Visit Helsinki: Saaga

Arriving to Helsinki, Finland for the first time about 9 years ago, I was completely in shock of how much I have instantly clicked with a place that I’ve been wanting to visit for so long and at the same time in disbelief of how big cultural differences were between Finland and Croatia, back then my home country.

Just to start from the weather and food to how people and traditions are like day and night in these two countries. However, these facts didn’t make it a problem for me to find my home in Helsinki and adopt all of the best thing from Finnish culture into my life.

One of the easiest and fastest ways to “taste” and realise the history and characteristics of some country is by tasting the most traditional food and by visiting a restaurant such as SAAGA is! Entering Saaga, you are entering a priceless piece of Finnish tradition, tastes, smells and an overall, museum like experience, as for your eyes, as well for your taste buds!

For this collaboration with A&S restaurants, we have visited Saaga during their popular Lappish Christmas buffet which is SO worth trying out! You’ll find a big variety of homemade meals as if your Finnish grandma would have made them. You know that kind of meals which will be for a long time stuck in the register of the the best foods you’ve ever tasted… Yes, those kind of meals, simple, traditional but prepared with so much love and bursting with flavour.

I went for the “fish” options while my companion went for more meaty and hearty ones. 🙂 The choices were “endless”, from smoked salmon, white fish mousse, pickles to cold smoked reindeer and bear salami.

After we were done eating, we went for a small tour of the restaurant which was an experience that I was so happy to share with my daughter’s wondering eyes.

The lowest part of the restaurant ( street level ) is decorated and imagined to be/ represent dwarf world, middle part is representing the Earth, “open air” effect space with lots of amazing details such as almost forgotten, old Sami language cave signs on the chairs and walls. Last level, which is small and serves also as a private cabinet is decorated and presented as a place for gods/ shamans… I swear to you my dear readers that I got the biggest goosebumps taking a tour through Saaga… You just have to go there and see for yourself. 🙂

*All of the photos by Natali K. photography

*This post was made in collaboration with A&S restaurants, all of the opinions are my own.

*Thank you Johanna for making this collaboration possible.