diff --git a/openeo/rest/connection.py b/openeo/rest/connection.py
index 0b9d024ca..e36379c96 100644
--- a/openeo/rest/connection.py
+++ b/openeo/rest/connection.py
@@ -640,10 +640,12 @@ def describe_account(self) -> str:
     def user_jobs(self) -> dict:
         return self.list_jobs()
 
-    def list_collections(self) -> List[dict]:
+    def list_collections(self, pattern: Optional[str] = None) -> List[dict]:
         """
         List basic metadata of all collections provided by the back-end.
 
+        :param pattern: a pattern that matches the collections of interest, e.g. "sentinel"
+
         .. caution::
 
             Only the basic collection metadata will be returned.
@@ -653,6 +655,10 @@ def list_collections(self) -> List[dict]:
         :return: list of dictionaries with basic collection metadata.
         """
         data = self.get('/collections', expected_status=200).json()["collections"]
+
+        if pattern is not None:
+            data = [collection for collection in data if 'id' in collection and pattern in collection['id']]
+
         return VisualList("collections", data=data)
 
     def list_collection_ids(self) -> List[str]: