Sent an e-mail to a friend about Helsinki in which I added a few restaurant (and other) recommendations, thought I'd copy some parts here:

Let's start with a few restaurants, I'll give you a few of my favorites starting from more casual. One of my great favorites in Helsinki is Carelia, http://www.carelia.info/index_en.php, which is located on along tram line 4 about 5-10 minutes tram ride from downtown. Carelia is a casual brasserie with great food and an excellent wine cellar. Sundmans Krog http://www.royalravintolat.com/sundmansKrog/ is another casual favorite, Scandinavian food by harbor. For seafood I recommend Havis http://www.royalravintolat.com/havis/index_eng.asp which is situated next to Sundmans Krog.

For something little more upscale I also have a few recommendations. Some of these restaurants offer also great lunch deals. lower prices but same great experience. Helsinki's best restaurant (only with two Michelin stars) is Chez Dominique http://www.chezdominique.fi/home_cd2? . My other favorites are Carma http://www.carma.fi/indexeng.html, a small restaurant with fantastic food and service, Postres http://www.postres.fi which is bit bigger with a great location by the central esplande and naturally the more casual Demohttp://www.restaurantdemo.fi/. Nokka http://www.royalravintolat.com/nokka/index_e.asp is a more classic Finnish restaurant, like this one a lot too. On a beautiful Summer night restaurant Särkänlinna http://www.palacekamp.fi/in_english/...t_sarkanlinna/is another great choice, it's situated on a small island just south of Helsinki.

As you only have three days in Helsinki I wouldn't head outside Helsinki as there will be lots to see in Helsinki anyway. On a beautiful day take a 15 minute ferry ride to Suomenlinna http://www.suomenlinna.fi/en which is an old fortress island south of harbor. On morning head first to the old indoor market in Hakaniemi district http://www.hakaniemenkauppahalli.fi/...alli_flyer.pdf to buy food and then enjoy a nice picnic on Suomenlinna island. This indoor market hall is a treat in itself, I often walk there on Saturdays to buy food from smaller producers. A great place!

For something uniquely exotic and Finnish there's a common sauna in Kallio district http://www.kotiharjunsauna.fi/press/...na_web_eng.pdf . Exploring districts of Hakaniemi, Kallio and Sörnäinen (where I live) 2-3 kilometers northeast of downtown is a treat with a more down-to-earth feeling than the touristy business district. Punavuori area just west of downtown is marketed as "design district" http://www.designdistrict.fi/design_district with many cool shops and bars.