Helsinki - Bling bling! Welcome to the new Finnish luxury
The term "Finnish luxury" might sound like an oxymoron, as Finland is better known for its emphasis on an economically egalitarian society. Yet there are a growing number of luxuries – from five-star accommodation to Michelin-star restaurants – on offer in Helsinki and other parts of Finland. As is the trend globally, luxury is no longer the exclusive domain of the wealthy.
Late on a Thursday night the swish second-floor Kämp Club at Helsinki's five-star Hotel Kämp is packed. The crowd is mixed: there are 30- and 40-something local professionals, businesspeople from abroad who are staying at the hotel, and a few tourists who are seated at the posh backlit bar taking it all in. Lounging on a set of chocolate-coloured couches is a group of young Helsinki Russians, quaffing back bottles of 1998 Dom Pérignon at 252 euros a pop. Their conversation becomes animated, as they lean in to admire the mobile phone belonging to one of the women in the group. It is an exclusive platinum Vertu that retails for close to 20,000 euros – if you can get one: there is a waiting list.
© Vertu
The Vertu Signature Platinum Diamond
Vertu is, of course, the luxury arm of the world's Number One mobile phone maker, Nokia, which just happens to be Finnish. More than ten years on in its EU membership, Finland has a healthy economy (unemployment is at 7.5 per cent). In the streets of the Finnish capital business appears to be booming, judging by the number of people shopping at expensive boutiques and dining out in the city's top restaurants.
Another sign of economic prosperity is the number of construction sites around town, from the ongoing expansion of Stockmann department store (Helsinki's Harrods) to the new luxury apartments being built on the Eiranranta shoreline. Scheduled for completion later this year, the flats are expected to carry an average square-metre price of more than 10,000 euros. According to the main Finnish daily newspaper Helsingin Sanomat, the average flat (125 square metres) will cost 1.25 million euros.
In the Lapp of luxury
While not everyone can afford a 1.25 million-euro flat, it's no longer only the wealthy who are willing to pay for top-end products and services. Anne Murto of Finnish nature and adventure travel company Rukapalvelu says: "It's a growing general trend: people from all walks of life want and expect quality service, good wines and fine cuisine, champagne and other products to pamper themselves with such as once in-a-lifetime travel experiences."
Based in Kuusamo near the Arctic Circle in Finnish Lapland, Rukapalvelu offers full-service adventure excursions, such as trekking and canoeing trips and snowmobiling safaris into the pristine Finnish wilderness. Gourmet meals at lodges and cottages are part of the experience. "Our menus feature something special but super-local such as fresh fish from a nearby lake prepared by a private chef. All of the local delicacies are prepared in an international gourmet style, and top wines are served," says Murto. "And when everything happens in a private restaurant in the middle of a forest, there is an element of the exotic and the exclusive. Both foreigners and Finns who have seen and experienced just about everything want to do things that no one else has done."
More information: Rukapalvelu Travel & Adventure
Helsinki shop-bling
Stock up on leopard print heels by Dolce & Gabbana and couture from Karl Lagerfeld and Jean Paul Gaultier at Boutique Kaarina K. (Kasarmikatu 25/ +358 9 607 073), which is run by socialite Kaarina Kivilahti. For luxury labels including Armani, Sonia Rykiel, D&G, Roberto Cavalli, and Chanel and YSL accessories, stroll down Kasarmikatu across the Esplanade Park to Della Marga (Pohjoisesplanadi 33/+358 9 2600 265/ www.dellamarga.com). Sharp-dressed men need look no further than Fere (Bulevardi 3/+358 9 612 1578/www.fere.fi), which stocks international menswear and suits from Zegna and Brioni to British Turnbull & Asser.
If you're looking to buy more than just a travel experience, fine art auctioneers Hagelstam (Bulevardi 9 A, 2nd floor/+358 9 687 7990/ www.hagelstam.fi) sells Finnish, Swedish and Russian art, while Bukowski's (Iso Roobertinkatu 12/+358 9 668 9110/www.bukowski.fi) is the country's leading auction house and sells fine Finnish and foreign art, sculpture, antique furniture, silver, jewellery, glass, porcelain and design items.
Culinary journeys
Try Michelin-star gourmet Scandinavian-European cuisine at two of the city's finest restaurants. Hans Välimäki's two-star Chez Dominique (Rikhardinkatu 4/+358 9 612 7393/www.chezdominique.fi) offers a culinary journey in a spacious, elegant, contemporary design milieu. Dinner for two with drinks costs about 350 euros.
The city's newest Michelin-star restaurant is Demo (Uudenmaankatu 9-11/ +358 9 2289 0840/www.restaurantdemo.fi), which is owned and operated by two talented young chefs, Tommi Tuominen and Teemu Aura. Presentation is key in the laidback milieu, where the chefs visit the tables to chat with patrons and introduce the dishes. A meal for two with wine costs about 150-200 euros.
Reservations for both restaurants are essential.
Rich sleeps
© Klaus K
Design hotel Klaus K's champagne bar
A gorgeous design hotel housed in a historic building, Klaus K (Bulevardi 2/+358 20770 4700/www.klauskhotel.com) is centrally located on a quiet leafy boulevard in the heart of Helsinki. The interior design is inspired by the Finnish national epic, The Kalevala, which adds a nice touch of gothic glam to this modern boutique hotel. Helsinki Day Spa (Erottaja 4, +358 9 685 0630/ www.dayspa.fi) is accessible via the hotel, for those who want to indulge in some extra pampering. Hip Uudenmaankatu is just around the corner, with its boutiques, bars and Michelin-star restaurant Demo.
