Old Market Hall

went for the famous salmon soup on 30th Dec 2025. the walkway is quite squeezy and you have order food before getting a seat for some shops. there are lots of shops to eat but we only went for the famous "soup and more" (always long queue) and some sashimi shop to eat.

We came here on a late Thursday afternoon, about 90 minutes before the closing time at 6pm. It wasn't busy at all and we didn't need to wait fort a table to enjoy the salmon soup at Soppakeittio. The prices for local truffle powder and salt are quite reasonable. The atmosphere is probably more lively during the day or the weekends, some of the shops were already closed around 5pm.

After reading so many positive reviews we decided to take a visit to the Old Market Hall in Helsinki. It is really close to the ferry for Suomenlinna so it was a great place to stop after spending time exploring the island. After browsing the market stalls nearby we made our way in and wandered through the aisles of the hall enjoying the vast variety of options on offer. There is a really nice atmosphere inside and plenty to tempt you as you walk around. We decided to try the famous salmon soup and a sausage roll at a stall near the main entrance and when we approached the counter the pleasant team member took our order and invited us to take a seat. Not long after our food arrived and looked good. The salmon soup was as good as expected with great tasty chunks of salmon and a rich comforting broth. Unfortunately the sausage roll was not quite to our preference on this occasion but it did not disappoint our overall enjoyment of this great location in Helsinki. Overall we really enjoyed our visit and would happily return when back in the city.

The Old Market Hall is a beautiful seaside building, and its elegant exterior immediately caught my eye. Inside, it opens up into a lively market where you can find everything from fresh produce to local delicacies and souvenirs. There are also plenty of food stalls and cafés to choose from. I tried reindeer soup at one of the lovely cafés inside, and it was absolutely delicious. It’s a wonderful place to explore, enjoy local flavours, and experience a bit of Helsinki’s food culture. Highly recommended when visiting the city.

We had a quick bite here. The hall itself is very beautiful, but everything inside shouts tourist trap unfortunately 🙃 Fun for a stop and a quick bite, but don't expect an authentic "market", those days are long gone...

Near the outdoor market, ferry to Suomenlinna, and offers delicious salmon soup... couldn't love this spot more. Visited twice on my short trip to Helsinki. Does seem to get quite the cruise crowd at lunchtime though.

Fantastic vibes of old market. Very crowded by very orderly as well. We queued for the Soup & More and was not disappointed. Service was excellent and the soups were really great.

we have tried fish soup and and rye bread with smoked salmon. both were very good. for dessert we had coffee and cinnamon rolls. both were ok, nothing special

Seriously difficult to rate one stop above others as anything in this market is going to be good. Solid bars good options at several stalls and cute shops to hunt for that special item. Bonus that this has restrooms and is inside - a great way to get out of the cold! Though there ARE opportunities to sit a spell, people watching here might be limited (if that's your thing) as the hallway around the market is more narrow and doesn't have much room to sit and only one or two stalls have seating areas. Service at each business is fast as it can be for a popular place and of course the value for your spend might be limited as well because there are tourists everywhere! When in doubt grab a sweet roll!

Best place to eat local food if you want to sample a variety of items, from Asian to reindeer, fish, pastries, gelato, etc. We ate at Kumpi Peruna that offers baked potatoes with your choice of toppings. Everything is gluten free and healthy. We shared the reindeer potato with blue cheese and lingonberry at the suggestion of the server. Also added pickles and beet slaw. This was very good. We also had a cheese cake and sponge cake from two other vendors. We had hoped to go here twice but ran out of time as the close at 6:00 and we couldn't get back in time for a second round.

I love food halls- everyone can get what they want and every one is happy! I was able to try a Finnish meat pie (overrated to me), dry an Original Long Drink and my husband was able to get the best spring rolls and we split a reindeer sandwich. It was so crowded in there but I know why- pretty high quality foods!

