The Palace restaurant, a Michelin two-star fine dining establishment in Helsinki, has once again been crowned the best restaurant in Finland according to the annual ranking published by 'Viisi Tähteä' network media. This marks the seventh consecutive year that Palace has won this accolade, underscoring its dominance in the Finnish culinary scene. The results of the voting, which involved 500 professionals from the restaurant, tourism, hotel, and food and beverage industries, were announced at the Gastro Helsinki fair, highlighting the impact of professional opinions on the award's legitimacy.

In the recent voting competition, the restaurant Basbas secured the second place, while the third place went to Grön, both located in Helsinki as well. This distribution of top restaurants showcases Helsinki's leading role in Finland's dining scene, with a total of 35 out of the 50 best restaurants located in the capital city. Moreover, the awards also recognized individual achievements, with Jari Vesivalo from restaurant Jason in Helsinki receiving the 'Professional of the Year' award and Lauri Kaivoluoto from restaurant Backakoski in Vantaa named as the 'Best Change Maker'.

The inclusion of eight first-time entries onto the list further signifies the evolving culinary landscape in Finland, as new establishments gain recognition and contribute to the diversity of dining options. The successful engagement by industry professionals emphasizes the importance of their insights in shaping the future of Finnish gastronomy, as they continue to influence trends and elevate the standard of culinary excellence across the country, reinforcing the tradition of culinary innovation.