Guidebook for Local Helsinki
Food Scene
Ravintola Mountain: very good Nepalese kitchen with affordable prices. My favourite!
13 locals recommend
Nepalese Restaurant Ravintola Mountain
8 NordenskiöldinkatuRavintola Mountain: very good Nepalese kitchen with affordable prices. My favourite!
Traditional Finnish restaurant. Not cheap but the new chef is supposedly doing wonders. Worth checking!
Ravintola Messenius
7 MesseniuksenkatuTraditional Finnish restaurant. Not cheap but the new chef is supposedly doing wonders. Worth checking!
Traditional Finnish red wooden house that hosts the coziest coffee shop in Töölö area. Wonderful view by the sea, also great terrace (no alcohol served though). I recommend to try the cinnamon buns. You can also buy sausages and grill them in the fire.
225 locals recommend
Regatta
8 MerikannontieTraditional Finnish red wooden house that hosts the coziest coffee shop in Töölö area. Wonderful view by the sea, also great terrace (no alcohol served though). I recommend to try the cinnamon buns. You can also buy sausages and grill them in the fire.
Local hipster pizza bar attracts pizza and salad eaters as well as people who just want to enjoy company and a few glasses of red. Address is now Ruusulankatu 3-5 (doesn't show right in the Airbnb map)
31 locals recommend
Linko PizzaBar
5 RuusulankatuLocal hipster pizza bar attracts pizza and salad eaters as well as people who just want to enjoy company and a few glasses of red. Address is now Ruusulankatu 3-5 (doesn't show right in the Airbnb map)
Cafe Picnic
8 TopeliuksenkatuEnjoy easy breakfast in a local coffee shop.
Another cozy choice for local coffee shop to enjoy breakfast or to spend a rainy day.
Espresso House Töölöntori
1 TopeliuksenkatuAnother cozy choice for local coffee shop to enjoy breakfast or to spend a rainy day.
This excellent cafe serves breakfast from 7 am till closing time, so it's a perfect place to stop if you're a nightwalker :-)
51 locals recommend
Café Tin Tin Tango
7 TöölöntorinkatuThis excellent cafe serves breakfast from 7 am till closing time, so it's a perfect place to stop if you're a nightwalker :-)
Mamma Rosa is a very nice restaurant, a lot more than just a pizza place. Very affordable lunch!
22 locals recommend
Mamma Rosa
55 RuneberginkatuMamma Rosa is a very nice restaurant, a lot more than just a pizza place. Very affordable lunch!
Drinks & Nightlife
Janoinen Lohi
12 LinnankoskenkatuCozy local bar, good selection of draft and bottled beers.
Great terrace over the sea, nice place for drinks and to enjoy the the evening sun. Open only in the summer and if it's not raining.
Ravintola Meritalli
6 MerikannontieGreat terrace over the sea, nice place for drinks and to enjoy the the evening sun. Open only in the summer and if it's not raining.
This place has it all: a cozy bar and affordable lunch, cinema, tram museum, place for concerts and stand-up comics. Also very nice terrace in the summer time where you can get BBQ food.
41 locals recommend
Korjaamo Culture Factory
51 B TöölönkatuThis place has it all: a cozy bar and affordable lunch, cinema, tram museum, place for concerts and stand-up comics. Also very nice terrace in the summer time where you can get BBQ food.
Finnish food served here alongside with a big selection of craft beers. Also a terrace in the summer time.
7 locals recommend
Viisi Penniä
55 MannerheimintieFinnish food served here alongside with a big selection of craft beers. Also a terrace in the summer time.
Cafe, bar and terrace for drinks, and perfect place to enjoy the evening sun. in the middle of the city Evenings are regularly hosted by DJ.
Pinehill Terrace
4 MäntymäentieCafe, bar and terrace for drinks, and perfect place to enjoy the evening sun. in the middle of the city Evenings are regularly hosted by DJ.