This is a food hall located right next to the ferry in Helsinki. It was almost easy to miss since the building didn't look like a food hall from the outside. The inside is interesting. I felt like all the stalls were very close to each other so I can see this place getting extremely crowded during peak season. There were also limited WCs (bathrooms) so I think I saw the line for the WCs to be very long. The seating inside was very weird. Usually for food halls there is a lot of seating open to all but this place was more like, there would be a food stall, and then either next to it or right across the stall had reserved some tables for their customers only. I found that a bit strange since when you go to a food hall with friends, everyone usually wants to try different places and then meet together at the end to sit together. I went to a food stall nobody else did so I ended up taking my plate away (with the stall's permission) and sat with my friends at another stall. (Thankfully the other stall did not care I didn't actually eat there) The stalls here were fun and seemed to focus a lot on Finnish food. I saw a lot of caviar, herring, salmon soup, bear meat (!?), reindeer meat, etc. However, if you are in the mood for more safe/normal foods, and/or if you're a vegetarian, it seems like you might have a tougher time finding something to eat here.

The best market hall I've been to. The food was incredible. The smoked salmon toast I had was so fresh and some of the best smoked fish I've ever had. The smoked reindeer meat pie was super delicious as well. All the people we interacted with at the stores we went to were friendly and so helpful. Found some great souvenirs and really enjoyed all the food. Don't miss this place when visiting Helsinki.

I have mixed feelings about this place. Pros: I got to try reindeer meat, elk, cloudberry jam... essentially things difficult to find out of Finland. Also I did all these under 35 Euros since you can buy tasting portions. Cons: None of the food blew me away. The Runeberg tart is a must try. Delicious. It's the shop on your way out that sells deserts. Avoid the fried fish.

A must-see when in Helsinki. This historic market features both prepared foods and stands offering regional ingredients like sausages, jellies, reindeer and seafood. I especially loved the soup stand and that I was able to locate a non-fish vegan offering on their menu. It seems that the star of the show with many of the vendors was salmon soup. The hall does feature some small public bathrooms. You'll also find a vibrant and bustling market outside with vendors selling local berries, mushrooms, lunch items and more. Great energy and people watching all around. It also doesn't hurt that it's conveniently located at the end of the esplanade.

Well worth a visit even if you don't want to buy anything. Wonderful architecture with wonderful wooden 'cubicles', inside, selling fish, chutneys etc etc. Seating areas with national delicacies to taste. An eye opener of the old world that our ancestors enjoyed. Of course, there was the inevitable reindeer skins and antlers for sale. A very interesting hour or so

This was my favorite place to eat when I was in Helsinki! I love public markets and foodhalls because of the variety of food and products and the Old Market Hall did not disappoint! It's housed in this gorgeous old building and has been operating since 1889. It's not huge and the two main aisles on either side are a bit narrow but I found it incredibly charming. There are a bunch of vendors, including a Robert's Coffee (which was always busy every time i went), a cheese shop, two caviar shops, seafood vendors, a gelato place, a soup place, a vietnamese place, a bakery, and a couple others. At the middle of the foodhall was a cafe called Story that had a lot of seating and was also really popular. I did my own little food tour the first time I was at the foodhall. I got a sampler thing of traditional finnish cheese (leipajuusto) that came with cloudberry jam (i loved this) from the cheese shop. I did a caviar tasting at one of the caviar shops (it was €5 for a small spoonful) and it was really fun to try it for the first time. I sampled reindeer jerky or sausage (not 100% sure lol) from the shop that was selling arctic/northern finnish/sami stuff. And I got a graavilohi/cold smoked salmon on top of rye bread from Eriksson's seafood booth (THIS WAS SOOOOO GOOD!!!). And all the merchants were so nice. And everyone took credit card. I really wanted to buy a jar of cloudberry jam to take home but i didn't want to check in a bag for the flight home. So i bought some cloudberry candies instead from another vendor. I came back to the foodhall another day and ordered a lohikeitto (creamy salmon soup) from Story Cafe and it was delicious and perfect for a rainy day. The bread it came with was also delicious! Also got another graavilohi afterwards! I absolutely recommend this place if you are in Helsinki. It's great for trying some local Finnish things. Some of the shops have their own limited seating, but others don't. There are some benches near the entrance or you could take it outside and eat it on the steps looking out at the water. There were also some tables outside of the foodhall but it wasn't clear if they belonged to a vendor that was closed for the day/season. There are also restrooms but they are suuuuuper cramped and tiny. Enjoy! Kiitos Helsinki!!!

