The best cafe in Helsinki to try Finnish pastries

I am a huge fan of coffee and pastries. Whenever I travel I like to try some local cafes to sample specialty coffee and delicious pastries. Helsinki is known for their famous cinnamon buns (korvapuusti), so I was very excited to try them. I’ll share my take on the best cafe in Helsinki, I’ll introduce you to the oldest cafe in Helsinki, and share a few other cafes that deserve a special mention. This post contains affiliate links. When you make a purchase I may get a small commission at no extra cost to you. Find out more here.

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Best cafe overall: Café Engel

Location

This cafe is located in the perfect spot, right across the street from Helsinki Cathedral and the Senate Square, in the center of Helsinki. It’s the perfect place to relax after sightseeing with a cup of coffee and some good food.

Due to its prime location it is a popular spot, but it’s not impossible to grab a table. They have tables both inside and outside so you can people watch. I visited Helsinki during the summer months and I was able to get a table inside by the window with no waiting time.

outside seating at cafe engel in helsinki

Vibe

Despite its central location in the historical district of Helsinki, Cafe Engel has a relaxed atmosphere. Inside it has a cozy space with big windows and wooden tables. There are sketches of buildings in Helsinki on the walls.

They also have tables and chairs outside on the sidewalk. The pro of outside seating is the people watching. The con is that you won’t be able to take a cute picture of you and your pastries with the cute window and amazing view of Helsinki Cathedral in the background.

I opted to sit inside so I could get that nice view.

three slices of cake at cafe engel in helsinki

What to get

The coffee menu is not very extensive, but they have all the regular coffee types you would expect to get in Europe like espresso, cappuccino, and latte. They have excellent coffee, so you can’t go wrong with anything you order.

They have about 10 sweet treat options. I tried the blueberry tart, the raspberry tart, and a banana cake with caramel and chocolate. Everything was delicious. I read great reviews about their blueberry tart, and it did not disappoint.

the author eating a blueberry tart in helsinki

Side note, but in case you didn’t know Finland produces a lot of blueberries, so you’ll find a lot of blueberry items in Helsinki: blueberry tart, blueberry juice, blueberry jam, chocolate covered blueberry. Anything you can think of with blueberries, they have it.

Another fun fact: Finnair only serves water and blueberry juice on short flights in economy class. This was the first time I realized how popular blueberries are in Finland.

Back to Cafe Engel. The slices of tarts and cakes are pretty large, so if you’re not that hungry you can share one. I highly recommend you visit this cafe. It’s a great spot, it has good coffee and cakes, and it offers an unbeatable view. Despite its great location in Helsinki city centre I don’t think it’s a tourist trap. The quality is very good.

During lunch time they also serve traditional Finnish food like reindeer meatballs or salmon soup with sourdough bread. I haven’t tried the food, but it had great reviews online.

Prices

Helsinki is a pretty expensive European capital, so expect to pay about 6-7 euros for a slice of cake and about 5 euros for a coffee. Not cheap, but it’s worth treating yourself when you travel.

Best historical cafe: Cafe Ekberg

the author eating a cinnamon roll in helsinki

Location

Cafe Ekberg opened in 1852 and it is located on Boulevard in central Helsinki. It is Finland’s oldest bakery and cafe. It’s a great place to visit even just for its history. The tram passes right outside the cafe and this offers such a cool, urban vibe.

Vibe

The cafe has a lot of tables and chairs outside. It reminded me of the Parisian cafes since the tables and chairs look exactly like the ones in Paris. Plus, they are arranged such that you sit with your face towards the sidewalk and tram so you can people watch. Exactly like Paris.

They also decorated with a lot of colorful flowers outside. It has a really artistic vibe. Sitting outside is the right move during sunny days to enjoy the beauty of the decor and to people watch.

outside seating at cafe ekberg in helsinki

What to get

I got the famous cinnamon bun, a sweet bun with custard and blueberries, and a blueberry tart. I’m going to be honest with you. Even though the cinnamon bun is supposed to be Finland’s most famous pastry and the one at Ekberg is supposed to be one of the best in Helsinki, I was not impressed.

I had way better cinnamon buns in other places (Tallinn, I’m looking at you!). This one wasn’t as soft and moist as you would expect a high-quality bun to taste. I’m not sure if I got a bad batch or an older batch, but this cinnamon bun did not live up to the hype for me.