Sightseeing
Iconic abstract sculpure from the great Finnish composer Jean Sibelius, made by Eila Hiltunen. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sibelius_Monument_(Helsinki)
166 locals recommend
The Sibelius Monument
MechelininkatuIconic abstract sculpure from the great Finnish composer Jean Sibelius, made by Eila Hiltunen. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sibelius_Monument_(Helsinki)
At its best in summer when the air is warm, bars open and the island is full of tourists. Enjoy the old fortress, and the nature, see the old submarine, and try the local brewery's products. Accessible with a ferry from Kauppatori with the local ticket fare. Don't forget to check the schedule for ferries back, since they don't go all night long.
430 locals recommend
Suomenlinna
At its best in summer when the air is warm, bars open and the island is full of tourists. Enjoy the old fortress, and the nature, see the old submarine, and try the local brewery's products. Accessible with a ferry from Kauppatori with the local ticket fare. Don't forget to check the schedule for ferries back, since they don't go all night long.
If you want to see one church during your visit, the Rock church (Temppeliaukion kirkko) is the one.
258 locals recommend
Temppeliaukio Church
3 LutherinkatuIf you want to see one church during your visit, the Rock church (Temppeliaukion kirkko) is the one.
Created by the famous Finnish architecht Alvar Aalto. See how Carrara marble shines white as well as crumbles and twists in the facade when it doesn't stand the local weather... There's a lovely cafeteria downstairs with a view to the bay.
56 locals recommend
Finlandia Hall
13 E MannerheimintieCreated by the famous Finnish architecht Alvar Aalto. See how Carrara marble shines white as well as crumbles and twists in the facade when it doesn't stand the local weather... There's a lovely cafeteria downstairs with a view to the bay.
Parks & Nature
Beautiful park island for nice walks in the nature. There is also a restaurant and a coffee shop. People often feed the squirrels here since they are very tame and might even take a nut from your hand. Many old Finnish buildings have been transferred to to the island. You might occasionally also see the Finnish president walking his dog here.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seurasaari
13 locals recommend
Seurasaari station
Beautiful park island for nice walks in the nature. There is also a restaurant and a coffee shop. People often feed the squirrels here since they are very tame and might even take a nut from your hand. Many old Finnish buildings have been transferred to to the island. You might occasionally also see the Finnish president walking his dog here.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seurasaari
The locals walk and run across the park in Töölö bay. The old villas in Linnunlaulu look marvelous also during the night when their facades are lit. One of the villas host a nice cafeteria in the summer. There are also a few nice spots to arrange a picnic.
29 locals recommend
Töölönlahden puisto
The locals walk and run across the park in Töölö bay. The old villas in Linnunlaulu look marvelous also during the night when their facades are lit. One of the villas host a nice cafeteria in the summer. There are also a few nice spots to arrange a picnic.
Essentials
K-Market Mansku
94 MannerheimintieGreat corner shop.
K-Supermarket Kamppi
1 Urho Kekkosen katuGood supermarket if you don't want to go the city centre.
Alepa Mannerheimintie
102 MannerheimintieThis shop is open 24/7.
Entertainment & Activities
Finnish national opera house is located within a walking distance.
39 locals recommend
Finnish National Opera
58 HelsinginkatuFinnish national opera house is located within a walking distance.
Shopping
Located in Linnakoskenkatu 5 (Airbnb map shows the wrong address) - is official Moomin and Tom of Finland merchandise shop located just a couple of blocks away. You can find more Moomin and Tom of Finland merchandise also in Finlayson shops (towels, linen etc) as well as in Iiittala shops (mugs and kitchenware).
Aurora Decorari Oy
8 HuopalahdentieLocated in Linnakoskenkatu 5 (Airbnb map shows the wrong address) - is official Moomin and Tom of Finland merchandise shop located just a couple of blocks away. You can find more Moomin and Tom of Finland merchandise also in Finlayson shops (towels, linen etc) as well as in Iiittala shops (mugs and kitchenware).