Green Cap hints: Best Summer Terraces in Helsinki
Summer terraces in Helsinki
The following are my favorite summer terraces in Helsinki. However, many if not most bars have terraces of their own
during the summer, so if you’re not that particular, just stroll around, sit down and enjoy. It is also cool to buy
your own beers from the store and hit the park. The best spots to do this are Lonna island, Suomenlinna island,
Sinebrychoff park and Esplanade park.
All the spots on our Hints series can be found an our shared Google map. Click here to view the Map!
Terraces in Helsinki archipelago
Skiffer, Liuskaluoto island. Check out fb or call +358 45 186 8933 for opening hours.
Although this place serves delicious pizzas, feel free to stop by just for a beer. The terrace is
magnificent. There is frequent boat driving to the island from next to Cafe Carusel, South Helsinki. The boat ride is 3 minutes.
Restaurant Lonna, Lonna island. Kitchen open Tue. to Sat. 12-21 (they close the place at around 23:00
or when the last customers leave) +358 44 719 9410 Almost as nice of a terrace as Skiffer above. Boats to the island leave from the Market Square. The boat ride takes 15 minutes.
Helsinki’s summer terraces with views to the sea
Hernesaaren ranta check fb for opening hours, usually from wed-sat 11-02.
This is an entire area built for summer relaxation with all sorts of places to eat and drink and party. Also, there is a public sauna next to the refreshing Baltic sea, which is just amazing. Check fb for events and opening hours, and the webpage above to
get the general idea of the place.
Birgitta, Hernesaarenranta 2. Opening hours 9-22. +358 40 547 4966
One of the most likable places along the Eira shore. Open only for summer season, the building has interesting burned wood facades and closed, semi-open and open areas. Restaurant serves very good food and drinks of all sorts. Terrace is beautiful and has two padel courts next to it in case you want to play a game. This was the hottest summer venue in 2016. However, from 2017 the “Löyly” -sauna/restaurant has been getting the hype thus making it easier to get a seat in Birgitta.
Löyly, Restaurant-Bar-Sauna, Hernesaarenranta 4, Kitchen is open 9-21 +358 9 6128 6550
This 6 million euro building project finished just in time for the summer season 2017. The main attraction is the unique architecture of the place, the public saunas and the big terrace areas. Löyly has a popular restaurant as well. Therefore, you come to eat, be prepared to wait a bit. Sauna’s are very good and worth the visit, but they are very popular so reservation is advised. In case it’s all sold out on dining and sauna, you can always have a drink and relax on one of the several terrace areas.
Mattolaituri, Ehrenströmintie 3 a. Check fb for opening hours.
Drinks are expensive, but the terrace is easily one of the best on the coast. Less casual and comfortable than
Birgitta or even Carusel, this is a little on the snobbish side. The quality in drinks and cuisine is high.
Café Carusel, Merisatamanranta 10. Mon. to Sat. 9-21; Sun 11-20.
This coastal cafe serves beer and good food, with some of the best pizzas in town. A huge terrace that dwells in
the sun the entire day. The port for the lovely island of Pihlajasaari is next door.
Elmun baari, Telakkakatu 8, Mon. to Tue. 10.30-14/18 (depending on the weather); Wed. to Fri. 10.30-
14/02 (depending on the weather); Sat. 14-02 (depending on the weather and the events).
The selection here in terms of drinks is not the best and the quality of the service varies, but the vibe on the
terrace is always excellent and the setting is cool. Hit the near-by flea-market of Hietalahti or the market hall,
which also has some nice spots of its own in the sun.
Summer terraces in the city of Helsinki
Kulttuuritehdas Korjaamo, Töölönkatu 51 a-b. Tue. to Sat. 16-21.30; Sun 16-19.
Cultural athmosphere in this courtyard terrace.
Siltanen, Hämeentie 13 B. Mon. to Thu. 11-02; Fri. to Sat. 11-03. +358 440 660 530.
The coolest summer terrace is also one of the most comfortable ones, with summer lanterns marking the spot
from Hämeentie. This is a “convenient” place for a night out, because they have good music and almost a sure-fire
guarantee of a crowd at least on weekend evenings, with two good clubs downstairs to choose from when the bar
closes at 2. The terrace is big, so there is always space even on the sunniest of days. The only “downside” is
something they cannot do anything about (well, the service isn’t always the politest either): there is no view (like
in most of the above) and there are some rather tall buildings around blocking some of the sun during the day.
Therefore, this is a terrace to be enjoyed especially in the evenings, when the lanterns built up an atmosphere
reminiscent of a house party.
Svenska Teatern, Esplanade park, Mon. to Thu. 11-01; Fri. to Sat. 11-02. https://www.teatteri.fi/en/teatteri-bar/
Excellent salads and a nice terrace at the end of Esplanade park. At night a good, although a little pricey club is
held upstairs. There is also a terrace on the side of Svenska Teatern, in between Eteläesplanadi, which has more
sun throughout the day.
Written by Leo Aarnio
Few additions by Jouko Väärälä (Hernesaaren ranta, Birgitta, Löyly, Mattolaituri)
Updated and revised in 21th July 2018 Jouko Väärälä