Skye Gilkeson

Perusing fresh produce at Market Square, Helsinki. Image © Skye Gilkeson

A culinary introduction to food in Helsinki

Our first stop on our Helsinki food tour was an unexpected one; the food hall at Stockmann, on the lower level of the department store.

Stockmann

It’s there Heather showed us the basics of the typical Finnish weekly shop.

From heavy rye bread to Karelian pasties (a traditional Finnish dish made with a rye base and filled with rice or other fillings), Muikkukukko (bread filled with small smoked whitefish) to the prepackaged horse and reindeer meat (we’re told both are only eaten on occasion).

Of course, there are staples we would expect in any supermarket like fresh fruit and vegetables and a small organic foods section.

Our first tasting for the day felt appropriately fishy, given we were in a part of the world famous for its fishing waters.

We tried prawns and salmon with a hint of dill. It was a great way to whet the palate for two people who often start the day with fresh salmon, as we do.

Sliced horse meat for sale in the Stockmann Food Hall, Helsinki. Image © Skye Gilkeson

Tasting of fresh prawns, salmon with dill in the Stockmann Food Hall, Helsinki. Image © Skye Gilkeson

Alko

Like its Scandinavian neighbours, the Finnish government controls the sale of alcohol, so it’s not as easy as heading to your local liquor shop or convenience store to pick up a bottle of wine.

The Finnish have to buy their alcohol from Alko and it comes at a heavier cost than you might be used to.

We wandered through the immaculately ordered Alko store in the city centre.

It was great to see some Australian wines on the shelves (albeit at very high prices) and to have a little break from food before we rolled on to lunch.

Rosemary sausage with mustard and sauerkraut at Bryggeri Helsinki. Image © Skye Gilkeson

Helsinki Bryggeri

A brewery seemed an appropriate lunch stop in our list of must-try food in Helsinki.

We found ourselves sitting in a beautifully sunny beer garden at Helsinki Bryggeri . A rosemary sausage with sauerkraut, mustard and a flight of local craft beers? Yes, please!

We worked our way through the board of beers with the help of the breweries tasting notes. 

A flight of delicious local beers at Bryggeri Helsinki. Image © Skye Gilkeson

Vanha Kauppahalli

Vanha Kauppahalli, the Old Market Hall first opened its doors in 1889.

The facade looks as it would have all those years ago, but inside no doubt, the choice is much more varied. Whatever your stomach desires, you can find it in the Old Food Hall.

Cheese platter on the run from Juustokauppa Tuula Paalanen. Image © Skye Gilkeson

We tried a few local kinds of cheese served with cloudberries from Juustokauppa Tuula Paalanen as we wandered past all the beautiful stalls. Colourful displays jumped out at us as we passed.

There were fresh produce displays, fish stalls, vegan and vegetarian food, organic options, chocolate indulgence and a very popular soup store and tins of canned elk, reindeer and bear for those in the market.

Chocolate heaven at PetriS Chocolate Room in the Old Market Hall, Helsinki. Image © Skye Gilkeson

Tinned bear, elk and reindeer meat for sale at the Old Market Hall, Helsinki. Image © Skye Gilkeson

Smoked fish aplenty from Kalakauppa E. Eriksson at the Old Market Hall, Helsinki. Image © Skye Gilkeson

Hymy

Just as my pants were beginning to protest all the eating it was time for coffee and cake at Hymy. The raw foods cafe was a lovely afternoon finale with a cosy feel, guilt-free treats and coffee.

Market Square

We strolled through the famous waterfront market, Market Square at the South Harbour via the esplanade, on the way.

A popular market with tourists, particularly those who only have one day in Helsinki (many from cruise ships), this is a place to pick up anything from a punnet of berries or to dive a little deeper and try some reindeer stew. If you don’t have time to sit down at a cafe or you want to sit by the water to eat, this is the perfect lunch pit stop.

