From the owner: Scandinavian Cuisine in unique historical surroundings.read more

There's not many places where you can sit dockside in the refurbished brick ruins of a 300 year old…read morenavy base on an island in the Baltic. Add to that some delicious food and drinks and you create something special. Out of the group I was with everyone enjoyed their meal. I had a salad that seemed to have every random thing you would or could put on it... And strangely it worked. There were two kinds of cheeses, four kinds of lettuce, three kinds of fruit, olives, nuts, artichokes and a bunch of other stuff I couldn't keep track of. Each bite was different but somehow didn't over stimulate my taste buds. If you make it to the islands of Suomenlinna, the place is still hard to find (over the bridge across from the museum and on the north side of the drydock) but worth the journey.

We had an early lunch in Valimo earlier this month on a visit to Suomenlinna. Sharing the terrace…read moreby the little marina with a few local and visiting boaty types we felt comfortable and were made very welcome by the restaurant staff. Since it was not the hottest of summer days the waitress fixed us up with a couple of blankets to stave of the chill. I noticed there was a wood burning sauna and shower facilities for those visiting by boat. The food arrived in good time. My option was the meat dish of the day consisting of a succulent pork belly with creamy mashed potatoes and seasonal vegetables. I was impressed with the dish, everything was cooked and seasoned perfectly and tasted fresh and delicious. My lunch companion enjoyed the pyttipannu 'with a twist'. This dish was a pan fried mixture of potatoes and pork prepared in a Dijon sauce served with a fried egg on top. As I remember we were around 35 euros for lunch and a couple of non alcoholic drinks. This I felt was reasonable given the quality of the food and surroundings.

Okay, so you're in Helsinki for a few days on one of those allowed stopovers while in transit and…read moreyou look at the few things you must do. One of them is to see Suomenlinna. This is a small cluster of islands that have a fortress and sit toward the entrance of the city's impressive natural harbor. I walked up to the ticket booth and thought: "extra cost" item. Not. The ferry ride was included in the 3 day transit pass I bought, with the last day intended to get to the airport. Cafe' Vanille on Suomenlinna was in at least one guide book or list. It was quirky looking in the photos in the guide books and on line. The name sounds more French than Finnish and, based on some of the baked goods, that very well might be intentional. Three French girls (young women ... to appease the feminists) visiting the area were seated at an adjacent table and seemed to be enjoying their drinks and pastries. The pink clapboard coffeehouse with some seating inside as well as an outdoor covered patio was as trippy as it was in the tour books. You really want to go in and see what this funky place might be like. Inside, one finds coffees, teas, specialty coffees, baked goods, and even some light fare and sandwiches. There is a kitchen for that reason. Just to get warmed up and justify going in, I got a cup of hot tea and a bakery item. The prices were Helsinki prices, thus a tad bit more than at a stateside chain. The service was friendlier than what I saw at the Finnish chain coffeehouses in the city proper. The interior is indeed quirky and shows that the proprietors are having fun and have a sense of humor. The only demerits might be that the interior is slightly cramped and that, since it's on Suomenlinna, which I believe means "Finnish fortress" and has a touristy aspect, its prices might be slightly higher. However, for Cafe Vanille's tasty offerings and the cordial service, braving the ferry crossing on a blustery day when there were a few inches of packed snow on the ground was worth it. The ferry ride is also very scenic and is recommended, and a coffeehouse is an ideal way to celebrate your arrival to this small island archipelago fronting the harbor.

Lovely coffee. The chicken on the chicken Caesar salad was delicious. The romaine was crisp. I…read morethink the cheese was probably quite good, too, underneath it all. Unfortunately, while a Caesar dressing may be many things - salty, sour, peppery, umami- the one thing it should never ever be is sweet. And the lettuce and cheese were drowning in the sweet dressing, so there was no escape. Restaurant would definitely get another star if it didn't dump sugar in what should have been a safe refuge from sugar.

This is a bomb-a$$ brewery. These brews are very well made and flawless. Seriously. And the…read moreappetizers are very good. Free bread and butter for patrons. If you're a beer geek and on Suomenlinna you MUST come here. Super chill and knowledgeable staff too.

The excellent traditional soup! Enjoy the art environment in the coffee shop.read more

Absolutely the best food I've had in Helsinki from an Australian! Pizza, soup, burger, salads! My…read morefussy daughter ate everything

Four of us tried to have lunch outside on Wed July 12. We were ignored most of the time. We were…read morenot served our lunch for 90 minutes. We had to ask two different times for them to check on our food. No one ever came to see how we were doing or how we enjoyed our food. They didn't bother to give us napkins. Many others groups came, ordered, were served and left before we ever got out food! The food was alright. They are not set up for people with some food allergies. It was quite a nice place to sit, as there were wires above to keep the birds away and plenty of shade.

Excellent service and food. The atmosphere is cozy and upscale. I cannot say enough about the…read moredishes. All were very good - not a single misstep. Cannot say that very often.

What an absolutely wonderful dining experience. It is obvious that the staff work together and…read moreenjoy presenting unique and interesting flavors.

A high-quality restaurant in a former jail makes this place a unique experience. The building…read moreserves now as a hotel. The lunch was of high quality with a salad bar, creamy soup, couple of main course options (beet and halloum cheese steaks, and chicken), and dessert coffee or tea. Such a fascinating environment - many photos and items indicating the original use - combined with friendly service and decent price for the quality make this a recommended destiny.

Wonderful restaurant located on the ground level of Hotel Katajanokka. The service was wonderful…read moreand their dinner recommendations were exactly as described. I tried arctic char for the first time - wild from Norway. The fish itself looks similar to a salmon. It was cooked perfectly and was very delicious and complimented the white wine perfectly. I also had a mushroom pasta the following night which was creamy goodness. The restaurant also serves an all you can eat breakfast that's wonderful. It's a beautiful combination of continental and traditional. Wonderful service and hospitality. I will be back the next time I'm in Finland!

How I miss Sunday afternoon having a pint of beer or two at the Sea Horse, a.k.a. Sikala. Their…read morecabbage rolls were also some of the best I've ever had! Funny, the first time I went there (when smoking was permitted inside) I thought it was one of the most depressing places, where serious drinkers drink seriously, but then I realized the beauty of this iconic Helsinki institution and made it a regular place for me and my friends to drink when in Ullanlinna. Do they finally have waitresses that can speak English? Did they finally update the men's room in disrepair? (My grandmother, 82 at the time, said she liked the place since the ladies room was well kept.) All these things I'll have to find out on my next trip to Helsinki.

Very old style, traditional Finn meals. I enjoyed pan seared Herring, lots of food. Decent, a tad…read morepricey. Very good service.

Great use of local ingridents, good selection of wines and good service. The dishes left me wishing…read morefor more, the final touch and finesse was missing. Cozy setting, beautiful location.

Perfect lunch on a sunny day at the terrace. Service is great and the food is fresh and tasty…read more These guys know how to cook fish.