Norwegian Anders Husa and American Kaitlin Orr are based in Copenhagen, from where they operate the largest and most influential restaurant blog in Scandinavia. Both Husa and Orr are official TasteHunters (digital ambassadors) for The World’s 50 Bes Restaurants and have previously been global jurors for the 360° Eat Guide, which promotes sustainability in the food industry. This was Anders’ second visit to Helsinki, and Kaitlin's first.
During the duo’s ambassadorship with Helsinki, the areas of sustainability where they focused the most was not just the environment (travel preferences and food) but also people (social responsibility and culture). Read below their 5 sustainable tips for Helsinki.
1. Free bikes to use at hotels
The city is extremely environmentally friendly, and quite compact in size. We loved being able to walk and bike everywhere, and that hotels in Helsinki had free bikes for guests to use to explore the city. This is a great way to stay active while on a trip, while also being sustainable. If cycling in Helsinki is something that interests you, read more here.
2. Kahvila Rakastan – vegan versions of classic dishes
Trying a Karelian pie is a must when in Finland, and we got ours at Kahvila Rakastan, a charming plant-based café in a courtyard next to the National Museum of Finland. The family-run, female-operated shop specializes in these traditional pies, selling variations of their Grandma’s classic recipe, though they’ve adapted it to modern times and made it vegan. The pies come with different toppings – we tried the potato and barley pie, where a rye crust is filled with mashed potato and topped with (eggless) egg butter. It was buttery and warm, fresh from the oven, and tasted like an egg salad sando and potato salad hybrid. Helsinki has a good vegan scene, also when it comes to treats at cafés - read more here.
3. Bar Runar – local spirits and ingredients
Located inside Hotel F6 is the cocktail bar Runar – but this is not your average hotel bar. Runar is worth a visit even if you’re not a hotel guest. The cocktails here are very creative – we tried a carbonated one with blueberry, lemongrass, gin, and vermouth, and their variation on a mojito, with blood orange, rum, mint, and sparkling wine. Of course, they can make classics as well, and they have a nice selection of Finnish gin if you’re looking to sip something local. Want to find out more about Helsinki's great cocktail bars? Jump here.
4. Nolla
Nolla is a sustainable restaurant run by three chefs from Serbia, Portugal, and Spain. The word “nolla” means zero in Finnish, and this name embodies the restaurant’s philosophy to produce zero waste. Nolla aims to show that sustainability and high-quality food can go hand in hand, whether it’s using every part of an animal, or making bread from spent grains from their own beer production. Their mission starts with the seasonal ingredients they serve (from local farmers and fishermen), continues with their in-house composter, and even extends to their dishes and uniforms. Find more options for Helsinki's sustainable restaurant experiences here.
5. Grön
If you’re traveling to Helsinki in search of the best food, you’ve got to make a reservation at Grön. This was our favorite meal of our Finland trip, and one of the best meals we’ve had in a long time. Every single bite delivered a flavour explosion in a way that very few meals achieve. From the tomato tartelette to the lobster beignet to the honey fudge-glazed monkfish, we truly wanted seconds of every dish. Grön currently has one Michelin star, but this place strongly deserves a second. Chef Toni Kostian and his team are serving some of the tastiest and most interesting bites in the Nordics. Get to know all Helsinki's Michelin-starred restaurants here.
Curious to find out what Anders Husa and Kaitlin Orr have to say about Helsinki?
- Explore their complete Helsinki guide
- Social networks: @andershusa & @carnivorr
- Anders & Kaitlin on Facebook
This story is part of Helsinki Partners' Ambassador Program called Represent Sustainably. Helsinki Partners, which runs MyHelsinki.fi, teams up with ambassadors from diverse backgrounds, including visitors and talents. These ambassadorships are value-based and long-term, and the ambassadors spend longer or shorter periods of time in Helsinki, and share their personal perspectives on the city based on their experiences.