Like most capital cities of the Nordic region, Helsinki promises a colorful and vibrant atmosphere. Visiting tourists to the city can admire its remarkable architecture, enjoy the lively food scene, and visit museums that highlight Helsinki’s rich history. Adding to an eventful day of sightseeing are the best cafes in Helsinki. They are the perfect stopovers to relax and immerse yourself in the town’s dynamic coffee culture.
Set alongside the Gulf of Finland, Helsinki’s waterfront location adds to its ever-rising appeal and makes the town a convenient destination to visit by boat. Through Ferryscanner, travelers can book ferry tickets to Helsinki from Tallinn, Stockholm, Mariehamn, Riga, and Travemünde. Moreover, since the port is only about 4km from the city center, the best restaurants, hotels, shopping, and cafes in Helsinki are a short bus or taxi ride away.
Café Aalto
Address: Pohjoisesplanadi 39, 00100 Helsinki
A part of the Academic Bookstore, Café Aalto is among the most cherished cafes in Helsinki. Located inside a building designed by famed Finnish architect Alvar Aalto, the café is a family-owned business started in 1986.
Inside, the massive hall looks suave, with shelves of books filling the room and the café taking up space in one corner. The black modernist furniture is simple yet comfortable, somewhat complemented by the sunlight seeping through the skylights. Moreover, the café rents two of its walls as exhibition spaces. On them, budding artists can showcase their works throughout the year.
Breakfast at Aalto is a light yet delicious affair. Diners can indulge in the Poet’s breakfast featuring a caffe latte, orange juice, croissant, brie cheese, and marmalade. Or else, go for the Musician’s breakfast that includes muesli, dark bread, cheese, tomatoes, and yogurt. The café also offers both lactose and gluten-free delicacies.
For those wanting a slightly more filling meal, there are cold sandwiches, hot dishes, pies, and pastries. The shrimp-filled croissant, creamy salmon soup, Karelian pie with egg butter, and cinnamon roll are the must-haves here.
Café Ekberg
Address: Bulevardi 9, 00120 Helsinki
Open since 1852, Ekberg is one of the oldest running bakeries in Finland. It sports a vintage décor with beautiful chandeliers, decorative curtains, and display cases filled with tasty delights. The café’s central location on Boulevard is incredibly easy-to-reach by tram, making it a culinary hotspot and a tourist attraction.
The café has two sections—one for table service and the other for counter service. Ekberg takes immense pride in using top-quality ingredients for its products. Moreover, they bake and cook everything in their in-house bakery and patisserie.
When stopping by Café Ekberg, try their freshly brewed Arabica organic coffee from Latin America and Sumatra. They also offer plenty of classic breakfast combos, including baked goods like Champagne Cork or Napoleon Cake.
The lunch menu comprises multiple Scandinavian delicacies such as salmon soup, porridge, or croque-monsieur. If visiting Helsinki in the summers, make the most of Café Ekberg’s alfresco terrace seating and relish a scrumptious meal while taking in the buzz of the city center.
Café Esplanad
Address: Pohjoisesplanadi 37, 00100 Helsinki
Located downtown, Esplanada is among the best cafes in Helsinki to savor the city’s café culture in-between hours of sightseeing and shopping. Open since 1994, the eatery has quintessential café-like décor that, while trendy, boasts an alluringly vintage appeal.
Promising exceptional service and quality, Café Esplanad prepares all of its baked goods in-house. The same is true for the coffee, roasted fresh in the café’s own roastery.
Food and drinks include the who’s-who of classic sweet and savory comfort eats. For drinks, there’s a range of coffees, teas, fresh orange juice, and even alcoholic beverages like wine.
Made fresh every day, the must-try eatables consist of korvapuusti – Finnish cinnamon pastries, an array of bread, meat and vegetable sandwiches, baked potatoes, and salads.
Kissakahvila Helkatti
Address: Fredrikinkatu 55, 00100 Helsinki
A quaint little cat café in Helsinki, Helkatti welcomes its guests with “warm paws.” Home to eight felines, the cat-centric eatery has a décor that allows its four-legged residents to roam and play around freely. Guests can visit the café to spend time with the cats and enjoy a selection of specially prepared snacks and drinks.
You’ll find seasonal soups, salads, and pies on the menu. For those with a sweet tooth, Kinuski’s carnival ice cream is a delight, featuring three scoops of ice cream, whipped cream, candy, sprinkles, and candy cigars.
The café also offers alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. There’s something for everyone, from wine, organic cider, and Suomenlinna brewery beers to Helkat’s chai, chocolate cappuccino, and mocktail of the day.
Among the most fun aspects of Café Helkatti are its weekly events. Visitors can indulge in cat yoga on Fridays or partake in cat-themes quizzes. Interestingly, Helkatti also has an option wherein two guests can stay overnight with the cats, sleeping on a sofabed inside the café.
Café Regatta
Address: Merikannontie 8, 00260 Helsinki
An idyllic eatery by the sea, Café Regatta is by far one of the most charming cafes in Helsinki. Housed inside a 125-year-old red cottage, the cafe oozes pastoral aesthetics and a rustic charm that juxtaposes the modernity of Helsinki beautifully.
A year-round destination, the café stays open from 9 AM to 9 PM, attracting both locals and tourists in heavy numbers. While one must go prepared to wait, try and pick a seat outside that comes with unrestricted sea views and a fire pit to keep you warm and grill sausages to your liking.
Furthermore, the café rents canoes, kayaks, paddle boards, or rowing boats during summer. Also, pet parents can bring their furry companions along for a good time.
While at Café Regatta, you can indulge in cold and hot drinks. The light roast Paulig President and Bali Kintamani dark roast are house favorites. When feeling peckish, bite into cinnamon buns, croissants, or a blueberry pie. Regatta further provides plenty of gluten-free and vegan options like carrot cake, vanilla biscuit, veggie sausages, and vegan hot chocolate.
Café Tin Tin Tango
Address: Töölöntorinkatu 7, 00260 Helsinki
If you’ve ever wished to experience quirky-chic, head straight to Tin Tin Tango in the Töölö neighborhood upon arriving in the Finnish capital. At first sight, one of the most eccentric cafes in Helsinki, Tin Tin Tango, has a classic European bistro atmosphere. The chalkboard menu over the counter and posters featuring the famous comic detective Tin Tin give the place a distinctive personality.
However, the presence of laundry machines amidst the tables further accentuates the ambiance, transforming it from characteristic to idiosyncratic.
Popularly known as Tinti’s among locals, the café first opened its doors way back in 1994. Today, you can come here to eat, drink, relax, and, of course, wash your clothes. The breakfast and lunch menu at the Tin Tin Tango comprises hearty combinations, including juice, sausages, coffee, yogurt, croissant, smoked salmon, and several other ingredients. For lunch, soup and sandwiches are paired together for a warm and delicious meal.
One can sit outside on the terrace during summer afternoons and take in the sun while relishing Tinti’s goodies. However, throughout the year, come evening, the café transforms into an atmospheric wine bar, perfect for a chilled-out drink and a snack.