Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Finnish-Themed Dining: Tractors and Lapp Cuisine
(See “Central Helsinki Hotels & Restaurants” map, here .)
Zetor, the self-proclaimed traktor restaurant, mercilessly lampoons Finnish
rural culture and cuisine (while celebrating it deep down). Sit next to a cow-
crossing sign at a tractor-turned-into-a-table, in a “Finnish Western” atmo-
sphere reminiscent of director Aki Kaurismäki's movies. For lunch or din-
ner, main courses run €14-20 and include reindeer, vendace (small freshwater
fish), and less exotic fare. This place, while touristy and tacky, can be fun. It
gets loud after 20:00 when the dance floor gets going (daily 12:00-24:00, 200
yards north of Stockmann department store, across street from McDonald's at
Mannerheimintie 3-5, tel. 010-766-4450).
Lappi Restaurant is a fine place for Lapp cuisine, with an entertaining
menu (they smoke their own fish) and creative decor that has you thinking
you've traveled north and lashed your reindeer to the hitchin' post. The
friendly staff serves tasty Sami dishes in a snug and very woody atmosphere.
Dinner reservations are strongly recommended (€23-39 main courses, Mon-
Fri 12:00-24:00, Sat 13:00-24:00, closed Sun, off Bulevardi at Annankatu 22,
tel. 09/645-550).
Venerable Esplanade Cafés
(See “Central Helsinki Hotels & Restaurants” map, here .)
Highly competitive restaurants line the sunny north side of the Es-
planade—offering enticing and creative lunch salads and light meals in their
cafés (with fine sidewalk seating), plush sofas for cocktails in their bars, and
fancy restaurant dining upstairs.
Teatterin Grilli, next to the landmark Swedish Theater, has fine, park-side
seating indoors and out. Order a salad from the café counter (€9 with bread,
choose two meats or extras to add to crispy base, Caesar salad option). The
long cocktail bar is popular with office workers yet comfortable for baby-
boomer tourists; there's also a dressy restaurant (café counter open Mon-Sat
11:00-20:00, June-mid-Aug Sun 11:00-20:00, closed Sun off-season, at the
top of the Esplanade, Pohjoisesplanadi 2, tel. 09/6128-5000).
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