The Old Market Hall has been opened since 1889, which is quite impressive. We came early, and not all the vendors were opened. The only thing I ended up purchasing were reindeer chips. I was shocked to discover they were 8 euros.

I liked this old market hall which is walkable from the ferry terminal. This being the last remaining Scandinavian country I've not visited I was a little leery for a bit because I was under the impression that Finland is no where as cool as Sweden and Norway which are top four most favorite countries in the world (the other two being Germany and France), but I was really taken away right away by the old market. The salmon here is amazing and fish sandwiches served open face is a huge attraction. I loved the stalls that sold the herring. It reminded me just like Stockholm. The guy saw me earlier at a different stall and was happy that I came back to him. He offered to make me a mixed plate with different herrings and also a cod sandwich. I paid only 15 euro for a large plate which was very satisfying. If you are visiting Helsinki, definitely don't forget to visit this place. I loved how everything is so accessible and in Finland they take Euros which makes it so much easier for us to shop!

I had to come back to Vanha Kauppahalli after my walking tour made a quick visit to this market. I really enjoyed browsing through all the vendors, especially seeing the wide varieties of cured salmon. I may have to make another visit to try a sampler before I fly back home! This is a great place to buy treats for your friends, where you can pick up pates (duck, rabbit, boar and deer to name a few), reindeer jerky, salted licorice, and more. Also, there are a couple of vendors that will accept American Express. Great place to earn those Amex points, since not many businesses in Helsinki accept this.

Not as large as some indoor public markets (Porto's Bolhão, for example) but they have a nice variety of shops here. The aisle is a little narrow, but we managed to make do as we started our food tour here. It is completely indoor, so you'll enjoy the air conditioning and heating. Wine and beer and spirits, meat, seafood, more seafood, fresh vegetables. Soup, sandwiches, bakery with pastries, all sorts of yummy stuff already prepared. Free wifi was a nice touch, too. [Review 10067 overall, 1652 of 2018.]

It's a beautiful building. I love this place. When I was growing up in Helsinki, I lived within walking distance from this Old Marketplace. Every time I visit Helsinki, I will make it a point to walk through this Vaha kauppahalli and enjoy the atmosphere. You can get some amazing pastries, fish, cold cuts and candy. Last time I bought some caramelized ginger, smoked "silakka"(= small fish), Baltic herring, and delicious meat pies. This place now has several small restaurants where your taste buds can enjoy finish flavors, and where you can watch tourist and locals do their shopping. It even has a Alko liquor store. Definitely worth visiting while in Helsinki.

Old Market Hall This is one of the most exceptional food halls I've ever been to! Want a crash course in Finnish cuisine? This is the place to learn about it. They have a huge variety of different food sellers in here, selling everything you could ever imagine as far as seafood, sweets, breads- high end, high quality food. The hall is divided into two rows. Each booth is about 4-10 meters long, depending on the amount of inventory they have. They sell food from across the globe- but they focus mainly on seafood. If salmon is your thing, you'll be enchanted by this food hall. I had no idea that salmon was so versatile, with so many different ways to prepare it, flavor it, and serve it. The list of fish available was quite extensive, with most of the fish having been caught semi-locally or around Scandinavia. The best approach is to try a little something from each booth- as each one seems to have its own specialty. This is a great place to get souvenirs or strange foods to take home. It's not all seafood, they have canned bear meat, elk meat, reindeer jerky available to take home. This place doesn't seem to be just for the tourists either. I spotted several locals buying raw fish to take home with them for supper. You can eat your food on the spot- there's a section in the middle of the food hall under a giant mirror where you are free to sit and eat at the tables without having to order from the restaurant co-located there. Beer & wine to pair with your meal is available at the Alko at the north end of the hall. There's restrooms located in the north end of the hall, but I found those to be cramped with a long line. There's a public restroom right outside the doors by the harbor, which was empty when I went. This cool old market hall is completely worth checking out. I'm so glad that I did, and had various fish in over a half dozen ways. Tasting all the delicious Finnish seafood cuisine was certainly a highlight of the trip!