The sweet bun with custard and blueberries was my favorite. They got the dough right for this one: flaky and fresh. The custard was delicious and not too sweet. And the blueberries were the perfect match for the custard.

I wasn’t a huge fan of the blueberry tart either. The crust was made of some whole grains and it tasted too healthy. And the blueberry filling was a bit too sour. It didn’t do it for me.

three pastries from cafe ekberg in helsinki

Prices

This cafe is also on the expensive end, which is typical for Helsinki. Buns are around 6 euros and coffees are around 5 euros.

Other good cafes in Helsinki

Kaffa Roastery, St. George Bakery, and Ipi Kulmakuppila deserve a special mention too. They might not be as popular as Cafe Engel and Ekberg, but they serve delicious coffee and sweet buns. And probably have less tourists.

FAQ about Helsinki

Is Helsinki safe for solo female travelers?

Yes, I felt very safe in Helsinki. I traveled a lot in Western Europe and I have to say Helsinki feels much safer than Western Europe. I personally didn’t see any scammers or pick pockets even in crowded areas.

People mind their business and tend to be friendly towards tourists. I think Helsinki could be a great destination for a first solo trip.

How to get cell phone data when visiting from abroad?

The cheapest and most convenient way to get data while visiting from abroad is to buy an eSIM. An eSIM is a digital SIM that lets you activate a data plan from a provider without having to use a physical SIM card. They are super easy to use.

I use Nomad eSIM (use code IOAN43TM for 25% off your first purchase). You can go to their website, select the country you’re traveling to, select how many GB of data you want, and how many days you want the eSIM to be active for. After you pay you will receive a confirmation email with instructions on how to activate the eSIM.

You can activate it on your phone and the process takes under 1 minute. Once the eSIM is activated you don’t have to do anything else. When you’re at your destination you will automatically get data.

What is the best time for a trip to Helsinki?

I think the best times to visit are either the summer or the winter. If you go in the summer the days are longer and the weather is around 20+ degrees Celsius. So it’s warm, but much colder than Western Europe, and you can walk around and explore the city.

If you’re combining your trip to Helsinki with a visit to the Finnish Lapland, then winter is the best time to visit. You get to do all the winter activities, see the Aurora Borealis in Lapland, and see the major attractions in Helsinki too. There is plenty to do indoors in Helsinki if you’re not a big fan of the cold.

Do I need to book tickets for attractions in advance?

I highly recommend you book all the tickets online in advance of your trip. While Helsinki is less touristy than other places in Europe, I still think it’s a good idea to book things in advance. I’m a planner, though, so I’m biased.

Do people speak English in Helsinki?

Yes, people speak English in Helsinki. They are friendly towards tourists, but a bit cold. What do I mean by that? For example, in a store, they will help you at the register, but there won’t be much chit chat and there is rarely a smile. As I said, friendly, but not warm.

Do I need cash?

I didn’t use cash at all when I visited, I paid for everything with a credit card. But it’s always recommended to carry some cash with you so you can tip tour guides or buy souvenirs or something else from small mom-and-pop shops in case they don’t accept credit cards.

Pro tip: always get cash from an ATM in the airport instead of going to an exchange place. Your bank will always have better exchange rates when taking out cash in a foreign currency from an ATM.

How many days do I need in Helsinki?

I think 2 or 3 days are enough to see the main attractions in Helsinki since it’s not such a large capital. If you want to explore some hidden gems or do some day trips, then I recommend 4-5 days.

How can I get to the city center from Helsinki Airport?

There are a lot of options to get from the airport to the city center. You can take the train, located under the terminal. Local I and P trains both go to and from the airport. You can buy tickets at the train station. It will take about 30 minutes to get to the city center.

You could also take the bus. The ride takes about 40 minutes. The bus station is outside the arrivals hall. You can buy a ticket there.

If you have a lot of luggage and don’t want to deal with public transportation you can take a taxi or order a car on ride-sharing apps.

Alternatively you can also schedule a private transfer.

How can I get around Helsinki?

Helsinki, like most European cities, is very walkable. They also have great public transport options, so you can take the subway, tram, or bus to get to all major attractions.