These are the must-visit cafés in Helsinki in 2026

What is it? Located in Jätkäsaari, 18 grams has introduced Helsinki to the concept of a listening café, where expertly brewed coffee from small Finnish roasters meets top-quality sound. Housed in a quirky, box-shaped building, it’s fitted with superb speakers and a curated vinyl collection, played to match the mood. The name refers to the perfect amount of ground coffee used in a double espresso.

Why we love it? Here, both coffee and music are treated with affection rather than pretension. ‘I’m not a professional musician or a barista,’ says owner Hedon Blakaj, a lecturer at Aalto University who took a break from teaching to try something hands-on – and to experiment with concept design in real life. ‘But I love music and I’ve been collecting records for years,’ he adds, flipping the vinyl to side B. Customers can also choose what to play, as long as it fits the vibe.

Livornonkatu 6, Jätkäsaari. Tue–Fri 9.00–17.30, Sat–Sun 11.30–17.30.

What is it? A tiny Ullanlinna coffee shop for people who take their beans very seriously.

Why we love it: Tucked away on Neitsytpolku, Rams Roasters is run by Romanian founders who also operate their own roastery in Lahti. The first thing to catch your eye is the gleaming Kees van der Westen Spirit behind the counter – a Dutch-built machine that sits somewhere near the top of the espresso-machine food chain.

This is not a café for nursing one flat white over three hours of emails. Little signs on the tables make the rules clear: no laptops. The idea is refreshingly old-fashioned – drink your coffee, talk to someone, stare out of the window, exist.

The coffee itself is bold, sometimes wildly so. Order a cappuccino (€5.40) and you may end up with something intensely fruity and far more interesting than your average milky coffee. A pour-over is a rather heroic €7.90. Ambient techno provides the soundtrack, naturally.

Time Out tip: Rams Roasters’ korvapuusti cinnamon buns have earned a cult following, with some claiming they are the best in Helsinki. We can at least confirm they are among the most lovable. No two look quite the same, and the filling is applied with such enthusiasm that it spills out in the oven, caramelising into a crisp, almost biscuit-like bonus around the edges.

Neitsytpolku 10, Ullanlinna. Open daily.

What is it? A long-time favourite in one of Helsinki’s prime locations on Senate Square, directly opposite the Cathedral.

Why we love it? From Café Engel’s window tables, you get stunning views over Helsinki’s most beautiful and central square, Senate Square, framed by neoclassical buildings and the gleaming white Cathedral. It’s hard to imagine another world capital with a café in such a location that isn’t an overpriced tourist trap. But Helsinki has one. Yes, it draws plenty of visitors, and rightly so, as there’s no better place to take in the Senate Square scenery, but Café Engel is firmly a local favourite too. For most of the year, table service is available, although in summer it’s self-service.

Time Out tip: You can drop by Café Engel just for coffee and cake, but it’s also well worth coming here for a meal. The all-day daily dish costs just €15.20.

Aleksanterinkatu 26, city centre. Open Mon–Fri 8–21, Sat 9–21, Sun 10–19. Expect to pay €18.20 for breakfast, €16.70 for salmon soup and €8.80 for cakes.

What is it? A tiny bakery in Etu-Töölö competing for the title of Helsinki’s best croissant, with Lauttasaari’s Le Jardin as its main rival. Most customers do takeaway only as there’s just one table inside, and one more outside when the weather’s kind.

Why we love it? Weekend mornings see pastry connoisseurs crossing town just to pick up their croissants here. The name says it all – Layers – and that’s exactly what they master: countless thin, buttery folds baked to perfection. Butter is used generously but never excessively, creating a rich yet refined croissant – crisp on the outside, soft and airy within. Proof that precision and passion often fit best into the smallest of spaces.

Time Out tip: Layers Bakery has opened a second, almost equally tiny bakery-café on Bulevardi.

Cygnaeuksenkatu 6, Etu-Töölö. Closed Monday and Tuesday.

What is it? Arguably the most authentic of Helsinki’s classic cafés, famous for its giant cinnamon buns – also sold at its sister café, Café Esplanad on the main boulevard. They’re so big and heavy you could probably build your biceps just lifting one.

Why we love it? When Gunvor Backman opened Café Succès on Korkeavuorenkatu in 1957, locals were bemused by the French name – complete with two accents going in different directions. The café lived up to its name (‘success’ in French), even if nobody could pronounce it, and it’s still affectionately known as Café Sukkes. The Parisian-style decor isn’t what makes it special; it’s the atmosphere. The morning buzz is intoxicating as Ullanlinna locals gather for coffee and conversation, often accompanied by a hearty bowl of porridge (€4.50).

