Finland's Best Lunch 2026 kicks off – Featuring Linnea Vihonen

Delicious lunch experiences, the chance to support your favorite restaurant, engaging social media content, the excitement of following the competition results, and lively discussions both around lunch tables and in newspaper headlines. This is what the annual Finland’s Best Lunch competition is all about!

Organized by Edenred, the competition will once again spotlight inspiring lunch restaurants from across the country this autumn. The public online vote, now being held for the eighth time, will open on August 31 at paraslounas.fi.

This year’s ambassador and patron of the competition is chef, Food Designer, food influencer, and entrepreneur Linnea Vihonen, who is known for her bold and innovative approach to combining food, experiences, and creativity.

Linnea Vihonen as the patron of the 2026 competition

Known as a true visionary and multi-talent in the world of food, Linnea has worked as a head chef in various restaurants, appeared on television in both cooking shows and reality TV competitions, collaborated with numerous events and brands, founded her own company, and published her own cookbook.

With her modern twist on traditional dishes, her ability to bring plant-based ingredients from the sidelines to the spotlight, and her passion for creating shared dining experiences, Linnea is also a strong advocate for Finnish food culture. She represents many of the same values that are at the heart of our Best Lunch competition: the importance of sharing meals together, enjoying delicious lunch experiences, and creating memorable moments through food.

To me, food is much more than just nourishment. It’s about bringing people together, creating memorable experiences, and supporting wellbeing, even in the middle of busy days. For many people, lunch is also the most important meal of the day. That’s why I’m delighted to be part of a competition that shines a spotlight on Finnish lunch restaurants and the important role they play in creating better moments in everyday life, says Linnea Vihonen.

How restaurants can succeed in our competition

Now in its eighth consecutive year, the competition has grown in popularity year after year. And it’s easy to see why: success in the Finland’s Best Lunch competition can provide a valuable boost for restaurants. It offers an opportunity to generate positive visibility, attract new customers, strengthen a restaurant’s reputation, and stand out from competitors. The competition also helps restaurants identify their strengths as well as areas for development.

However, success requires effort. Restaurants that have ranked among the top contenders in previous years emphasize the importance of engaging their community and maintaining an active social media presence. Daily posts across social media channels help raise awareness of the competition among customers while they are on their phones, making it easy and convenient to cast a vote. In addition, informing customers about the vote at the checkout counter and making use of the ready-made campaign materials available on the campaign website helps remind customers of the importance of voting.

You can find our collected tips for succeeding in the competition here.

Lunch is much more than a meal

Every year, our Best Lunch competition celebrates Finland's top lunch restaurants, encourages employees to enjoy a nutritious lunch, and highlights the importance of taking a meaningful lunch break. Lunch is far more than just fuel for the workday. It is an opportunity to recharge, connect with colleagues, and enjoy a balanced meal while saving time from cooking.

Together with Linnea Vihonen, we want to bring people and local restaurants even closer together and remind everyone that a great lunch experience supports overall wellbeing. Taste and quality alone are not enough. Lunch is an experience that can make the entire workday better.

According to Avec, a media outlet for foodservice professionals, experiential dining is one of this year’s key restaurant trends. The phenomenon has gained momentum in recent years. For many people, a restaurant is no longer just a place to eat, and lunch restaurants are no exception. Creating memorable food experiences is a specialty of Linnea Vihonen, the patron of our 2026 competition.

An experiential lunch doesn’t necessarily have to be something grand or spectacular. It can be a warm welcome, a beautifully presented dish, or a moment that breaks up a busy day. The best experiences are often created by the little things, says Linnea.

Finland's Best Lunch voting 31.8.-20.9.2026

In autumn 2026, we will once again come together to celebrate the importance of lunch. Voting for Finland’s Best Lunch is open from August 31 to September 20 at paraslounas.fi.

Join us in discovering and voting for Finland’s best lunch!