Finland’s 50 best restaurants in 2023 were announced earlier in the year. Among the 400 voters were restaurateurs, chefs, journalists, and people from the food industry, which are considered the most significant restaurant list in Finland. Together, they concluded the list, which includes restaurants with Michelin Stars, Green Stars, Bib Gourmand and other special titles.
The Nordic countries have been among the most important culinary trendsetters and Finland’s certainly one of the most influential ones. According to Visit Finland, Finns are known as leaders and innovators when it comes to gastronomy. Finnish cuisine, like its Nordic neighbours, is centred around nature and its elements. In real Finnish cuisine, the ingredients are from local suppliers. They get their fish straight from the Finnish water and fresh produce from the local fields and forests.
The jury has spoken: Restaurant Palace in Helsinki is once again Finland’s number one restaurant. Restaurant Palace has ranked first place for four years, receiving roughly a third of the votes since they started ranking the restaurants in Finland. It has been a busy couple of months for the two-Michelin Star restaurant. Other than maintaining their two-Michelin Star status in 2023, Eero Vottonen, head chef of Palace, was a part of the tasting jury for Bocuse d’Or 2023, which took place in Lyon back in January.
Besides being highlighted on the list of Finland’s 50 best restaurants, some also received prestigious awards, the world-famous Michelin Stars and Green Stars. In this year’s Michelin Guide Nordic, Palace, Finland’s best restaurant, maintains its 2-star status. Olo, number 12 on the list, maintained their Michelin Star status and finally, Nolla, number 17 on the list, received both a Bib Gourmand and a Michelin Green Star.
Nolla, number 17 on the list of Finland’s best restaurants in 2023, received a Michelin Green Star. The Michelin Green Star is awarded to restaurants that are at the forefront of the business when it comes to their sustainable practices. Nolla is undoubtedly among the frontrunners in the efforts towards a more sustainable future in the culinary world.
Other than serving good food, Nolla, which is located in Finland’s capital, Helsinki, is the first zero-waste restaurant in the North. This means that the restaurant operates without trash bags, plastic packaging, no cling film, no vacuum bags, and no foil. Moreover, the menu is carefully created to maximize the use of ingredients. If it so happens that there are leftovers, they’ll be composted in-house. Before doing so, each waste item is weighed and then sent to waste management software to improve Nolla’s everyday practices.
Zero-waste practices are still a rare thing in this line of business. However, the owners, Albert, Carlos, and Luka, hope that it’ll become so normal in the hospitality business that Nolla one day will just be referred to as any other restaurant. But for now, Nolla’s efforts are acknowledged with the Michelin Green Star and it remains a restaurant that can inspire restaurants that wish to embark on the green journey.
Other than appearing on the list of Finland’s best restaurants in 2023, both Savoy and Cafe Savoy also received new titles and awards. The head chef of Savoy, Helena Puolakka, was awarded the title of Professional’s Professional at the March Spring Fair in Helsinki. It’s been her ambition to create experiences that respect the history of Savoy but feel inspiring and relevant in the 2020s. Savoy’s food is Finnish-French, with a slight Russian touch. Café Savoy, which is located in Helsinki, was named the Newcomer of the Year.
1) Palace, Helsinki
2) BasBas, Helsinki
3) Kaskis, Turku
4) Bistro Bardot, Helsinki
5) Vinkkeli, Helsinki
6) Luovuus kukkii kaaoksesta, Helsinki
7) Savoy, Helsinki
8) Grön, Helsinki
9) Café Savoy, Helsinki
10) Alexanderplats, Helsinki
11) Boulevard Bar & Seafood, Helsinki
12) Olo, Helsinki
13) Finnjävel Salonki & Sali, Helsinki
14) Kuurna, Helsinki
15) Muru, Helsinki
16) Bona Fide, Helsinki
17) Nolla, Helsinki
18) Kajo, Tampere
19) Brasa, Helsinki
20) Demo, Helsinki
21) Mami, Turku
22) Smör, Turku
23) Pastis, Helsinki
24) Elm, Helsinki
25) Mat Distrikt, Helsinki
26) SicaPelle, Porvoo
27) Wellamo, Helsinki
28) Ravinteli Huber, Tampere
29) Nokka, Helsinki
30) Paulette, Helsinki
31) Kosmos, Helsinki
32) Albina, Helsinki
33) Hella ja Huone, Tampere
34) Aito, Helsinki
35) Aanaar, Inari
36) Kortteliravintola Ego, Helsinki
37) Kakolanruusu, Turku
38) Vår, Porvoo
39) Fiasco?, Helsinki
40) Bistro O Mat Tapiola, Espoo
41) LiV, Tampere
42) Ravinteli Bertha, Tampere
43) Lily Lee, Helsinki
44) Plein, Helsinki
45) Spis, Turku
46) Apaja, Tampere
47) Roux, Lahti
48) Ragu, Helsinki
49) Paakari, Kangasala
50) Viinibaari Apotek, Helsinki