Korkeavuorenkatu 2, Ullanlinna. Open daily. Weekdays from 8.00.

What is it? Helsinki’s oldest café, where time seems to stand still – in the best possible way.

Why we love it? Modern gimmicks and passing trends are nowhere to be found here. Of all Helsinki’s cafés, Ekberg has the strongest old-world feel, thanks to its classic interior with marble tables and rattan chairs, table service and the waiters’ black-and-white uniforms. Traditions are upheld here, including in the pastry recipes. While breakfast and lunch are also on offer, this is the place to come specifically for the classic pastries – Napoleon, Budapest and mille-feuille – that Helsinki locals were already enjoying more than a century ago. You can taste the history in them, but also a bit of a tourist premium in the price.

Time Out tip: In summer, Ekberg’s terrace is a great spot for people-watching. The benches are even arranged facing the street, like a theatre audience towards the stage.

Bulevardi 9, Kamppi. Open Mon–Fri 7:30–19, Sat and Sun 9–18. Expect to pay €19.90 for a croque madame, €16.90 for quiche and €9.90 for pastries.

What is it? A cosy Vaasankatu spot best known for its excellent empanadas – but the real reason to come is Helsinki's finest cheesecake.

Why we love it? Mama's Basque cheesecake (€8) is impossibly soft, like a cloud you'd happily curl up on and drift across the sky to the sound of gentle bossa nova. Unlike a classic cheesecake, there's no biscuit base. Instead, it's nothing but rich cream cheese filling, baked at a high temperature until the top caramelises into a beautifully dark crust while the centre stays irresistibly silky. The flavour is rich, lightly savoury and perfectly balanced. If you're anywhere near Vaasankatu, this cheesecake is worth the detour. In fact, we'd happily cross Finland for a slice.

Time Out tip: Grab a seat on the terrace, one of the best on lively Vaasankatu. Tucked away on a sunny corner, it's the perfect place to linger over cheesecake and coffee.

Vaasankatu 11, Kallio. Open Tuesday–Saturday, from afternoon until evening.

What is it? A café set in the Tarvaspää villa.

Why we love it? When you’re after a coffee moment close to nature but in beautiful surroundings, Cafe Zoceria is hard to beat. The café sits within the grounds of Akseli Gallen-Kallela’s home museum, the Art Nouveau Tarvaspää villa, but it’s much more than just a museum café. The café building itself is strikingly beautiful: a white-and-yellow wooden structure that radiates a national romantic atmosphere, complete with decorative detailing and scenic views unfolding behind it. The coffee is made from beans roasted by Kaffa Roastery in Punavuori, while the cakes and buns come from the café’s own pastry chefs.

Time Out tip: Visit on a frosty day. The frozen Laajalahti looks magical when viewed through the paned windows.

Gallen-Kallelan tie 27, Tarvaspää, Espoo. Winter season Tue–Sun 11–18, summer season daily 11–20.

What is it? A cosmopolitan café where locals and travellers mingle; baristas from Latin America, chatter in multiple languages and the smell of freshly roasted beans. Neighbouring Temppeliaukio Church brings a steady flow of visitors.

Why we love it? It’s like a sweet shop for coffee lovers, a stylish one at that. The space is bright and airy, with Portuguese-style tiles and light streaming in through huge windows. One wall is lined with Cafetoria’s own roasts, each label sounding more tempting than the last. The coffee is serious business here: even the cup feels weighty, as if to say this is not to be taken lightly. And though prices run a little high (cappuccino €4.90, café au lait €5.90), it’s money well spent on coffee this good.

Runeberginkatu 31, Etu-Töölö. Closed Sundays.

What is it? A classic café overlooking Töölöntori Square that serves breakfast all day – and, unusually, has laundry machines you can use for a small fee while you eat. The walls are adorned with tasteful Tintin prints, adding a playful nod to the Belgian comic hero without going overboard.

Why we love it? Sometimes tradition is the ultimate trend. When Café Tin Tin Tango opened 30 years ago, it brought a cosmopolitan touch to Helsinki; today, it stands for timelessness. The washing machines are still there, and so is the charm. Far from being a haunt just for nostalgics, its laid-back, unchanging vibe keeps new generations coming back.

Töölöntorinkatu 7, Taka-Töölö. Open daily. Weekdays from 7.00, weekends from 9.00.