Restaurant Kosmos (Helsinki, FINLAND) ★★☆☆☆

Ravintola Kosmos has been an integral part of Helsinki's dining scene since 1924 and it's still going strong. Situated just a short walk from Stockmann's department store, the restaurant serves up a hearty "Helsinki cuisine" with Russian, French and Swedish influences.

The vintage decor dates back to the 1930's and still maintains its cozy and elegant ambiance.



I kicked things off with a little crayfish salad.



Our second starter was the famous Finnish Antipasto consisting of Baltic Herring, salmon pastirma, smoked reindeer, forest mushroom and Finnish cheese.



After two relatively small starters, our main courses arrived and the portion was huge. First up was my fillet of reindeer with a special sauce made with shoots of spruce and rosemary.

The reindeer looked a little overcooked though.



A little more successful was the second main course - fried Arctic char with salmon roe and white wine sauce. This was the best dish of the night by a country mile.






Food Rating: 4/10

Price: $$$$

Address: Kalevankatu 3, 00100 Helsinki, Finland

Closest Subway Station: Kampin
Tel: +358 9 647 255
Website: www.kosmos.fi

Hotel Helka (Helsinki, FINLAND)

Our flight to Helsinki was delayed a bit but we finally made it to our first stop in Scandinavia safe and sound. After taking the airport shuttle to Helsingin päärautatieasema, Helsinki's central railway station, we hopped off immediately and started marching slowly towards Hotel Helka.



Meet Hotel Helka, ladies and gentlemen! Housed inside a historic building from 1920's, it's just a comfortable 12-minute walk from the railway station. Not bad.

We spent a few moments taking photos in the hotel lobby while waiting for our turn to check in.

Our deluxe room was well-designed creating a comfortable and inviting atmosphere. For a price tag under €100, it felt like a huge bargain. 

Even the ceiling was nicely decorated with a picture of a tropical river and jungle.

Hidden inside the toilet was a private sauna room which we didn't have the time to check out personally.

The hotel is very close to Kamppi Metro station and bus terminal although we won't be able to see those from our window.

Breakfast was included and it was a simple affair with salad, sausage and egg, milk and cereal. That's enough to get us through the morning.

We had an amazing time in Helsinki. Now, time to explore the next city on our itinerary. Stockholm, you're next on the agenda!

Rating: ❤❤❤❤

Price: $$

Address: Pohjoinen Rautatiekatu 23, 00100 Helsinki, Finland

Closest Subway Station: Kamppi

Tel: +358 9 613580

Website: www.hotelhelka.com

Le 188° Restaurant & Lounge (Hong Kong, CHINA) ★★☆☆☆

Located on the 41st floor of the brand new Harbour Grand Hong Kong in North Point, Le 188° Restaurant & Lounge offers a stunning 188-degree view of the harbour with floor-to-ceiling windows on three sides of the restaurant. At the helm is Hungarian executive chef Jeno Friedl who creates a modern European cuisine and seafood delights to guests with a menu that changes on a regular basis.




The restaurant successfully combines elegant modern decor, an exquisite contemporary European menu and a jaw-dropping harbour view all under one roof.



The amuse bouche was a simple scallop sashimi with a garden green.



First up was one of chef Friedl's signature dishes, pan seared foie gras with balsamic vinegar.



Our second course was a scallops carpaccio that was sandwiched by two thin layers of ginger jelly. That was quite an innovative interpretation.



But the wheels started to fall off from here beginning with the disappointing langoustine skewers which was served with an intense lobster sauce.



The lamb wellington with spinach and mushroom was also slightly below expectation.



Le 188˚'s selling point is mainly the spectacular view so don't set your bar too high.


Food Rating: 4/10

Price: $$$

Address: 41/F, Harbour Grand Hong Kong, 23 Oil Street, North Point, Hong Kong

Closest Metro Station: Fortress Hill

Tel: +852 2121-2693
Website: www.harbour-grand. com/en/hong-kong/fine-dining/le188.html