The story
Muru is a modern European restaurant at Fredrikinkatu 41 in Helsinki, and the White Guide has rated it Very fine level (2026). It has run on the calmer side of Fredrikinkatu since 2010, with a wine focus that shapes the whole evening.
The kitchen builds its menu around what is in season, so the card changes from day to day. Many guests order the four-course Day's menu at 59 €, which can be extended with a risotto of the day. The approach is direct: take the best raw ingredient available, cook it plainly, and respect the wine on the table. Kitchen master Karoliina Narkiniemi leads the cooking.
The list holds close to 800 wines, and Wine Spectator gave it the Best of Award of Excellence in 2017. Samuil Angelov, who co-owns the restaurant and works as its sommelier, sets the standard that every pour should be true to its character, whatever its price. Several wines are opened by the glass each day, so a single meal can cover a wide range.
The dining room has a ceiling 6.5 metres high, which gives it an airy feel. A mezzanine holds bottles from the Old and New World. A separate cabinet beside the wine bar seats up to eight guests, and larger groups can be seated in the main restaurant. The wine bar on Lönnrotinkatu 14 pours by the glass and hosts Saturday tastings led by sommeliers.
Recognition
Details
History
Muru – the name means both “darling” and “crumble” in Finnish – has been animating the calmer side of Fredrikinkatu street since 2010. The place belongs to celebrity chef Henri Alén, serial restaurateur Timo “Lintsi” Linnamäki and sommelier Samuil Angelov, it’s known for its friendly and professional service, and, first and foremost, its unforgettable winelist. The ambiance is airy and cosmopolitan, the dining room, with its impressive 6,5 meter-ceiling height, is buzzy in all the right ways. There’s mezzanine bulging with wines from both the Old and the New World.
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