Where to eat in Helsinki on Sundays

What is it? Fancy a Sunday roast in Helsinki? The Tart is an atmospheric gastropub on Yrjönkatu serving modern British cuisine made with Nordic ingredients, with a particular emphasis on game.

Why we love it: The Tart feels like something straight out of a British spy film. A chandelier, dark velvet curtains and a private dining room hidden behind a bookshelf create a sense of luxury, yet the prices are refreshingly reasonable. The food is hearty and delicious, while the taps offer a rotating selection of British beers, including some harder-to-find varieties. On Sundays, there's a traditional British Sunday roast – although here it's made with reindeer.

Time Out tip: Book your Sunday roast in advance, as it's very popular.

Yrjönkatu 2, Punavuori. Open Sundays until 8pm. Sunday roast €38 per person.

What is it? A small, distinctive restaurant on Pikku Roobertinkatu, whose name is nearly impossible for non-Finnish speakers but translates as ‘creativity thrives on chaos’. The visual chaos here is entirely intentional.

Why we love it? The red neon light in the window signals straight away that this isn’t a place for stiffness. The walls are covered in colourful art, old posters and all sorts of curiosities, including surgical teaching charts. Plants hang from the ceiling. The space is intimate, tables are close together and diners sit right by the open kitchen. Food is prepared in full view, and it more than holds its own against the restaurant’s visual flair, equally playful and delicious. The restaurant is the long-held dream of its creators Samu Räsänen and Rico Aaltonen brought to life.

Time Out tip: When the Finnish Gastronomic Society named Luovuus Restaurant of the Year 2026, things really took off. It’s genuinely difficult to book a table at this tiny spot, but with a bit of luck you might snag a seat at the counter without a reservation. And if not, just around the corner on Yrjönkatu you’ll find the excellent The Tart, also open on Sundays, though only until 20.

Pieni Roobertinkatu 13. Open Fri–Mon 17–00. Expect to pay €14–€24 for dishes and €60 for a four-course menu.

What is it? A stylish sports bar in Vallila that's just as much about the food as it is about watching sport. An excellent choice for families, too.

Why we love it: Fat Tony’s takes its inspiration from classic American diners, but with a considerably more stylish twist. The kitchen has attracted talent from the legendary Savoy restaurant, and it shows in the quality of the food – but certainly not in the prices. In fact, the food is astonishingly affordable: a lobster roll costs just €15 and a smash burger €14. There are also pizzas and wings, as you'd expect from a proper sports bar. Fat Tony’s is a fantastic place to spend a relaxed Sunday, even if you couldn't care less about sport. And a big recommendation for families: Fat Tony’s has the best children's playroom we've seen in any Helsinki restaurant.

Time Out tip: There's plenty to do here besides eating and drinking. Take your pick from pool, darts, Formula 1 simulators and table curling – and best of all, they're all free.

Sturenkatu 21, Vallila. Open daily for lunch and dinner. Expect to pay around €14–15 for a main course.

What is it? A fine dining restaurant right in the city centre on Kalevankatu, serving only a surprise menu, so you won’t know what you’re getting in advance. French-style technique meets Nordic ingredients.

Why we love it? Chefs Jussi Hukkanen and Jesse Vottonen moved from Savonlinna to Helsinki over a decade ago and quietly opened a restaurant that’s never made a fuss about itself. And yet it has thrived. There’s no à la carte at all, just three- and five-course surprise menus. With only two menus at a time and most guests arriving with reservations, the kitchen can focus entirely on the food. The cod we tried, slow-cooked in milk, was one of the best fish dishes we’ve had in a long time.

Time Out tip: Go for the five-course instead of the three. On our visit, the most delicious and interesting dishes were part of the longer menu.

Kalevankatu 13, Kamppi. Open daily for dinner. Expect to pay €59 for three courses and €79 for five.

What is it? A small, intimate restaurant in Ullanlinna that’s at its best on Sundays.

Why we love it? AOI’s menu is exceptionally short and changes often, so every visit feels a little different. Of the dishes we tried, the yellow beetroot with ricotta and pistachio stood out: simple and beautiful. The experience was taken to another level by the fresh bread baked in-house and served alongside. AOI doesn’t go in for sourdough, focaccia or other breads favoured by many restaurants, instead creating its own version of a classic toast loaf, so perfect we had to buy some to take home. Apparently, this heavenly thick-crusted bread is easiest to pick up on Sundays. For mains we had trout, a solid dish that reminded us it’s almost impossible to make trout truly mind-blowing.

Time Out tip: The highlight of the evening was the pancake, still talked about on the journey home. A wildly indulgent hybrid of cinnamon waffle and pancake, soaked in all things delicious, it was unforgettable. We need to go back for it.

Neitsytpolku 10, Ullanlinna. Open Thu–Sat 17–00 and Sun 14–21. Expect to pay €55 for a four-course menu. Starters €13 and mains €28.

What is it? A high-quality yet homely neighbourhood restaurant open every day of the week.

Why we love it? The atmosphere at Laivakoira is warm, relaxed and inviting, like heading over to a friend’s for dinner. The walls are adorned with distinctive paintings. Dishes aren’t the cheapest in town, but they’re so good the price-quality ratio feels spot on. This is a place for indulgence, and especially on dark autumn evenings it’s a top choice when you’re in the mood to cosy up. The food is classic but bold: comfort food turned up to the max. The broth for the lamb pelmeni is so perfect you’ll want to drink it by the jug, wrapped up under a blanket.

