What to eat Finland? culinary specialties and gastronomy

In Helsinki, remember to book your restaurant at weekends, because of the crowds. Finns tend to eat quite early (around 11:30 a.m. and 6 p.m.).

In Helsinki, restaurants can quickly become quite expensive. A good idea is to take advantage of lounas, lunchtime buffets that are generally very good value for money.

Expect to pay €10 for an economical meal (lunch menus or lounas are copious and inexpensive, as are meals in covered markets), €20 to €25 in a mid-range restaurant, and more than €30 for a higher-category establishment.

In restaurants, there's no need to worry: toddlers are always very welcome, and there's often a special menu for them.

With a very anti-smoking policy, smoking has been banned in bars and restaurants throughout the country since 2007.

Most cafés open at 7 a.m. for breakfast and generally close between 1 and 2 a.m. in the larger cities. In Helsinki, most bars are open from 11am. Some, however, like Liberty or Death or the karaoke bars, don't open until 4 or even 6pm. They generally close around midnight on weekdays and around 2am on Friday and Saturday nights.

Tipping. In Finland, tipping is not compulsory as service is included in the bill. However, there's nothing to stop you leaving something extra if you wish. Less customary than in France, Finns rarely leave anything.

Be aware, however, that alcohol is generally quite expensive: a glass of wine averages €11 and a cocktail around €15. Pubs often have a happy hour between 5pm and 7pm.

The sale of alcohol to minors is prohibited.

Children are welcome everywhere, including in restaurants. They just need to be accompanied by an adult.

With a very anti-smoking policy, smoking has been banned in bars and restaurants throughout the country since 2007.

There's nothing to report on this front in Finland, and there's nothing particularly touristy about it. On the other hand, it's often a bad sign if the establishment has touts, so beware of quality.