Restaurants
I do love good food and I love cooking, but sometimes it’s just nice to go out and enjoy what others have created. Here are my favorite places, in Helsinki and other places, which offer delicious gluten free food for breakfast, lunch, dinner or in between. I will add more and more restaurants as they come along.
Finland
Helsinki and surrounding area
Ateljé Finne, Arkadiankatu 14, Töölö, Helsinki
Pretty seasonal menu with mostly naturally gluten free dishes. One of my favourite places.
Block by Dylan, Eteläranta 18, Kaartinkaupunki, Helsinki
Dylan’s newest restaurant, right next to the old Market Hall in the center of Helsinki, offers breakfast and lunch during the week and brunch on weekends. The lunch and brunch buffets offer loads of gluten free options, the gluten free bread and dessert will be brought to you on request.
Café Huvila, Hakasalmen Huvila, Mannerheimintie 13 b, Töölö, Helsinki
This pretty little café offers good coffee, great gluten free lunches and baked goods.
Cafe Regatta, Merikannontie 8, Töölö, Helsinki
The cutest café in Helsinki now also has some sweet and savory gluten free options to enjoy with your coffee.
Fisken på Disken, Kortteli, 5th floor in Kamppi shopping center, Kamppi, Helsinki
This is a very sympathetic fish restaurant and oyster bar in the heart of Kamppi Kortteli. Here also diners with a special diet, also gluten free, are warmly welcomed. If you are looking for an easy going place, delicious food and excellent wine while on a shopping spree or after work, then this is a great place to check out.
PS. Here they serve my gluten free bread.
Funky Kitchen, Linnanmäki, Helsinki (only open when Linnanmäki is open)
Linnanmäki is always a good place to spend a summer day with kids and Funky Kitchen is a good place to fuel up. It already has some gluten free dishes on the menu, but also the burgers come gluten free on request. And if your kids get restless while waiting for food or waiting for you to finish, just let them hang out in the kid’s corner.
Gula Villan, Iso Vasikkasaari, Espoo (only open during summer)
During the summer months it is almost a must to visit at least one of the islands in or around Helsinki. Iso Vasikkasaari is one of my favourite destinations and Gula Villan a great place to hang out and enjoy good food on a hot summer day. The menu is short, but offers a few great gluten free options for lunch or dinner.
Hanko Sushi, restaurants all around Helsinki and in many other places in Finland
Here you can enjoy gluten free Sushi. It is easy to make the right choices when visiting this place, as allergens are listed for each dish.
Helsingin Toripojat, Main Market Square, Helsinki
This tent café situated on Helsinki’s main market square since 1956 offers now also my gluten free mini quiche.
Korjaamo Bar & Kitchen, Kulttuuritehdas Korjaamo, Töölönkatu 51 a-b, Töölö, Helsinki
This laid-back bar and bistro in Töölö is a great place for lunch, dinner, brunch or just going for a drink. There’s always gluten free options available. In the summer Korjaamo’s summer terrace is one of the best places to hang out, any time of day.
Kuja Bar & Bistro, Hakaniemenkatu 7, Kallio, Helsinki
A nice place for brunch, lunch or dinner. The weekend brunch buffet offers lots of warm and cold dishes, mostly gluten free, and as a bonus you get an extra gluten free dessert. Also a great place for those who don’t get out of bed on Sunday morning and prefer to go for brunch in the afternoon.
Linko, Ruusulankatu 3-5, Töölö, Helsinki
Pizzaaa… Oh, how long I have waited for a gluten free version of their delicious pizzas. Now it is available!
Although it is great that Linko has gf pizza now, I do not recommend it, nor any other pizza place, if you are highly intolerant to gluten.
Mari’s Smoothie & Cafe, Old Market Hall, Eteläranta, Helsinki
There is this little gluten free gem at the old Market Hall that will boost your day! Smoothies, fresh pressed juices, panini sandwiches and other bakery goods, and it’s all gluten free.
Meat District, Jokikatu 43, Porvoo
Meat lovers heaven in the old town of Porvoo. Always worth a visit, not only for their delicious MD Burger, which is also available gluten free, but also for all the other meaty and meatless delicacies they offer.
Ravintola Bröd Punavuori, Bulevardi 26, Punavuori, Helsinki
It is a hotel restaurant, or rather a great restaurant which happens to be in a hotel, but don’t let this put you off. The food is gorgeous and tastes wonderful. The menu is seasonal and mostly gluten free.
Ravintola Kaarti, Pohjoinen Hesperiankatu 33 A, Töölö, Helsinki
This is pretty much gluten free heaven when it comes to brunch buffets! Also for lunch and proper dining there are many naturally gluten free choices.
Ravintola Kuu, Töölönkatu 27, Töölö, Helsinki
Great food since 1966, and almost every dish is either naturally gluten free or easily adapted to gluten free. There’s fresh seasonal food and classic Finnish dishes on the menu, for lunch and dinner.
Shelter, Kanavaranta 7, Katajonokka, Helsinki
“An old warehouse at Katajanokka harbor gives shelter to friends of good food and drink.” And I can recommend both! Their 3 to 5 course Chef’s Menu is great. It’s individually put together for you, or your group of friends, while taking all dietary restrictions into account.
Story Kortteli, Kortteli, 5th floor in Kamppi shopping center, Kamppi, Helsinki
Story Vanha Kauppahalli, Old Market Hall, Eteläranta, Helsinki
The cafés offer great breakfast and lunch, delicious bakes and in Kamppi also dinner, and there is always a gluten free option available. Some of the baked goods might contain wheat starch, so please ask the staff for more info, but there is usually something on the menu that is naturally gluten free.
