Modern Finnish · Kamppi · €15–35 lunch, €60–80 dinner
Modern Finnish€15–35 lunch / €60–80 dinnerKamppi#20 Finland 50 Best 2025
"Tommi Tuominen's modern-Finnish à la carte room beneath one-star Salonki, the carrot box at half the price. Book it for a birthday."
8Food
7Ambience
8Value
About Finnjävel Sali
Tommi Tuominen built Finnjävel in 2016 on a dare: take the Finnish food people grew up apologising for and cook it like it deserved a Michelin star. The star landed upstairs, at Finnjävel Salonki. Sali is the room below it, at Ainonkatu 3 near Kamppi, where the same kitchen serves the greatest hits à la carte for a fraction of the tasting-menu price. The deconstructed Karelian pie and the carrot box, two dishes that built the Finnjävel name, are here without the €175 commitment. Lunch runs €15 to €35; dinner lands around €60 to €80 a head. It belongs among the best fine-dining rooms worldwide.
The Kitchen
Tuominen's project has always been the same: prove that Finnish home cooking, the carrot casserole and the Karelian pastry and the rye, can carry a fine-dining kitchen. At Salonki he does it as a €175 tasting menu, and that room holds a Michelin star. At Sali the same kitchen sends out the signatures à la carte. The deconstructed Karelian pie rebuilds the rye-and-rice classic plate by plate; the carrot box is the dish people come back for, a sweet-savoury riff on the Christmas carrot casserole that Finns either love or argue about. Salonki and Sali together placed 20th in Viisi Tähteä's ranking of Finland's fifty best restaurants in 2025.
Sali is à la carte and built for a lighter commitment: a weekday lunch runs €15 to €35, and a dinner of a few courses lands around €60 to €80 a head before drinks, against Salonki's €175. The address is Ainonkatu 3, a short walk from Kamppi in central Helsinki. To be clear about the star: it belongs to Salonki, not to Sali. Browse the Helsinki dining guide for the full picture.
The Room
Sali is the relaxed half of the Finnjävel building: blond wood, Finnish-craft tableware, soft Nordic light and a low, easy noise level that suits both a solo seat and a celebration. It is more bistro than temple, with tables spaced for conversation rather than ceremony, and a bar you can eat at alone. Seating runs to roughly 50 covers. Dress is smart-casual with no rules; Helsinki does not stand on formality. Service is warm and knowledgeable, happy to walk you through which classics are on the à la carte that week. Lunch is brisk; dinner unwinds.
Best for a Birthday
Book Sali for a birthday because it delivers the Finnjävel experience, the carrot box and the Karelian pie that earned the group its reputation, without the three-hour tasting-menu structure or the €175 price. The room is celebratory but unstuffy, the à la carte lets a table order freely, and you can add a good glass without committing to a full pairing. It also works for solo dining at the bar, where the kitchen is happy to feed one. For a relaxed birthday with friends who want the food without the formality, Sali is the smarter room. Tables of four to eight work well.
Not for
Skip Sali if you came for the full Michelin tasting menu and the carrot box on fine china. That is Salonki, upstairs; Sali is the casual à la carte room.
Frequently Asked
Is Finnjävel Sali worth it?
Yes, as the affordable way into one of Helsinki's most distinctive kitchens. Sali is the à la carte room below Michelin-starred Finnjävel Salonki, run by the same chef, Tommi Tuominen, serving the signatures, the deconstructed Karelian pie and the carrot box, without the €175 tasting menu. At €15 to €35 for lunch and €60 to €80 for dinner, it is strong value for cooking of this pedigree.
What is the difference between Finnjävel Sali and Salonki?
Salonki is the fine-dining room with the Michelin star and a €175 tasting menu; Sali is the casual à la carte restaurant below it, sharing the same kitchen and chef, Tommi Tuominen. Sali serves the Finnjävel signatures, including the carrot box and the deconstructed Karelian pie, at lunch and dinner for far less. Choose Salonki for the full experience, Sali for the flavours without the marathon.
How hard is it to book Finnjävel Sali?
Not hard. Sali takes reservations by phone and online, and weekday lunch and early dinner usually have same-week availability. Weekend dinner books a few days ahead. The bar seats walk-in solo diners. Call +358 300 472 337 or reserve through the Helsinki dining guide; the address is Ainonkatu 3, near Kamppi.
What should I order at Finnjävel Sali?
Order the carrot box, the sweet-savoury signature that defines the Finnjävel kitchen, and the deconstructed Karelian pie. Both come from the same playbook as the starred Salonki menu. Add a Finnish rye course and ask the staff which seasonal classics are on the à la carte that week. Pair with a Nordic beer or a glass from the list.
Reserve online or by phone; the bar seats walk-in solo diners.
Affiliate disclosure: Restaurants for Kings may earn a commission when you book through our reservation links, at no cost to you. Our scores are editorial and never paid for.
Practical Information
AddressAinonkatu 3, 00100 Helsinki
NeighbourhoodKamppi
CuisineModern Finnish
Price€15–35 lunch; €60–80 per head dinner ex-drinks
Dress CodeSmart-casual, no rules
Seating~50 covers, plus a bar
Phone+358 300 472 337
ReservationOnline or phone; weekends a few days ahead
