Café restaurants in Finland
-
A
Café Engel
This heavenly spot in the Senaatintori hums with tourists and university students alike. There’s always a good selection of cakes and enticing meals often of a vegetarian bent such as a beetroot lasagne. It’s a cultural hub with films shown in the courtyard during summer, irregular piano recitals and a plump English-language magazine selection.
reviewed
-
B
Café Esplanade
This large, busy space is a perfect spot for a variety of needs and wants. Oversized Danish pastries and excellent Finnish pulla, a traditional wheat bun, are good accompaniments to coffee (bottomless) or espresso; for lunch, there are spectacular salads and a variety of wines served by the glass.
reviewed
-
C
Cafe Noir [closed}
While it's far from fancy, the Noir is a Turku institution and one of the cheapest sit-down places to eat. It's very cheap, with simple but filling plates such as meatballs or spaghetti with salad at low prices; the eclectic menu also includes pizza, schnitzel, chicken curry and omelettes.
reviewed
-
Kahvila Liisa
In a pretty yellow wooden building, this café has a little outdoor terrace where you can enjoy tasty karjalanpiirakka (rice-filled savoury pastry) and excellent quiche. In the same building is a shop, Tuulentupa, selling attractive handicrafts and souvenirs.
reviewed
-
Café Alma
This fabulous place on the waterfront has a bright atrium dining area at the front and a sizeable terrace. Dominating the interior is a sizeable scale model of the ship Alma. There's a fine buffet lunch; the filled rolls and other snacks are also delicious.
reviewed
-
D
Ylioppilasaukio
Helsinki University has several student caféterias around the city, where meals cost under around €5. They include Porthania (1311 4298; Hallituskatu 11-13; ;10:00-16:00 Mon-Fri) and the huge Ylioppilasaukio , tucked away down an alley next to Zetor.
reviewed
-
E
Kahvila Kisälli
At the entrance to the Luostarinmäki Handicrafts Museum, Kahvila Kisälli is a large, cheery café in a historic 1851 building. It's a good spot to stop for coffee after visiting the museum; they also do tasty slices of pancake with strawberry jam.
reviewed
-
F
Runo
With an arty crowd and bohemian feel, Runo (‘poem’) is an elegant, almost baroque cafe with books, paintings, decent coffee and huge windows that allow you to keep tabs on the weather. It’s a top spot either for a light lunch or a spot of light contemplation.
reviewed
-
G
Café Aleksandra
This time-honoured favourite is an old-style Russian tearoom with antique furniture and snacks like meringues, quiches and sandwiches. Service gets a little brisk during busy lunchtimes but on a weekday afternoon you could easily plot a Dostoevsky novel here.
reviewed
-
Ilomantsin Leipomo
This little bakery is a local favourite for its top-notch pulla and preferred local breakfast of karjalanpiirrakka topped with scrambled egg. Most of the town grabs an early coffee on their way out here so it’s a social hub on weekdays.
reviewed
Advertisement
-
H
Soul Kitchen
In Kallio, to the north of central Helsinki is Soul Kitchen, a loungey, retro café and bar. The menu is listed on a record sleeve - make your selection while checking out the liner notes. The burgers, salads and steaks are some of the best around.
reviewed
-
Café Helmi
A kindly Russian grandmother would happily take tea from the distinctive lilac-and-white cups in the courtyard of this Tsarist teahouse. They do one of the best Runeberg tarts, but regular cakes and chocolates will also have you loosening your belt.
reviewed
-
I
Neljä Kaesaa
The best central option is only open at lunchtime, when it doles out portions of warming and traditional Finnish comfort food like stews (sometimes with elk), or fried muikku (vendace). It opens extended hours during the music festival.
reviewed
-
J
Eat
Located in the market square, the large terrace is always packed with drinkers and diners, particularly Åland’s parliamentarians. The menu is ideal for light meals – some good salads, sandwiches and a good range of pastries to enjoy with coffee.
reviewed
-
K
Café Ekberg
There’s been a cafe of this name in Helsinki since 1861 and today it continues to be a family-run place renowned for pastries like the Napoleon cake. The buffet breakfasts and lunches are also popular, plus there’s fresh bread to takeaway.
reviewed
-
Saltbodan
One of a few popular summer cafés and restaurants around the waterfront, Saltbodan serves coffee and snacks in a rustic room or on the terrace. À la carte meals and the lunch buffet are served in a pleasant dining hall.
reviewed
-
L
Kontion Leipomo
Charming cafés are plentiful in Vanha Rauma and this is a perennial favourite. It's a great place for compassionately priced coffee, cakes or pastries, has teddy bears lounging on the seats, and a large garden at the back.
reviewed
-
M
Kaffestugan Svarta Katten
This cosy place is a smart but homely café and stands out as one of the best places to try Ålandspannkaka (though not the cheapest). There are a few classic metal garden chairs if you fancy sitting out.
reviewed
-
Café Sole
Facing the kauppatori, this is a good option for breakfast or lunch, when there are great salads as well as filling hot dishes. There’s friendly service and a pretty terrace from which you can watch Mikkeli march by.
reviewed
-
Café Sinuhe
Half a block from the kauppatori, this is Lahti’s best central cafe, with folk streaming in at all hours to sip mellow coffee, fork-up salads bursting with fresh things or buy a loaf of crusty bread.
reviewed
Advertisement
-
N
Bagarstugan 7 Hantverkare
Just off Torggatan, this is one of Mariehamn's more charming cafés. Its homemade soups and sandwiches come with a smile and have a strong local following; there are also local crafts for sale.
reviewed
-
O
Porthania
Helsinki University has several student caféterias around the city, where meals cost under around €5. They include Porthania and the huge Ylioppilasaukio (260 9491; Mannerheimintie 3B
reviewed
-
P
Zucchini
One of the city’s few vegetarian cafes, it makes up for it with friendliness and fresh baked quiches and piping-hot soups. The sunny terrace out the back is stunning in summer.
reviewed
-
Café Trend
Young beautiful people crowd into this central cafe for the indulgent cakes and well-priced lunches. The terrace is undeniable when the sun’s shining and the beer’s flowing.
reviewed
-
Café Plage
This rudimentary cafe-bar right on the beach does for a simple meal while watching your kids play minigolf or run along one of the town’s best stretches of sand.
reviewed