I love Old Market Hall! My husband and I stopped here in search of food for lunch. I am limited on the food I can eat due to I am gluten free and dairy free. I had previously bookmarked on Yelp Old Market Hall so away we go. Once inside there are tons of stalls of specialty shops, restaurants, and cafes. I got a salad down at the end that was interesting but also delicious. My salad had rice noodles, shrimp, peanuts, and Asian sauce. I was even able to get Ice tea that was imported from Thailand!! Score!! My husband opted for a reindeer burger at another stall. We also bought reindeer jerky to enjoy later at another shop. So there you go folks, you can find food for everyone. There is a vegan and gluten free place within Old Markey Hall.

I think this entire market is well worth a visit. I suppose the aisles could feel a bit narrow if throngs of people are crowding through. But we were there on a relatively slow weeknight and foot traffic moved freely. I wandered by shops selling what looked like exceptional pastries, huge varieties of cheese, all manner of breads and rolls and appealingly arrayed fruits and vegetables. I didn't run across anything that didn't merit at least a decent perusal. I do want to highlight two places for review. The first is a stall toward the back that sells seafood. I'm not positive but it could have been called Marja Nätti. In any case, they offered absolutely extraordinary salmon in a variety of styles. I purchased a four type sampler that included Traditional Salted Salmon (Wanhan Ajan Tsaarin Lohi), Cured Salmon with Lemon Pepper (Sitruunapippuri Graavilohi), Cured Salmon with Rose Pepper (Rosepippuri Graaviloni) and Cold Smoked Salmon (Gravlax or Kylmäsavustettu Lohi). Each had a unique taste and texture. It was impossible to choose a favorite. They were all superbly prepared. Even my son who is not a seafood lover thought these were delicious. I added a dense, chewy Pumpernickel roll slathered with creamery butter and a lemony soft drink to make a meal. Outstanding! The second establishment I want to recognize is Robert's Coffee. For a real eye opening, head clearing treat try a double Espresso Habanero. I paired it with some cayenne pepper infused dark chocolate I'd previously acquired. This combination could be illegal in some parts of the world. It's certainly addictive.

Not sure about you, but I still can't say this name without stoping and reading it twice. Yeah, Finnish is not such an easy language, is it? That being said, come here for the experience, not actually to buy food or have lunch (unless you can afford the outrageous prices). They have a little bit of everything, fruits, vegetables, butcheries. You can find crazy reindeer meat, or imported pineapples, and of course pay a lot for it. If you are into the restaurants, the soup one is your best option - but they don't have small bowls so gotta be hungry. I spent about 20 min walking around, it was pretty pleasant, but the amount of tourists didn't make me want to stay longer. Ah, they have free WiFi, boyah!

This place is absolutely lovely. It is filled with different cafes and specialty shops. I wanted to come here to try some of the traditional Finnish food and take some treats back to my friends. They have everything from fresh meats and fish, to piping hot coffee, jams, desserts, and delicious ready to eat meals such as fish stew. I was so excited to try so many things and I even took some tasty liquorice home as a souvenir. Definitely come here if you're interested in trying some of the local fare! Also, it's right on the water and next to the Helsinki Market Square with more shops.