The Fork in Hand Food Tour was about four hours long and was a stand out as one of the best culinary experiences we’ve had. It is clear why it is considered one of the best Helsinki food tours.

This is not just a straight tasting tour. Heather covers a little of the history, important Helsinki landmarks in between tasting stops as you walk, which we really enjoyed.

Thank you to Visit Helsinki and Heather’s Helsinki for hosting The Fit Traveller on The Fork in Hand Food Tour Helsinki

The Fork in Hand Food Tour Helsinki

Heather’s Helsinki | Visit Helsinki

Skye Gilkeson

Skye is the founder and editor-in-chief of The Fit Traveller.

She is a journalist, writer, photographer, intrepid traveller and a former personal trainer with a passion for helping others reach optimal health.

As a TV journalist and producer, Skye has worked for household names such as 60 Minutes, Sunrise, TODAY and Nine News. She has also written for Women’s Health, Fodor’s Travel and Yahoo7 Travel, among many others.

Equally comfortable in a 5-star resort or hiking a far-off mountain, Skye loves the unexpected and enriching life experiences that each trip brings and can often be found in a backstreet chatting to locals with her camera in hand.

Skye is based in Sydney, working to master the balance between motherhood and her appetite for adventure.

Read more about Skye’s story here.

thefittraveller.com/

The seating area in Helsinki’s Hotel Lilla Roberts is both chic and comfortable. Image © Skye Gilkeson

By Skye Gilkeson

Walking through the doors of the beautiful monochrome art deco facade, large black and white tiles lead guests into the main reception area. A page of a luxury interiors magazine appears to come to life. From the life size black horse lamp keeping the staff company at the desk, to the contemporary seating areas, carefully curated with modern designer pieces. The entire space is elegantly styled and very inviting.

The seating area in Helsinki’s Hotel Lilla Roberts is both chic and comfortable. Image © Skye Gilkeson

Stay

Lilla Roberts has 130 rooms, ranging from the comfort option up to the top end luxurious suites (more like a 2-bedroom apartment, at 135 m2). The designer stylings seen in the foyer are carried through into each room. A marriage of art deco, New York and Nordic, design elements deliver sophisticated spaces with a luxe feel, from the leather loungers to the plush velvet sofas, generously sized beds, colourful modern artworks and Finnish fabric accents.

Hotel Lilla Roberts Helsinki has 130 rooms from simple comfortable options to luxurious suites. Image © Skye Gilkeson

Work and leisure space in a suite at Hotel Lilla Roberts, Helsinki. Image © Skye Gilkeson

Guest can expect the usual high-end luxuries from coffee making facilities to a large screen TV (at an extra charge for the comfort class rooms), robes, slippers and Neal’s Yard Remedies organic products in the gorgeous white bathrooms.

Every detail has been carefully considered, including the Neal’s Yard Remedies organic skin care at Hotel Lilla Roberts, Helsinki. Image © Skye Gilkeson

Nourish

The perfect fireside spot for an afternoon tipple at Lilla e, Hotel Lilla Roberts, Helsinki. Image © Skye Gilkeson

Lilla e

As the light outside begins to dip at dusk, the Lilla e bar area buzzes with soft chatter and music as guests and locals cosy up by the fireplace to wind down with a cocktail or champagne in hand. Grab a spot by the window and watch the world go by or settle in with a good book and a glass of wine before dinner.

Stunning setting to start the day at Krog Roba restaurant, Hotel Lilla Roberts Helsinki. Image © Skye Gilkeson

Krog Roba

Breakfast

Krog Roba, the hotel’s restaurant feels more like a family dining room than a stark hotel breakfast room. Choose a more formal table setting with a street view or a graze casually from one of the sofa settings (great for groups). Breakfast is a buffet that includes the usual suspects (eggs, cereals, home made breads and pastries, fruit, fresh juices and coffee). But you must try some of the local delicacies (including herring, smoked salmon, cardamom scrolls, porridge, home made yoghurt with cloud berry jam or a glass of honey sparkling, a traditional fermented sweet drink) too. The food was incredibly fresh and delicious and the setting captures the feeling of hygge (cosiness) that Lilla Roberts hopes to achieve.

