Vinkkeli

The story

Crafted with passion, served with love

A Classic Address in Kaartinkaupunki

The building at the corner of Korkeavuorenkatu and Pieni Roobertinkatu has stood since 1889, part of a row of Neo-Renaissance architecture in Helsinki's Kaartinkaupunki neighbourhood. It is a fitting home for Vinkkeli — Finnish for "a point of view" — a white-tablecloth restaurant that takes its setting seriously without taking itself too seriously. White Guide has recognised it at "Very Fine Level," noting its classy atmosphere, proper three-course lunches, and a soundtrack of 1950s American jazz playing on a loop.

The People Behind It

Vinkkeli is the project of chefs Olli Marttila and Matti Vesikkala, together with sommelier Antti Uusitalo — three figures who have worked alongside each other for years in some of Helsinki's most respected kitchens. Their shared conviction is straightforward: classical cooking, quality ingredients, and a seasonal mindset. That philosophy shows in every element of the restaurant, from the kitchen's technique to the way the wine list is assembled.

What's on the Plate

Every evening, the kitchen offers a four-course dinner menu designed around what is in season, with wine pairings curated by Uusitalo. The à la carte leans into French-influenced classics executed with care: tuna tartare with marinated shimeji mushrooms and egg yolk cream; braised beef tongue with anchovy mayonnaise and capers; roasted Atlantic wolf fish with marinated fennel and a bouillabaisse sauce; braised veal with spring cabbage and red wine sauce. A lentil cassoulet with cauliflower and spiced mayonnaise ensures vegetarians are treated with equal seriousness. The cheese course — a selection of carefully matured classics — is a natural stopping point before dessert.

The Wine and the Room

The wine list at Vinkkeli travels from world classics to lesser-known regions, with a guiding principle that each bottle should be balanced, food-friendly, and reflective of its origin. A daily selection of seasonal wines is offered by the glass, keeping things alive and evolving. The room itself sits in Helsinki's Design District, neighbouring the Design Museum and the Museum of Finnish Architecture. A golden three-dimensional artwork titled Aurinkotarinoita ("Sun Stories") gives the otherwise neat French-inflected interior a distinctly Finnish character.

Lunch, a relaxed dinner, or a late supper — Vinkkeli is built to accommodate all three without changing its register.