Great market to come to when visiting Helsinki to sample some local cuisine and grab a quick, cheap lunch. The vendors are all willing to help and are very friendly. Bought some delicious sweet licorice here and only paid €2,70 for a nice sized bag. It does get crowded and walking through it could be a challenge but it's worth it for a visit. Come grab lunch here and eat out by the harbor (weather permitting).

One review? Whats up? Just a stones throw from the main open market area near the Helsinki coast this is another fun place to stop in. Essentially a collection of food shops under one roof. Plenty of good options. We like to have sandwiches, coffees, and a few chocolates prepared to take to the nearby park. The walking areas can get a bit tight so watch your wallets and purses (not that we had any issues). People are moving slow, perusing the offerings, often making several passes before making a decision. Meat shops, vegetarian, cafes, high end candy, bread, and of course the Scandinavian staples - seafood. You will also find some novelty food items, like canned bear and jams, that could make for interesting souvenirs or gifts. See photos for details.

Beautiful, large market hall with local vendors. From specialty jams, marmelades and honeys, over local produce to freshly prepared meals, this market has it all! Especially if it's cold or rainy day, definitely pop in here.

Not as good as Hakaniemen in the north of the city but still worth seeing. You get a lot of typical finnish food, especially scoons. Do not miss it!

I was a bit disappointed after being in there for buying some local delicacies (Reindeer ham and salmon). It was full of tourists just running around and taking pictures and the prices where quite high (maybe because of the tourists). On the pictures it looks much bigger than it actually is. Managed to walk through it twice in just 10 minutes including a chat with the salesman. Maybe I was unlucky and just picked the wrong day to give it a visit but I doubt that the prices are different during other weekdays

This market place is great! Has a lot of (but not too many) little shops with specialty food. I had a shrimp salad open sandwish with a glass of wine and it was 13 euros in total, which I don't think is a bad deal. You can sit right outside the market hall at the terrace and enjoy the sun and the sea. :) But be careful of the seagulls! I was warned by a couple of local gentlemen that I should keep my food in my hands because otherwise the seagulls would steal my food in a second. I also got little jars of honey and packs of hemp seed snacks for souvenior. The packaging was cute and neat. I am excited to bring these to my friends.

this is one of my favorite places to visit in Helsinki. They have reindeer EVERYTHING which I love. My friends call me the reindeer meat queen. I seriously can sniff out reindeer meat for miles. that is why this place is great. They even have canned reindeer soup!! they have the most unique fish dishes in a Finnish way you can't get anywhere else in the world. Want reindeer jerky or salami? Go there! Really, you CANNOT leave HKi without making a stop there. Tram 1 and 2 go right by there.

It is one of the most important sights of Helsinki and something to recommend to everyone that visits Helsinki. The Wanha Kauppahalli (old market hall) offers its visitors not only a huge variety of good and fresh food, it also has its very own and unique atmosphere. And it's not just a place for tourists. Also the locals come here to get their groceries. Even if you don't really need anything it is fun to just walk along the stands, look at the typical Finnish products and maybe buy a small snack. After seeing all the nice things they sell you will want to also try some of them. But it is a place in the center which means: don't expect low prices. You find Kauppahalli next to the market square at the end of Esplanadi next to the sea. It is also a good place for rainy days. You should take the tram 3T then and get out at Kauppatori.

Great market full of food stands! Check out Story for brunch if you're going to visit this place. It's located on the water, next to the open water.

Amazing market / tons of local flavor / awesome Samples and restaurants. Save a meal for here! The soup place is not to be missed!

Visiting the vanha kauppahalli is a real event! You can literally find everything from food to fashion, from souvenirs to restaurants But most of all, it's a culinary delight! The perfect place to try out Finnish specialities. It's frequented by both tourists and locals, and can be quite full. But if you don't mind the bustling activity, it's definitely worth a visit.

Lovely food market selling a whole range of food items as well as several restaurants to buy and sit in the market. A large variety of items to choose from. Slightly limited seating spaces but still worth checking out.

Very tourist place, but worth visiting to have a snack.