Time Out tip: Order a side of fries. They’re the best in Helsinki.

Tehtaankatu 34, Punavuori. Open daily for dinner.

What is it? A stylish French restaurant on Kluuvikatu right in the heart of the city, from perhaps Finland’s most famous chef, Hans Välimäki.

Why we love it? Bistro Bardot is an elegant spot, perfect for marking a special occasion. The menu is built around carefully executed French classics, and you’ll want to try almost everything on it. Prices, however, are in line with what you’d expect from a Hans Välimäki restaurant, so a full tasting spree might have to wait for the next celebration.

Time Out tip: Order the sole (€24 per 100 grams). It’s excellent here and theatrically filleted at the table. A generous fish dish that feels both celebratory and wonderfully comforting in flavour.

Kluuvikatu 1. Open daily for lunch and dinner. Expect to pay €30–€60 for mains.

What is it? An authentic Sichuan restaurant on Annankatu with an extensive menu offering plenty of choice for meat lovers and vegans alike.

Why we love it: If your idea of a perfect Sunday involves a proper feast, gather your friends or family around a table at Mei Lin. Order a generous spread of dishes to share, just as Chinese food is meant to be enjoyed. Expect plenty of chilli and the distinctive, tingling kick of Sichuan peppercorns. This is no place for moderation – come hungry and prepare to eat your way into a glorious Sunday food coma.

Time Out tip: Make sure to order the Sichuan-style aubergine and mapo tofu. And if you can't finish everything, ask to take the leftovers home – Chinese food often tastes even better the next day. Monday lunch sorted!

Annankatu 29, Kamppi. Open Sundays 12 noon–10pm. Kitchen closes at 9pm.

What is it? An elegant but unpretentious brasserie in a prime city location, suited to just about any occasion.

Why we love it? Disappointingly few high-end restaurants in Helsinki are open for lunch or on Sundays. Alexanderplats is. Its art deco-inspired interior makes it feel like it’s always been on Esplanadi, even though it only opened a little over five years ago. There are white tablecloths, but jazz is playing and the place has a real swing to it. Service is polished yet relaxed. You can dress up here, but you don’t have to. Drop in for a quick bite or settle in for a long dinner, come for a date, a business meeting or a catch-up with friends. The menu doesn’t try to surprise, instead focusing on carefully executed classics that sit somewhere between France and the Nordics. This is a restaurant that felt like a classic from day one.

Time Out tip: Alexanderplats stays open later than many restaurants in Helsinki, until midnight.

Eteläesplanadi 22, city centre. Open daily for lunch and dinner (in summer, dinner only). Expect to pay around €16 for starters and €30 for mains.

What is it? A restaurant by Noora Hautakangas, known for her Relove second-hand shops, on Pohjoisesplanadi, brimming with atmosphere.

Why we love it? When you’re craving unfussy French food, Rue Madame delivers. The theatrically styled restaurant is open every day from morning to evening, except on Sundays when it opens at midday. It draws a wide mix of customers, from trendy Gen Z types to older, more refined regulars. Prices are very reasonable given the stylish setting, and starters are particularly affordable.

Time Out tip: Pop in even just for a small bite, if only to see the bathroom. It’s stunning.

Pohjoisesplanadi 25–27, city centre. Open daily from morning to evening. Expect to pay €10 for starters and €25 for mains.

What is it? A tiny Thai noodle restaurant on Punavuori offering a one-meal escape to the bustling street food stalls of Thailand.

Why we love it: Bored on a Sunday? Thai Noodle is probably the quickest and easiest way to brighten your day. It's almost impossible to leave this place without a smile on your face. Helsinki has plenty of excellent Asian restaurants, but few offer an experience quite like this. Owner Tum prepares the food in a tiny cooking stall that could have been lifted straight from the streets of Bangkok. The atmosphere is every bit as authentic as the flavours. The rich, slow-simmered noodle soups are particularly delicious. Don't expect to linger over a long Sunday lunch, though – there are only a handful of seats. But that's hardly the point. Thai Noodle takes you on a noodle-sized trip to Thailand, and sometimes that's all you need to lift your spirits.

Time Out tip: No need to slather your face in sunscreen – otherwise, the experience is about as close to Thailand as you can get without leaving Helsinki.

Pursimiehenkatu 12, Punavuori. Open Tuesday to Sunday for lunch and dinner. Closed Mondays. Dishes around €15.

What is it? A tiny Punavuori restaurant specialising in washoku, Japan’s everyday comfort food.

Why we love it: Unlike many of Helsinki’s Japanese restaurants, this one is actually run by Japanese owners. It shows in the flavours, which feel reassuringly authentic, and in the clientele: it’s a favourite with many of Helsinki’s Japanese residents whenever they’re craving the simple, satisfying dishes they grew up with. Don’t come expecting sushi. Instead, think tonkatsu, donburi, teriyaki and other hearty home-style classics. The portions are generous, the cooking is spot on, and even something as humble as the onions are slow-cooked to sweet perfection in a soy-based broth.

Time Out tip: Craving unagi (Japanese-style grilled eel)? Saburo Shokudou is one of the few places in Helsinki where you’ll find it. It costs a little more than the rest of the menu, but it’s well worth the splurge.

Fredrikinkatu 27, Punavuori. Tue–Fri 11am–2.30pm and 5pm–7.30pm; Sat–Sun noon–6.30pm. Closed Mon. Expect to pay €13.90–€18.90 for most dishes, or €25.90 for the unagi.