These are the must-visit cafés in Helsinki in 2026

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 café in a former horse stable in Vallila. Helsinki Coffee Roastery started here just roasting beans until curious passers-by, lured by the aroma, began asking for a cup – and the rest is history. Business boomed, and roasting later moved to Teurastamo, where a larger summer café now operates.

Why we love it? The snug space makes for intimate coffee moments. With only three tables, you might well find yourself chatting with strangers. The walls are dotted with quirky curiosities, and the clientele is just as mixed; bohemian Vallila types sit alongside corporate folks from the nearby bank HQ. Even the reading material reflects it: financial magazines next to the art comic Kuti. The cappuccino here is smooth and velvety, the kind you linger over; yesterday’s pastries go for just €1.

Päijänteentie 29, Vallila. Weekdays only 7.30–16.00.

What is it? Tucked away in Kaisaniemi Park, Cajsan Helmi is a French-style café and tearoom that oozes history. Housed in a lovingly restored early 19th-century wooden building, it’s named after Cajsa Wahllund, Helsinki’s first restaurateur, who opened a park restaurant on the same spot back in 1827. The interior has been beautifully preserved, with original plasterwork, tiles and wood-panelling brought back to life.

Why we love it? Cajsan Helmi continues the legacy of its namesake with charm and a touch of theatre. When the maître d’hôtel greets you with a twinkle in his eye and a flourish of old-world hospitality, it feels like stepping into another time. And if he suggests a glass of bubbly to go with your slice of Cointreau cake – why not? This café is an experience you’ll want to linger over all afternoon.

Kaisaniemenranta 6, Kaisaniemi Park. Closed on Mondays.

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 trend-driven, aesthetically focused café on Annankatu, known for pastries that look like fruits and berries.

Why we love it? Beneath arched ceilings, Café Berry’s dining room buzzes with people as its viral-hit pastries draw in visitors of all ages. The coveted creations are found at the back of the café, where you’ll spot pastries resembling mangoes, raspberries and cherries, each hiding a surprise inside. There are also salads, filled sandwiches and traditional Finnish buns on offer. The atmosphere feels like Paris, right down to the small stools set out front.

Time Out tip: The pastries are handmade in front of customers, and if you pick your seat wisely, you can watch the pastry chef at work while enjoying your treat.

Annankatu 27, Kamppi. Mon–Thu 9–21, Fri–Sat 9–23, Sun 10–18.

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.

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

What is it? A colourful café with its own coffee roastery and its own range of teas.

Why we love it? This cosy and approachable café sources its beans from Lykke’s own responsibly run coffee farms in Uganda, Brazil, El Salvador and Peru. The beans are roasted at their own roastery in Kuopio. You’ll also find specialities like a Turkish pepper latte on the menu. The atmosphere is relaxed, with plenty of regulars whose chats with the barista are a pleasure to follow. It’s an easy place to settle in with a laptop, and there’s also a downstairs area with plenty more seating and the option to sit in peace if you prefer.

Time Out tip: Breakfast is served all day, but if you’re after a quick bite, there are generously filled toasts for just over €10 that will keep you going.

Pohjoinen Rautatienkatu 21, Etu-Töölö. Closed Mon, Tue–Thu 10–17, Fri 10–18, Sat 11–18, Sun 11–16.

What is it? A tiny Viennese café on Eerikinkatu that roasts its own coffee. The roaster takes up a large share of the small interior.

Why we love it? Viennese cafés are usually known for being grand and palatial, but Bernhard Gerlich’s café, run by someone who has lived in Finland for 20 years, is small and homely. Still, it’s unmistakably Viennese, as Gerlich ensures by roasting the beans himself in the Viennese style – beyond medium roast and close to the second crack of a dark roast. The result is the deep aroma and caramel-like aftertaste typical of Viennese coffee. On the menu, you’ll find everything from Wiener Melange to Franziskaner. There’s food, too, including veal Wiener schnitzel and goulash soup.

Time Out tip: You can also pop into Good Coffee Company for a beer. The café serves excellent Austrian Stiegl – in a can – when it hasn’t sold out.

Eerikinkatu 33, Kamppi. Open Tue–Fri 10–17. Expect to pay around €4 for a cup of coffee.

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.

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.