its fabrics still printed in Helsinki. Recently streamlined under creative director Rebekka Bay.

The 1934 home and studio of Alvar and Aino Aalto, kept virtually unchanged since his death. A guided-tour pilgrimage for lovers of Finnish modernism.

A menswear label of elegant, practical staples in neutral tones, from organic-cotton shirts to merino trousers. Pieces that bridge formal and casual with ease.

Finland's national gallery, with a 30,000-work collection spanning the 18th century to modernism, including Gallen-Kallela and Schjerfbeck alongside Van Gogh and Cézanne.

A 1914 market hall of greengrocers, butchers, bakers and fishmongers, with standouts like the cheeses from Lentävä Lehmä. A fine stop for Finnish produce.

A striking museum carved beneath Lasipalatsi square, its domed skylights surfacing in a public park above. Ambitious shows from artists like Ryoji Ikeda fill the cavernous halls.

A modernist island retreat on the Helsinki-Espoo border, with Svenskt Tenn upholstery, Kukkapuro chairs and Baltic views. A serene weekend getaway with a pool overlooking the archipelago.

A 1950s time capsule serving Finnish classics like fried Baltic herring and pyttipannu, under vintage Paavo Tynell lights and stained glass. Cosy and characterful.

A two-Michelin-star restaurant with a seafood-led seasonal tasting menu and a top-floor view over the historic harbour. One of Finland's finest tables.

A New Nordic restaurant built on foraging and fermentation, with herbs and mushrooms gathered from local forests. A refined return of Finnish cuisine to its roots.

The city's most celebrated public sauna, set by the sea with an authentic smoke sauna and the option of a bracing Baltic dip. Busy on weekend evenings.

A century-old bar of dinner jackets and evening gowns, restored in 2025 with neoclassical columns, mahogany and marble. Order the signature Kämp punch highball.

A concept shop linking Japan and Finland, stocking labels like Engineered Garments and Karhu alongside magazines such as Apartamento. Founded by a Tokyo transplant in 2007.

A formal institution designed by Aino and Alvar Aalto, where Marshal Mannerheim's favourite vorschmack still features. His corner table remains in the dining room.

An 1887 grande dame of marble, brass and fin-de-siècle splendour, long a meeting place for Finland's influential figures. Old-world service balanced by a modern spa.