Restaurant Olo

Restaurant Olo is a Michelin-starred fine dining restaurant at Pohjoisesplanadi 5, directly opposite the Market Square in the Kaartinkaupunki district of central Helsinki, Finland. The kitchen centres on northern Finnish ingredients, treating the produce of Lapland, the forests and the Baltic with precision and a quiet, modern Nordic sensibility. The format combines a multi-course Northern Finnish tasting menu with a la carte seasonal dishes, giving diners the choice between a full progression and a shorter, selective meal. The tasting menu changes with the seasons and typically draws on fish, game, root vegetables, berries and wild plants, with dishes presented in a restrained, elegant style. The dining room is calm and refined, with understated decor and attentive service; the noise level is low and the atmosphere suits special occasions and business dinners alike. Dress is smart, though the restaurant does not enforce a formal code. The beverage programme includes an extensive wine list and pairings designed around the Nordic menu, as well as Finnish spirits and non-alcoholic pairings. Prices are in the highest bracket for Helsinki, and the tasting menu represents a major spend even by European fine dining standards. Opening hours are Tuesday to Saturday evenings, from 18:00 to midnight, with the restaurant closed on Sunday and Monday and closed over 23 to 28 December. Reservations are essential. Bookings are made through olo-ravintola.fi, and the sales office takes calls Monday to Friday from 10:00 to 16:00 on +358 10 320 6250, or by email at info@olo-ravintola.fi. Tables, particularly for Friday and Saturday, should be booked several weeks ahead, and earlier still during the summer and the pre-Christmas period. The harbourfront location makes Olo easy to combine with a walk through the Esplanadi, a visit to the Market Square, or a trip to Suomenlinna by ferry earlier in the day.