Margherita, diavola or reindeer? These are popular pizzas among passengers at Helsinki Airport

Which pizza is the most popular among passengers at Helsinki Airport? And would the restaurant employees choose the same dishes as the customers? The airport offers more than 40 different pizzas. We asked the airport’s restaurants and passengers which dishes are their favourites and what makes a pizza good.

Pizza is part of the airport experience for many passengers. A total of seven restaurants, including one pizza vending machine, offer pizza at Helsinki Airport. There are takeaway options as well as options that are suitable for relaxed pre-flight dining. The restaurants’ menus are created by the restaurant operators themselves, so each operator has the opportunity to bring their own views to their offering.

Based on the passenger satisfaction surveys commissioned by Finavia, the customer satisfaction of the airport’s restaurant services has remained at a good level for a long time. In the surveys, passengers have stated that they particularly appreciate Finnishness, distinctive restaurant concepts and local operators alongside well-known and international chains. Helsinki Airport’s restaurant offering reflects both international flavours and Finnishness and locality.

Classics remain popular

Classics are the one common denominator among Helsinki Airport’s pizza offering.

Ham pizza and margherita are the most popular options at the Pala Pizza restaurant, located in the gate area 22–26. However, employee Kamil’s own favourite is a slightly hotter option.

“Diavola. It’s hot, it’s perfect!” says Kamil.

The classics also came up in the passengers’ responses. Seven-year-old Coco was eating at Pala Pizza with parents Kiwa and Per before the family returned to Sweden. Coco chose a ham and cheese pizza.

When the family was asked what makes a pizza good, their answers were simple:

“Lots of cheese,” says Per.

“A thin base,” adds Kiwa.

Coco’s answer was also clear: the most important thing in a pizza is ham.

Margherita is also popular among the customers of Luigi’s Italian Pizza, located in the arrivals hall. Employee Niina’s own choice is a quattro formaggi with four cheeses.

“Quattro formaggi, and definitely rocket salad on top,” says Niina.

Salami pizza and ham pizza are the most popular pizzas at Helsinki Market, located in the arrivals hall.

Diavola seems to be popular among passengers

The fiery diavola with spicy nduja sausage was the most popular choice in the interviews.

Diavola is the most popular pizza on the menu of the Terracotta restaurant, located at gate 26. The same pizza is also one of the best-selling options at the airport’s second Luigi’s , Luigi’s All Day Italian Restaurant & Bar located at Gate 40, and at Nordic Kitchen located nearby at Gate 39.

For those who love hot food, this is no surprise: diavola seems to be gaining popularity throughout the terminal.

Martin, Mathias and Marcus, a group of friends having lunch at Terracotta, were already on their way home; Mathias to Vienna, Austria, and Martin and Marcus to Copenhagen, Denmark.

Martin decided to choose the restaurant’s seasonal pizza, which is currently a chicken pizza that stands out from the classics.

“I chose this because I like chicken on pizza. It also has blue cheese typical for Finns and hot honey sauce, which I like,” he says.

“I don’t like blue cheese, but the ham pizza is really good,” says Mathias, who is sitting next to Martin and has chosen a prosciutto pizza, with a laugh.

At Luigi’s at gate 40, customers often order diavola as well as prosciutto pizza. At Nordic Kitchen, on the other hand, the popular options include diavola as well as reindeer pizza. For passengers seeking Finnish flavours, there are options throughout the terminal. In addition to Nordic Kitchen’s reindeer pizza, Terracotta also serves Nordic pizza with cold-smoked salmon. Finnish blue cheese adds flavour to Pala Pizza’s chicken pizza and Helsinki Market’s ham pizza. The Fizza pizza vending machine also offers Nordica pizza with rainbow trout.

Staff favourites are surprising

The staff’s favourites are clearly not always the same as the best-selling dishes in the restaurants.

Ahmad from Nordic Kitchen would choose a vegetarian pizza with pesto, sun-dried tomatoes and broccoli.

“I would definitely recommend trying this pizza,” says Ahmad.

Pauliina from Terracotta, on the other hand, swears by the classic margherita.

There are also pizza experts among the passengers. Elisa, who is returning to Rome, Italy, says she is the spouse of a pizza restaurant owner, and when asked about the most important feature of a pizza, she has a clear answer.

“A good pizza actually only needs two ingredients: tomato and mozzarella. They give you an instant taste of whether the pizza has been made well. Of course, basil is a good addition. The pizza should also be light and not too large,” says Elisa.

Even though the classics are popular in Helsinki Airport’s restaurants, the employees’ favourites also include recommendations for passengers who want to try something new. On your next trip, it may be a good idea to choose something new from the menu.

Free parking at the airport for lunchtime visitors

At Helsinki Airport, pizzas can be enjoyed in the gate area in the terminal and in the arrivals hall. The arrivals hall also serves as an excellent lunch spot for visitors to the airport.

Parking at lunchtime is easy: you can park free of charge for two hours in the airport’s parking halls P1 Premium and P2. The benefit is valid every day between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. See instructions for free parking during lunchtime here:

https://www.finavia.fi/en/airports/helsinki-airport/lunch-benefit

For the latest information and menus, please visit the restaurants’ own websites.

Fizza Pizza Machine

Helsinki Market

Luigi’s All Day Italian Restaurant & Bar

Luigi’s Italian Pizza

Nordic Kitchen

Pala Pizza Bar

Terracotta