The Cock, Fabianinkatu 17, Kaartinkaupunki, Helsinki
A relaxed eatery, open from early morning till at least midnight. Here you can get a gluten free version of practically everything, if it’s not already naturally gluten free. On top of it all they have great coffee, juices, artisan wine and drinks that you can’t get anywhere else.
Viisi Penniä, Mannerheimintie 55, Töölö, Helsinki
Although this place is anchored in the world of beer, the restaurant menu is full of naturally gluten free dishes.
Keskisuomi / Central Finland
Karoliinan Kestikievari, Kuusirinne 11, Leivonmäki
This is gluten free cake heaven on route 4 / E75, just about 50 south of Jyväsklyä. There are plenty of baked goods for the normal eaters as well as the gluten free eaters. You just have to drop by and try it!
Vanha Asemaravintola, Hannikaisenkatu 18, Jyväskylä
The restaurant in the old station building has it’s very own charm and the food is just amazing. There are loads of naturally gluten free dishes on the a la cart menu and most lunch dishes are gluten free too. I’ll definitely be back.
Pirkanmaa
Bistro Naapuri, Tuomiokirkonkatu 24, Tampere
This is a good place for a coffee or lunch break when visiting Tampere. Soups, salads and good cakes offer a wide variety of gluten free options.
Kahvila + Keittiö Sylvi, Nuutajärvi Glass Village, Pruukinraitti, Nuutajärvi
Cute café and lunch restaurant in the heart of the Nuutajärvi Glass Village. This place is where you need to go for good honest food and great cakes if you have any kind of food allergy, all year round.
Kulma 26, Bistro & Bar, Hämeenkatu 26, Tampere
Pohjois-Pohjanmaa / Northern Ostrobothnia
Ravintola Puistola, Pakkahuoneenkatu 15, Oulu
This is a gorgeous restaurant in the centre of Oulu and the food here is amazing. There are lots of gluten free options on the menu. A tiny little downside is the extra charge for gluten free bread, but it is totally worth paying the extra money as the bread is amazing.
Vaskikello, Vaskikellontie 420, Pyhäjärvi
This unique restaurant on route 4 / E75, between Oulu und Jyväskylä, is worth a visit. What started with a small brass bell, bought to match with the restaurant’s name, turned into a huge bell collection which can be admired before or after you eat. The place offers good gluten free options for lunch, dinner or in between.
Lapland
Haltiakammi & Kivinavetta, Ylläksentie 168, Kolari
This place is only a short drive from Ylläs, tucked away into the forest. It’s almost a secret, even if it really isn’t. It offers everything you would want for a memorable evening with friends on a vacation in winter wonderland, or any other time of the year. The food is gorgeous and mostly gluten free; and definitely worth the drive to the middle of nowhere.
Humina Restaurant, Hotelli Ylläshumina, Tiurajärventie 27, Äkäslompolo
Here you get to eat delicious naturally gluten free food from the à la carte menu or one of their themed buffet dinners, and it is almost a challenge to find something that is not gluten free. So, if you are in the Ylläs area and really want to enjoy a buffet dinner of a special kind, this is the place to come and dine.
Karilan Navettagalleria, Karilantie 31, Äkäslompolo
Kukkolan Koski-Catering, Koskitie 4, Kukkolankoski, Tornio
It’s a small red kiosk, on the bank of Tornio river, with a pretty view of the rapids. When travelling it’s a good place to fill you stomach with the classic salmon soup or freshly smoked local fish, both naturally gluten free of course.
Latukahvila Velhon Kota, Äkäslompolo
Ravintola Rouhe, Lompolontie 3, Äkäslompolo
Lots of naturally gluten free dishes on the menu.
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Check out also erimeno.fi for more gluten free restaurants, cafés and hotels around Finland.
Switzerland
GF restaurants and hotels in Switzerland, a list by Swiss Coeliac Association (in German only)
Bindella, a gastronomy company with restaurants in many Swiss cities. They usually have many gluten free options and also offer detailed information on allergens.
And here are some of my personal favorites in Switzerland:
Basel
Osteria Mamma Lucia, Hüningerstrasse 2, Basel
Italian Restaurant for normal eaters, but also with a great GF menu, including Gnocchi, Ravioli, bread and Tiramisu. Totally worth the money!
Bern
Kung Fu Burger, Speichergasse 27, Bern
Crazy Burger Restaurant! They use local produce, have seasonal specials and serve GF burgers on request.
Engelberg
Beautiful mountains, gorgeous views, but long waiting lines to get to the top of Titlis… and once you’re all the way up there, you might already be hungry again. But, there are not too many gluten free options to choose from in the mountain restaurants, it might be just french fries, or a piece of meat. In the village though, there are some good restaurants (make table reservations!) which offer great gluten free food. Here are the ones we tested:
Ristorante Al Monastero, Dorfstrasse 2, Engelberg
Here you get to enjoy gluten free pizza and pasta, and a lot more.
Spice Bazaar, Dorfstrasse 48, Engelberg
Indian cuisine with many gluten free options on the menu.
Zürich
George Bar & Grill, Sihlstrasse 50, 8001 Zürich
A great view over Zürich accompanied by delicious food and tasty drinks. There are lots of yummy naturally gluten free options on the menu. So if you’re in Zürich, this is definitely a place to visit!
Maison Blunt, Gasometerstrasse 5, 8005 Zürich
Moroccan restaurant and tea room in the heart of Zürich. They have a special menu card with dishes listed per diet(-restriction).
REAL, Müllerstrasse 23, Zurich
Spanish Restaurant with many naturally GF choices.