Helsinki x The MICHELIN Guide Nordic Countries Ceremony 2024

The MICHELIN star dust descends upon Helsinki in May as the City of Helsinki will host the MICHELIN Guide Nordic Countries Ceremony in May during which the latest MICHELIN Stars awarded to Nordic restaurants will be revealed.

The MICHELIN Stars awarded at the Ceremony are the most coveted and respected recognition of excellence in the restaurant industry.

“We are delighted that, for the first time, our annual Nordic Countries Ceremony will be held in the City of Helsinki. As Finland’s capital and national culinary flagship, Helsinki is the perfect location to bring together the crème de la crème of Nordic gastronomy. Together with the City of Helsinki, as well as the support of Business Finland and Visit Finland, we will organise a ceremony worthy of the talent of the chefs and the excellence of the restaurants that our inspectors have independently chosen to honour,” said Gwendal Poullennec, International Director of the MICHELIN Guides.

The event is an excellent opportunity for Helsinki to showcase its own food culture and its many different facets.

“We are thrilled the MICHELIN Guide has chosen to organize one of the world’s most famous restaurant events in our city. It is an esteemed acknowledgement of Helsinki’s versatile food culture, which includes everything from high-quality fine dining and food industry innovations to berries and seafood from our natural environment,” says Mayor of Helsinki Juhana Vartiainen.

Food is an important tourist attraction factor for the whole of Finland, not just the capital.

“For years, its importance has increased as a motivational factor in choosing a travel destination, as travelers seek out unforgettable culinary experiences with a distinct local flavor. There are great food tourism destinations in Finland, but the high quality of Finnish food and the one-of-a-kind gastronomic culture are not yet very well known on the world stage. The MICHELIN Guide Ceremony in Helsinki will provide excellent support to strengthen Finland’s reputation as an attractive food tourism destination,” said Kristiina Hietasaari, Senior Director of Visit Finland.

The MICHELIN Guide Nordic Countries Ceremony Will be held on 27 May 2024 at Helsinki Savoy Theatre and the Helsinki City Hall.

Decoding MICHELIN Guide

• Michelin published its first Guide MICHELIN in 1900, which was distributed for free to everyone who bought a car. The restaurant star rating was introduced to the guide in the 1930s. MICHELIN Guides are released annually. Finland is included in the MICHELIN Guide Nordic Countries.
• The MICHELIN Guide Nordic Countries publication highlights exceptional food in Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Norway, and Iceland. The 2023 edition of the Nordic Guide contained 271 restaurants, 81 of which were rated with one, two or three MICHELIN Stars.
• The MICHELIN Guide Nordic Countries Ceremony Will be held on 27 May 2024 at Helsinki Savoy Theatre and the Helsinki City Hall.

The more the merrier

Five of Finland’s MICHELIN-starred restaurants are in Helsinki, with one more in the city of Turku and another in the city of Porvoo. In addition, three restaurants in Helsinki currently hold the MICHELIN Green Stars.

So, if you want to enjoy a MICHELIN-star dining experience in Helsinki, write down the addresses and head to these restaurants. In May, we’ll find out if there are more or less restaurants on the map!

Did you know?

The first restaurant in Finland to receive a Michelin star was Palace Gourmet in 1987. The first restaurant to be awarded with two stars was a former Chez Dominique in 2003.

Anatomy of a star

A MICHELIN Star is awarded to restaurants offering outstanding cooking. There are five universal criteria considered: the quality of the ingredients, the harmony of flavors, the mastery of techniques, the personality of the chef as expressed through their cuisine and consistency across the entire menu and over time. Michelin Stars are awarded solely based on the quality of the food and dining experience, as assessed by anonymous Michelin inspectors.

The difference between 1, 2 and 3 Michelin Stars

• One MICHELIN Star is awarded to restaurants using top quality ingredients, where dishes with distinct flavors are prepared to a consistently high standard.
• Two MICHELIN Stars are awarded when the personality and talent of the chef are evident in their expertly crafted dishes; their food is refined and inspired.
• Three MICHELIN Stars is given for the superlative cooking of chefs at the peak of their profession; their cooking is elevated to an art form and some of their dishes are destined to become classics.
• The Green Star is awarded to restaurants that are role models when it comes to sustainable gastronomy.
• The Bib Gourmand is an award for great value and highlights simple yet skillful cooking at an affordable price.