HILLS DUMPLINGS
Handmade Dumpling Restaurant , Helsinki | Launched 2018
Conceived to bring a piece of Melbourne dining culture to Helsinki, one dumpling at a time.
Over my seven years of creative stewardship, Hills grew from a neighbourhood restaurant into one of the Nordics’ most recognised destinations for handmade dumplings. Built on quality food, a bold identity and the simple pleasure of eating together.
LOI LOI ROOFTOP
Rooftop Restaurant, Helsinki | Launched 2020
Created to fill a gap in Helsinki’s dining scene for a rooftop venue that could move seamlessly from casual dining and large-group gatherings to late-night drinks and events.
Loi Loi was brought to life with Finland’s first nano-distilling concept, integrating a working gin distillery directly into the venue to produce its own gin and bottled long drinks, bringing food, nightlife and production together under one roof.
The brand quickly grew beyond the restaurant itself, finding a natural home in catering, pop-ups and major music festivals across Helsinki.
KONEPAJA DISTILLING CO.
Gin Distillery , Helsinki | Launched 2020
Born from the idea that a distillery didn’t need to be big to have a big character. Konepaja Distilling Co. explored a new model for small-scale spirits production. Bringing distilling into the heart of hospitality and creating gin and bottled long drinks with a strong sense of place, identity and independence.
EAST MARKET
Dining Hall Concept, Helsinki | Launched 2020
Created around the idea that great dining could feel both everyday and destination-worthy. East Market brought together independent food concepts, bold flavours and a shared social setting, creating a lively, approachable dining hall designed to feel local, flexible and full of character.
It also introduced Finland’s first Korean BBQ dining experience with integrated tabletop grilling, bringing a new kind of interactive dining to Helsinki.
HILLS KALLIO
Wine Bar, Helsinki | Launched 2022
Hills Kallio marked the next chapter in the Hills story, taking the brand into a new part of the city with a more refined food concept and relaxed wine bar setting.
The menu pushed the original idea further, becoming the fullest expression of Hills’ creative vision for handmade dumplings while keeping the warmth, energy and identity that made the brand distinctive.
PAULETTE
Neighbourhood Bistro, Helsinki | Launched 2020
Everything changed but the name.
Paulette was completely reimagined with a new interior, a new bistro food concept and a renewed sense of identity. The result was a small neighbourhood restaurant designed to feel warm, familiar and distinctly its own.
HOT PIES
Australian Meat Pie Pop-up, Helsinki | Launched 2021
Built around nostalgia, community and a very good pie.
Hot Pies brought a taste of Australia to Helsinki through repeat pop-ups and bulk orders, finding an enthusiastic audience and turning a familiar comfort food into a shared ritual for a community far from home.
HILLS BURGER BAR
COVID-era Pop-up Burger Shop, Helsinki | Launched 2020
Born out of necessity during the COVID lockdowns, Hills Burgers was created quickly to keep as many of our team working as possible.
What began as a practical response to an uncertain moment evolved into a pop-up concept of its own, proving that sometimes the most enduring ideas come from simply finding a way forward.
