After an amazing summer holiday in Finland, it was time to fly home from Helsinki-Vantaa Airport. Like many travelers, I was hoping for a smooth departure, but our flight ended up being delayed. Surprisingly, the delay turned into an opportunity.

Photo: Fazer Cafe (Anita Jarrah)

As I haven’t been flying through Helsinki Airport very often in recent years, I decided to use the extra time to explore what had changed. I was curious to see the airport’s restaurant offering and whether there were any exciting new places worth trying before takeoff.

As some members of my family had access to the lounge, we decided to split up and meet later at the gate.

To my surprise, there was much more variety than I had expected, so there was no need to pay for lounge access for the whole family. From Nordic cafés and bakeries to international restaurants, asian food, wine bars, casual dining, and grab-and-go concepts, Helsinki Airport has evolved into a destination where you can actually enjoy your pre-flight meal instead of simply grabbing the first available sandwich.

I started looking for a curated guide that would help me navigate all the options. Which restaurants are worth visiting? Where can you find the best coffee? Which places are ideal for a proper meal before a long flight? However, despite searching, I couldn’t find a comprehensive, easy-to-use overview that brought everything together.

So I decided to create one myself.

Whether you’re looking for a quick breakfast before an early departure, a quality lunch between flights, a relaxing glass of wine, or a memorable dinner before boarding, Helsinki Airport offers far more choice than many travelers realize.

This guide brings together the airport’s restaurants, cafés, bars, and food concepts in one place, making it easier to choose where to eat based on your preferences and the amount of time you have before your flight.

The next time you’re flying through Helsinki Airport, don’t rush straight to your gate. Arrive a little earlier, explore the terminal, and enjoy the surprisingly diverse dining scene. Sometimes a delayed flight can lead to discovering something you weren’t expecting—and in my case, it inspired an entirely new restaurant guide.

Enjoy your journey and your meal!

Finnish & Nordic

• Tori Kitchen & Café – Finnish classics, breakfast, lunch and local flavors.
• Nordic Kitchen – Nordic cuisine and Finnish specialties.
• Helsinki Market (Schengen) – Finnish dishes, sandwiches and grab-and-go.
• Helsinki Market (Landside) – Local flavors before security.
• Kaffet Helsinki Airport – Award-winning café serving Nordic pastries, coffee and light meals. It was named Airport Coffee Shop of the Year 2026.
• Relove Helsinki Airport – A Finnish-born second-hand retail and café concept.
• Robert’s Coffee – Freshly roasted coffee, pastries and sandwiches.
• Fazer Café – Opened in 2026 near Gates 19–20, Fazer Café serves Finnish café classics, breakfast, lunch, and a variety of takeaway treats. It has quickly become my favorite. I’ve stopped by twice already, and my family enjoys it as well. As an added bonus, it’s conveniently located on the way to the departure gates (Norwegian).

Photo: Relove (Anita Jarrah)

Italian

• Luigi’s All Day Italian Restaurant & Bar – Fresh pizza, pasta, focaccia, spritzes and desserts. Opened in 2026.
• Pala Pizza & Bar – Pizza, salads and drinks.

Asian

• Asian Kitchen – Asian stir-fries, noodles and rice dishes (Departure hall).

Burgers & Casual Dining

• Bastard Burgers – Swedish gourmet burgers (my kids favorite)
• Fafa’s – Popular pita and falafel restaurant

International & Bistro

• Bistrot Helsinki – European bistro classics
• O’Learys Helsinki Airport – American-style sports bar
• Restaurant Factory Airport – Buffet-style lunch restaurant

Food Halls

• Food Court (shared seating) featuring:
  • Robert’s Coffee
  • Fafa’s
  • Bastard Burgers (my kids favorite)
  • Asian Kitchen (I loved red curry with chicken here)
  • Pala Pizza & Bar
  • Tori Kitchen & Café

Shampagne Bar

Bubbles Seafood & Wine – If you’re in the mood to start your trip in style, Bubbles is Helsinki Airport’s premium seafood and wine bar. With elegant surroundings, quality seafood dishes, and an impressive champagne and wine selection, it’s an excellent choice for a relaxed pre-flight lunch or an early evening meal before boarding.

Definitely my kind of place. I would love to start a weekend city break in Europe here!

Photo: Bubbles (Anita Jarrah)

Lounges

And if you’re looking for a place to relax, work, or enjoy a meal before your flight, Helsinki Airport offers several lounges for both Schengen and non-Schengen passengers.

Most lounges can be accessed by:

Flying Business Class or First Class (where applicable)

Airline elite status

Priority Pass, DragonPass, LoungeKey, American Express Platinum, or other eligible lounge programs

Purchasing a day pass directly from the lounge (availability may vary).

• Finnair Lounge (Schengen) – Near Gate 21, 3rd floor. Features Nordic design, hot and cold buffet, bar, showers, work areas, quiet spaces, and apron views. Includes the exclusive Platinum Corner for eligible Finnair Plus members.
• Finnair Lounge (Non-Schengen) – Gate 52. Designed for long-haul travelers with dining, showers, relaxation areas, and premium amenities.
• Aspire Lounge – Gate 13 (Schengen). Comfortable seating, complimentary food and drinks, Wi-Fi, and runway views.
• OP Lounge by Aspire – Gate 22, 3rd floor (Schengen). Available for eligible OP cardholders, Priority Pass, and paid entry depending on availability.
• Aspire Lounge – Gate 27 (Schengen). One of the airport’s newest and largest Aspire lounges with food, drinks, workspaces, and relaxation areas.
• Plaza Premium Lounge – Gate 40 (Non-Schengen). Open to all travelers regardless of airline or cabin class. Offers a live kitchen, bar, showers, family area, Wi-Fi, workstations, and bookable GoSleep sleeping pods.

Let me know if any of the information has changed as things evolve so quickly. And if there’s one great place I should add to this guide, which restaurant would you recommend?