We have one hotel above others in Helsinki. It's Hotel Kämp, established in 1887 by Carl Kämp. It has been a luxury hotel and place-to-be-seen for all Finnish socielites from the beginning - and is still today - although it did function as office building during 1965-1999. Luckily it was restored to be a hotel again. It's the most know five-star hotel in Finland and all of the stars stay there when visiting Finland (e.g. Madonna, Bruce Springsteen...).
I have always wanted to stay in Hotel Kämp. I live close by and work in the Helsinki area, so I don't need to stay in Helsinki hotels for the sake of not being able to go home. But we do enjoy Helsinki and mini-vacation in Helsinki every once in a while. Sometimes just for not having to drive to home, for example when a long-drawn wine dinner is in program 😊
Last February, we stayed overnight in Kämp for our anniversary - oh my! Kämp did not let me down. I loved the overall atmosphere - I mean there was a green rubber duck in the bath! - but also and perhaps even mainly for the service. I'm always happy to pay more, even much more, for exellent service.
I do visit every once in a while otherwise too, for their lovely Kämp Bar, or sometimes After Work Jazz at Upper Lounge. It's always such a comfort to go to Kämp - a bit like coming to home somehow. (No, we do not live in a house like Kämp.)
As Hotel Kämp was established in 1887, they are having their 130 anniversary this year. To celebrate, we went for late lunch (at 16.00 / 4 pm) on Saturday. We were having a lovely Christmas shopping day, and we really had a very jolly good feeling when going into Kämp.
Kämp's restaurant is Brasserie Kämp, and it's made up from basically two different atmospheres and rooms: luxury restaurant inside and a bit more modest, but still luxurious terrace - which actually means it's all indoors really, warm and all, but you have big windows to the street. I prefer the terrace, and we did get a table there.
We started with Ruinart Champagne (myself) and cava (for him). I had pre-ordered the Kämp 130 menu, so no choice was required at this time (always nice, not having to decide). The three-course menu is 46 €, which is not bad at all. Ofter times people see Kämp as more high-priced place, I suppose for the look and feel, but it really isn't. Though 21 € for a glass of Ruinart is a bit rich - even if it is one of my favorite champagnes.
The menu started with smoked eel with pickled leeks and mustard seeds. What enjoyment! Ruinart worked really nice with it too. Although so did his chardonnay (I was driving, so not for me). Most of the times the starters are the highlights of the dinner, this time too. The dish sang to us. The only problem was the waiter - we had to wait many minutes before receiving his wine, while the food was already there. Luckily this was a cold dish.
The main was red wine braised brisket with champignons and shallots (and carrots). Oh what a jus this came with! I could have drank it, I'm sure. We both had red wine with the main, but what it was we'll never know - the waiter did not introduce the wine to us. Also this time we waited some five minutes to get the wine - the waiter went so far as to bill another table before coming to pour us the wine. The dish went a wee bit cold, while waiting. And it's a principle of mine not to start eating before the wine is there. Still, not get to get caught on the small stuff - it was enjoyable.
The dessert was Kämp 130 chocolate cake with blackcurrant sorbet. Very, very good - and this from someone who does not really like sweets or desserts 😊 He had dessert wine as well, Finnish blueberry wine called Sametti (velvet in English). The cake was beautiful velvety consistency too.
It was an enjoyable evening. Alhough the wine pouring wasn't quite right, the waiter was very nice and good in his job otherwise. It would take more to upset me from my love to Kämp.
It's funny, how some places - and some people too - just feel right. When that happens, you should enjoy it and allow that sometimes things are not fully perfect. But almost perfect still.
Happy birthday Hotel Kämp 130 years old! I will be back yet again 💗
Keywords: #hotelkamp #kamp130menu #kamp130years
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