As the summer approaches, many bars and cafés in Helsinki open large outdoor seating areas known as “terassi” (that’s“terrace” in Finnish).
There are even cafés in Helsinki that are only open in the summer months. Finns belong to the world’s top coffee drinking nations and are happy to enjoy a cup of coffee at any time of the day, especially while enjoying the summer sunshine.
Here are some of Helsinki’s best summer cafés (with their addresses). Most serve coffee and pastries, but also sandwiches, breakfast and lunch items and alcoholic drinks.
Coffee With History
1. It is impossible to talk about café culture in Helsinki without mentioning Café Ekberg, the oldest café in the city. Established in 1852, Ekberg is stylish and always popular with the rich and the famous, and it does great pastries and cakes. (Bulevardi 9.)
2. Café Engel at the Senaatintori square – one of Helsinki’s biggest tourist attractions – is another café with a history. It is named after the architect Carl Ludvig Engel who designed several buildings in the area, including the Tuomiokirkko church, in the early 19th century. A big attraction here is the Cinema Engel, the only outdoor cinema in Finland, only open in the summer. (Aleksanterinkatu 26.)
3. Café Krypta, inside the crypt in Tuomiokirkko, is a summer café that is only open from June to early September in 2009. Its staff members are all voluntary workers from local charities. Every week a different organisation looks after the café, and benefits from the profits. (Kirkkokatu 18.)
Watch The World Go By
4 & 5. Café Strindberg and Café Esplanad on the North Esplanad, in the very centre of Helsinki, are popular places to watch the world go by while sipping a coffee and a traditional Finnish “korvapuusti” or cinnamon bun. Café Esplanad is especially famous for its big cinnamon buns. Both have a good selection of coffees and pastries, and their terraces are usually packed with people who enjoy watching shoppers and other passers-by. (Café Strindberg, Pohjoisesplanadi 33. Café Esplanad, Pohjoisesplanadi 37.)
6. Nearby, in the middle of the Esplanadi pedestrian park, is another famous Helsinki café, Kappeli. The Kappeli restaurant has been going since 1867, and has a large outdoor terrace, big enough to seat 350 people. (Kappeli, Eteläesplanadi 1.)
Coffee By The Sea
7. Café Ursula’s terrace, in the Kaivopuisto park and right by the sea, offers great views of the old fortress Suomenlinna that stands on an island just outside Helsinki. Part of the terrace is covered, making it possible to admire the sea view outdoors even if it rains. Ursula is open until midnight during the summer. (Ehrenströmintie 3).
8. Nearby and also in Kaivopuisto is Café Carusel, another café with a terrace and a sea view. This summer Carusel offers live blues on Thursday evenings. (Café Carusel, Merisatamanranta 10, Carusel also has another outlet on the South Esplanad.)
Photo of Ekberg Café, Helsinki, Finland, by Bjørns
Topic: Restaurants & Food |
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Tags: food, Helsinki
About the author
Satu was born in Finland, but moved to London in 1996 and lived there for 10 years working as a journalist. She has spent the last couple of years mostly in India, practicing yoga and travelling.
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