Finland’s 50 Best Restaurants 2025 winner PALACE. Photo: Andres Teiss / Viisi Tähteä
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Restaurant Palace in Helsinki has once again been voted the best restaurant in Finland. Palace topped the Suomen 50 Parasta Ravintolaa (Finland’s 50 Best Restaurants) list for the sixth consecutive year.
In the annual ranking, compiled by Viisi Tähteä media, Palace was followed by BasBas and Grön, also from Helsinki. Two new entries, Jason and Teller, debuted strongly in fourth and fifth place.
The rankings are based on votes from more than 400 professionals across Finland’s restaurant, hotel, travel, and food industries. The results were announced in Helsinki at the Vallila Konepaja venue.
“The country’s 17 years of economic stagnation have affected consumer spending power. Still, the restaurant sector has shown its resilience by turning scarcity into creativity,” said Eeropekka Rislakki, editor-in-chief of Viisi Tähteä.
According to Rislakki, the rise of mid-range restaurants has evolved from bistro-style venues into diverse neighbourhood dining, where strong professional skill and engaging customer experiences are essential.
Among the top ten, Solitary from Rantasalmi placed ninth, and Savoy from Helsinki rounded out the list at tenth. Other high-ranked regional restaurants included Kajo in Tampere (7th) and Kaskis in Turku (8th).
Recognition for service, wine and innovation
In addition to the main ranking, restaurants were honoured for innovation, service, and atmosphere. The award for Most Innovative Restaurant went to Luovuus kukkii kaaoksesta. Jason was named Best Newcomer.
BasBas received awards for Best Service and Best Atmosphere. Muru won the award for Best Wine List.
Samuil Angelov, restaurateur behind Muru and Pastis, was named Professional’s Professional, while Kozeen Shiwan was recognised as Best Changemaker for his work at The Room in Helsinki.
Helsinki dominates the rankings
Helsinki’s presence on the list remains dominant, with 37 of the 50 restaurants located in the capital. Only 13 were from other parts of Finland, down from 14 last year and 19 in 2022.
Turku edged out Tampere in this year’s city rivalry, with four restaurants making the list compared to Tampere’s three. Kajo in Tampere was the highest-ranking restaurant outside Helsinki.
Solitary, based in the resort area of Rantasalmi, rose to ninth place. Other notable regional entries included Tapio (Kuusamo, 30th), Sky Kitchen & View (Rovaniemi, 43rd), and Havu Kitchen & Bar (Kuopio, 48th).
Grilling and locality among observed trends
Rislakki said this year’s list highlights emerging culinary trends, including the growing use of open-fire grilling.
“Grilling is now done with everything from meat to vegetables and fish. Fire and smoke have become flavour elements,” he said. “There’s also a shift in meat culture—less shame, more focus on quality cuts.”
According to Rislakki, grilling continues to reflect a shared cultural ritual in Finland, from backyard gatherings to cottage weekends. He also noted its symbolic place in male culinary identity.
“Grilling is that moment when cooking becomes technical and serious. Fire, meat and grill form a kind of masculine manifesto,” he said.
Full top ten from Finland’s 50 Best Restaurants 2025:
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Palace, Helsinki
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BasBas, Helsinki
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Grön, Helsinki
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Jason, Helsinki
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Teller, Helsinki
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Bona Fide, Helsinki
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Kajo, Tampere
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Kaskis, Turku
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Solitary, Rantasalmi
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Savoy, Helsinki
A full list of the 50 restaurants and places 51–100 is available on Viisi Tähteä’s website.
HT
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Source: www.helsinkitimes.fi