Interiors inspiration with your meals at Krog Roba restaurant, Hotel Lilla Roberts Helsinki. Image © Skye Gilkeson

The breakfast buffet includes home made comfort foods from traditional Finnish porridge to baked goods at Krog Roba, Hotel Lilla Roberts Helsinki. Image © Skye Gilkeson

Local cheeses, meats and fish await at the breakfast bar. Krog Roba restaurant, Hotel Lilla Roberts Helsinki. Image © Skye Gilkeson

Fresh fruit and vegetable juices at the breakfast bar. Krog Roba restaurant, Hotel Lilla Roberts Helsinki. Image © Skye Gilkeson

Traditional honey sparkling drink. Krog Roba restaurant, Hotel Lilla Roberts Helsinki. Image © Skye Gilkeson

A healthy start to the day at Krog Roba restaurant, Hotel Lilla Roberts Helsinki. Image © Skye Gilkeson

Dinner

With the help of soft candle light and a more formal layout, the space is transformed into a romantic bistro for dinner. The menu showcases local, fresh, Nordic food. The menu is small but there is something for everyone’s palate (it’s not all fish if you aren’t that way inclined) and each menu item has a little flag, noting which Nordic country the dish comes from. We ordered the Smörrebröd – Juniper salted salmon with rainbow trout roe, Herring with organic egg and white fish roe, Fried cod with scallop and creamed potato with clam and aquavit and Licorice seasoned crème brûlée with fennel and sea buckthorn sorbet to share, and savoured each bite. The flavours, textures and plating of each dish perfectly played up the rich culinary traditions of the region in a modern way. Even if you aren’t a guest at the hotel, I highly recommend visiting Krog Roba for a weekend long brunch or dinner date.

Smörrebröd – Juniper salted salmon with rainbow trout roe. Krog Roba restaurant, Hotel Lilla Roberts Helsinki. Image © Skye Gilkeson

Herring with organic egg and white fish roe at Krog Roba restaurant, Hotel Lilla Roberts Helsinki. Image © Skye Gilkeson

Fried cod with scallop and creamed potato with clam and aquavit. Krog Roba restaurant, Hotel Lilla Roberts Helsinki. Image © Skye Gilkeson

Licorice seasoned crème brûlée with fennel and sea buckthorn sorbet. Krog Roba restaurant, Hotel Lilla Roberts Helsinki. Image © Skye Gilkeson

Explore

Hotel Lilla Roberts is tucked away from the tourist crush at the port, while still being walking distance from the city’s attractions, parks, shopping strip and the trendy design district. The tram is just a block away and takes you around the city very comfortably and is a great option in colder weather.

Hotel Lilla Roberts

Pieni Roobertinkatu 1-3

00130 Helsinki

+358 (0)9 689 9880

sales@lillaroberts.fi

website

Galleries, restaurants and cafes are at the doorstep, with tourist attractions just a walk away from Hotel Lilla Roberts, Helsinki. Image © Skye Gilkeson

Skye Gilkeson

Skye is the founder and editor-in-chief of The Fit Traveller.

She is a journalist, writer, photographer, intrepid traveller and a former personal trainer with a passion for helping others reach optimal health.

As a TV journalist and producer, Skye has worked for household names such as 60 Minutes, Sunrise, TODAY and Nine News. She has also written for Women’s Health, Fodor’s Travel and Yahoo7 Travel, among many others.

Equally comfortable in a 5-star resort or hiking a far-off mountain, Skye loves the unexpected and enriching life experiences that each trip brings and can often be found in a backstreet chatting to locals with her camera in hand.

Skye is based in Sydney, working to master the balance between motherhood and her appetite for adventure.

Read more about Skye’s story here.

thefittraveller.com/