Helsinki's best outdoor bars and cafés 
| The nautical view from Café Carousel's terrace. Photo courtesy of Lisa Sabol-Sikorski.
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by Lisa Sabol-SikorskiOnce you're done with the saunas and the Art Nouveau buildings in this Nordic capital, it's time to join the Finns and make a beeline for the outdoor cafés to enjoy the last rays of summer sun. Café Ursula has a huge outdoor terrace on the Baltic Sea with a view of Suomenlinna, Helsinki's original island military fortress. The café is a short walk from the Olympia Terminal (a cruise ship terminal in the city's South Port), Kaivopuisto Park, and the downtown shopping district. They serve some of the best salads in town: The warm goat's cheese salad ($17.75) with a bowl of cold, smoked, creamy salmon soup is classic Finnish fare at its best. Wash it down with a draft Koff beer, just like the locals do. Address: Ehrenströmintie 3. Open every day until midnight Café Carousel also has a large outdoor terrace on the water and is close to a large pleasure craft marina. Local bands perform on weekend nights and it's a popular destination for people to show off their vintage cars. You can catch a boat to the island beaches of Pihlajasaari or Uunisaari from the dock next to the café for about $6 round-trip. Merisatamaranta 10. Open every day until 10 p.m. At the Palace Hotel, go to the roof, order a vodka martini from the bartender, and enjoy one of the best panoramic views of Helsinki and the harbor. Eteläranta 10. Open Mon. - Sat. until midnight. Café Esplanad is an Old-World European-style café located on one of Helsinki's main pedestrian and traffic thoroughfares, the Esplanad. It's a perfect place to stop for a quick lunch, like the open-faced baby shrimp sandwich ($11), which can be had in the self-serve section, or for a more leisurely meal in the sit-down bistro inside. Also, this is a favorite for pastries, like the sweet Finnish cinnamon rolls known as korvapuusti. Pohjoisesplanadi 37. Open every day until 10 p.m.
Farther down the Esplanad, Café Strindberg is similar in atmosphere to Café Esplanad but the people-watching is better because it gets more pedestrian passersby. Order a caffe latte, grab a table outside, and if you listen closely, you may overhear diplomats posted to Helsinki holding court here. Café Strindberg is part of the Kamp Galleria, an upscale shopping complex in the heart of Helsinki. Pohjoisesplanadi 33. Open every day until 10 p.m. Kappeli Café and Bar has a large outdoor terrace in the middle of the pedestrian park on the Esplanad. On summer afternoons patrons can listen to bands or watch dance performances on the outdoor stage next to the bar. Besides sandwiches, the deli counter has salads for around $11.50-perfect for a light lunch. The fresh salmon and sun-dried tomatoes are favorite picks. Eteläesplanadi 1. Open Mon. - Thurs. until midnight, Fri. - Sat. until 2 a.m., Sunday until 11 p.m. |
