Brasserie Lionne

Lionne has managed to bring an authentic French brasserie vibe to central Helsinki, and the restaurant is hard to walk past with its summertime terrace occupying a major space on the main esplanade, inviting one to step in.

The breakfast offering is one of the best in the city and the indoor design is very atmospheric. The wine list is at the higher end, with top French names occupying most of the space. Delightfully, the list includes some mature reds from Bordeaux and Rhône (albeit if you’re prepared to spend a little extra). Outside of France, some red wines from Piedmont and Tuscany get a spot but the rest of the selection remains true to the French concept.