Hotel Kämp (Pohjoisesplanadi 29/+358 9 576 111/www.hotelkamp.fi), voted one of the world's best hotels by Travel & Leisure Magazine, offers the ultimate in five-star luxury in a sumptuous building that dates back to 1887 and regularly hosts heads of state, leading cultural figures and international celebrities. Its top floor spa is also accessible to patrons of Kämp's new next door neighbour, Hotel GLO (Kluuvikatu 4/ +358 10 3444 400/www.palacekamp.fi), an urban lifestyle hotel that opened in March.
Weekend mini-break
Helsinki Expert offers all-inclusive luxury weekend packages that include private limousine transfers, overnight stays in a five-star hotel, an exclusive helicopter sightseeing tour over Helsinki and sailing in the archipelago.
Katja Pantzar is the author of The Hip Guide to Helsinki (WSOY 2003 & 2005), an insider's guide to the Finnish capital. She works as a magazine writer and editor in Helsinki.
Published April 2007
Contents
In the Lapp of luxury
Links
Guide map of Helsinki
Helsinki Host City
In the Lapp of luxury
While not everyone can afford a 1.25 million-euro flat, it's no longer only the wealthy who are willing to pay for top-end products and services. Anne Murto of Finnish nature and adventure travel company Rukapalvelu says: "It's a growing general trend: people from all walks of life want and expect quality service, good wines and fine cuisine, champagne and other products to pamper themselves with such as once in-a-lifetime travel experiences."
Based in Kuusamo near the Arctic Circle in Finnish Lapland, Rukapalvelu offers full-service adventure excursions, such as trekking and canoeing trips and snowmobiling safaris into the pristine Finnish wilderness. Gourmet meals at lodges and cottages are part of the experience. "Our menus feature something special but super-local such as fresh fish from a nearby lake prepared by a private chef. All of the local delicacies are prepared in an international gourmet style, and top wines are served," says Murto. "And when everything happens in a private restaurant in the middle of a forest, there is an element of the exotic and the exclusive. Both foreigners and Finns who have seen and experienced just about everything want to do things that no one else has done."
More information: Rukapalvelu Travel & Adventure
Helsinki shop-bling
Stock up on leopard print heels by Dolce & Gabbana and couture from Karl Lagerfeld and Jean Paul Gaultier at Boutique Kaarina K. (Kasarmikatu 25/ +358 9 607 073), which is run by socialite Kaarina Kivilahti. For luxury labels including Armani, Sonia Rykiel, D&G, Roberto Cavalli, and Chanel and YSL accessories, stroll down Kasarmikatu across the Esplanade Park to Della Marga (Pohjoisesplanadi 33/+358 9 2600 265/ www.dellamarga.com). Sharp-dressed men need look no further than Fere (Bulevardi 3/+358 9 612 1578/www.fere.fi), which stocks international menswear and suits from Zegna and Brioni to British Turnbull & Asser.
If you're looking to buy more than just a travel experience, fine art auctioneers Hagelstam (Bulevardi 9 A, 2nd floor/+358 9 687 7990/ www.hagelstam.fi) sells Finnish, Swedish and Russian art, while Bukowski's (Iso Roobertinkatu 12/+358 9 668 9110/www.bukowski.fi) is the country's leading auction house and sells fine Finnish and foreign art, sculpture, antique furniture, silver, jewellery, glass, porcelain and design items.
Culinary journeys
Try Michelin-star gourmet Scandinavian-European cuisine at two of the city's finest restaurants. Hans Välimäki's two-star Chez Dominique (Rikhardinkatu 4/+358 9 612 7393/www.chezdominique.fi) offers a culinary journey in a spacious, elegant, contemporary design milieu. Dinner for two with drinks costs about 350 euros.
The city's newest Michelin-star restaurant is Demo (Uudenmaankatu 9-11/ +358 9 2289 0840/www.restaurantdemo.fi), which is owned and operated by two talented young chefs, Tommi Tuominen and Teemu Aura. Presentation is key in the laidback milieu, where the chefs visit the tables to chat with patrons and introduce the dishes. A meal for two with wine costs about 150-200 euros.
Reservations for both restaurants are essential.
Rich sleeps
© Klaus K
Design hotel Klaus K's champagne bar
A gorgeous design hotel housed in a historic building, Klaus K (Bulevardi 2/+358 20770 4700/www.klauskhotel.com) is centrally located on a quiet leafy boulevard in the heart of Helsinki. The interior design is inspired by the Finnish national epic, The Kalevala, which adds a nice touch of gothic glam to this modern boutique hotel. Helsinki Day Spa (Erottaja 4, +358 9 685 0630/ www.dayspa.fi) is accessible via the hotel, for those who want to indulge in some extra pampering. Hip Uudenmaankatu is just around the corner, with its boutiques, bars and Michelin-star restaurant Demo.
Hotel Kämp (Pohjoisesplanadi 29/+358 9 576 111/www.hotelkamp.fi), voted one of the world's best hotels by Travel & Leisure Magazine, offers the ultimate in five-star luxury in a sumptuous building that dates back to 1887 and regularly hosts heads of state, leading cultural figures and international celebrities. Its top floor spa is also accessible to patrons of Kämp's new next door neighbour, Hotel GLO (Kluuvikatu 4/ +358 10 3444 400/www.palacekamp.fi), an urban lifestyle hotel that opened in March.
Weekend mini-break
Helsinki Expert offers all-inclusive luxury weekend packages that include private limousine transfers, overnight stays in a five-star hotel, an exclusive helicopter sightseeing tour over Helsinki and sailing in the archipelago.
Katja Pantzar is the author of The Hip Guide to Helsinki (WSOY 2003 & 2005), an insider's guide to the Finnish capital. She works as a magazine writer and editor in Helsinki.
Published April 2007
Contents
In the Lapp of luxury
Links
Guide map of Helsinki
Helsinki Host City
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