City Midsummer: Helsinki restaurants filled up on Midsummer

Helsinki's dining scene experienced a surge in demand over the Midsummer holiday, with many restaurants operating at full capacity and struggling to accommodate walk-in customers. Establishments such as Flori and Natura in the Punavuori district, located on Iso Roobertinkatu, reported being fully booked. Restaurateur David Alberti mentioned turning away dozens of people on both Friday and Saturday.

Similarly, Hans Välimäki's Brasserie Lionne on Pohjoisesplanadi was packed, as was the new Rogue Rouge in Tervasaari. While many restaurants traditionally close during Midsummer due to increased staffing costs and a general exodus from the city, Alberti has kept his restaurants open for nearly a decade. His tradition began somewhat accidentally when he forgot to close Natura one year, only to find that open restaurants were a welcome surprise for tourists.

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I've traveled a few times to countries where religious or other holidays happened to coincide. I've found myself in a city where everything is closed. It's quite miserable.

Alberti decided then that Natura would always be open for Midsummer. His sister restaurant, Flori, opened just over a year ago and also served customers throughout the holiday, with both venues booked for three seatings each day. Alberti empathizes with travelers who find themselves in cities where everything is closed during holidays, stating, "It's quite miserable." He aims to prevent others from experiencing such disappointment.

Välimäki's Brasserie Lionne, which opened last year, was open for Midsummer for the first time. He decided to open after observing the city's vibrancy upon returning from his own Midsummer celebrations and noting the high demand. After a successful trial during Christmas, he extended the practice to Midsummer. He admitted to one mistake: closing too early on Midsummer's Eve, with the kitchen shutting down at 8 p.m., despite continued demand. However, he could not adjust staff shifts, deeming it unfair to ask employees to work extra hours. Both restaurateurs found staying open during the holiday to be financially worthwhile when viewed as part of their overall business strategy, prioritizing consistent customer flow and turnover.

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I heard it was asked quite a lot. When we returned to Helsinki after celebrating Midsummer and I went around the city, I noticed there were a lot of people.