My third trip to Finland featured time in Helsinki, Turku, Rauma, and Porvoo—and lots of delicious food. From cinnamon buns to salmon soup, here are the best things I at in Finland during my trip in late May and early June of 2026.
1. Traditional Finnish dinner buffet at Konstan Möljä (Helsinki)
When I booked a table at Konstan Möljä in Helsinki's Kamppi neighborhood, I didn't realize it was such popular spot. Visitors come from around the world to sample their way through a buffet of dozens of traditional Finnish dishes including herring, cured salmon, sauteed reindeer, and vorschmack, a lamb, beef, and anchovy stew. Even dishes that seem familiar, like potato salad, pea soup, and barley risotto, are made with a unique Finnish touch. There's a poignant part of Finnish history behind the decor, too: the maritime-themed interior is an homage to Karelia, a formerly Finnish region ceded to Russia after WWII. Most of the photos and artifacts on display belonged to Karelians who resettled in Helsinki.
2. Cardamom bun from Way Bakery (Helsinki)
Although Helsinki's Vanha Kauppahalli (Old Market Hall) is extremely touristy, my cardamom bun from Way Bakery was so good that I didn't mind the premium pricing. It was fluffy on the inside and lightly caramelized on the outside, with a rich, floral cardamom flavor.
3. Salmon soup at Cafe Eliel (Helsinki)f
Located in Helsinki's Central Station, Cafe Eliel has a chic Art Deco vibe that pays homage to Finnish-American architect Eliel Saarinen, who designed the station in the early 20th century. The salmon soup is made in-house, with a flurry of fresh dill, entire fillet's worth of salmon, and a creamy broth. It hit the spot on a rainy afternoon.
4. Fazer Salmiakki ice cream bars
I love salmiakki (salted licorice) in any form, but my favorite salmiakki treat is Fazer's ice cream bars. Readily available at grocery and convenience stores, they're made with a salmiakki and vanilla soft serve center and a more intensely flavored salmiakki outer shell. I ate several of them throughout our trip—they're the perfect balance of sweet and salty.
5. Cinnamon bun at Cafe Art (Turku)
The cinnamon buns at Turku's Cafe Art are served warm from the oven, with a crusty exterior that hews closer to a loaf of bread than a pastry. The cinnamon is applied with an extremely generous hand, giving them a spicy, almost savory quality. Of the many cinnamon buns I ate during our week-plus in Finland, this is the one I'm still thinking about.
6. Salad at Roots Kitchen (Turku)
Similar to when it opened in 1896, Turku's Market Hall features butchers, fishmongers, bakeries, a cheese shop, and vendors selling spices, tea, and coffee. It's also evolved to include over a dozen restaurants serving an impressive array of international cuisine, including sushi, pizza, and Vietnamese and Middle Eastern dishes. Roots Kitchen offers a handful of daily vegetarian and vegan lunch specials. I opted for the salad of the day, a flavor and textural symphony of greens, crispy chickpeas, tomatoes, charred broccoli, quinoa, chopped cashews, and a zingy mayo.
7. Margherita pizza at Pizzeria via Tribunali (Turku)
On our first visit to Turku in 2022, we had a lovely dinner at Pizzeria via Tribunali, a Neapolitan-style pizzeria with a terrace overlooking the Aura River. Since then, we've eaten pizza in Naples—and the margherita pizza here is nearly as good. The crust has the ideal chew, the tomato sauce is vibrant, and the mozzarella is high-quality. Plus, the view of the river was just as pretty as we remembered.
8. Kesäbuni raparperi at bageri Å (Turku)
Another favorite from our 2022 trip to Turku was bageri Å, a sourdough bakery located in a repurposed prison complex. It was fun to watch the bakers expertly shape cardamom buns through the window into the production space, and Mike enjoyed his extra-flaky croissant. However, the highlight was my kesäbuni raparperi, a seasonal pastry filled with vanilla custard and rhubarb. The tartness of the rhubarb was tempered by the custard, and the roll had a sturdy, wholesome quality that made it a satisfying breakfast.
9. Siilileivos at Kontion Leipomo & Kahvilat (Rauma)
Porvoo's Kontion Leipomo & Kahvilat is a charming cafe and bakery that has been serving up treats since 1959. One of their signature items is the siilileivos (hedgehog cake) confection made with by combining cake crumbs, cocoa powder and rum extract, forming the dough into an oblong shape, dipping it in chocolate, and then decorating it with sprinkles and icing to look like a hedgehog. The texture is similar to a cake pop but it's a bit denser and not as sweet, and it's definitely cuter.
10. Skagen at Marina Vista (Rauma)
When it was built, Rauma's UNESCO-recognized Old Town was on the harbor. Today, due to glacial rebound, the land has risen and it's an eight minute drive to the seaside Marina Vista Restaurant. I loved their take on Swedish skagen, an appetizer typically made by topping toasted white bread with shrimp salad. Marina Vista's version uses local rye-based archipelago bread and smoked salmon salad, plus a colorful topping of crayfish, pickled onions, and pickled cucumbers. It somehow tastes just like a sunny Nordic evening feels.
11. Salmon soup at Cafe Tove (Porvoo)
Porvoo's Cafe Tove offers Mediterranean cuisine through a Nordic lens, so their salmon soup is served with freshly-baked focaccia. The tender new potatoes were almost as prominent as the salmon, giving the soup an especially hearty quality, and the herb oil had an appealing brightness.
12. Breakfast buffet at Aspire Lounge (Helsinki-Vantaa Airport)
After a wonderful week-plus in Finland, I was feeling pretty wistful at the airport. The breakfast buffet at Aspire Lounge (we have access through our American Express cards) helped me end the trip on a high note. It had all my favorite Finnish breakfast foods: build-your-own yogurt bowls with lingonberries and granola, Karelian pasties with egg butter, little pieces of cake, and even gummy candies. It was hard to say goodbye to Finland, and I'm already looking forward to my next visit.
Further reading:
- 10 foods to try in Finland
- 17 delicious things I ate in Finland (2022)
- 20 tips for traveling in Finland
- 9 fun things to do in Helsinki
- Guide to Finland's Small Archipelago Trail by Car
- Lillan Hotel: A luxurious stay in Tampere, Finland
- Porvoo, Finland: A picturesque day trip from Helsinki
- Vääsky: A base for exploring Finnish Lakeland