Fazer Café Kluuvikatu - the BEST breakfast in Helsinki
If you hadn't realised by now, I love going to coffee shops wherever I am in the world and, during my visit to Helsinki, this was no different. Helsinki is chock-a-block with cafés and great spots to eat at breakfast time but my personal favourite was Fazer Café Kluuvikatu in the centre of the city - and if you're in town, you should definitely take a look.
Fazer Café in Kluuvikatu has been part of the cityscape since 1891 and is named after the founding father of the Fazer confectionary empire, Karl Fazer, who returned from studying as a confectioner in St. Petersburg, Berlin and Paris. Today, the very same branch of Fazer Café, found just a few minutes walk from the Cathedral, is still open and serving up to two thousand pastries every single day. The style harks back to the early 1900s and oozes classic quality akin to grand cafés in Paris.
Once you step foot inside Fazer Cafe, you'll see a large interior split between the food and beverage section, seating area and Fazer confectionery shop. During this time, customers could go to the front counter to order from the food offering which includes:
- pastries
- bread
- cakes
- open sandwiches
- and hot drinks
Whilst visiting, we purchased the divine korvapuusti (cinnamon bun), tasty open sandwich with fresh prawns and salad, coffees (one cappuccino and one iced latte due to the warm weather) and a not-so-good karjalanpiirakka - a small pie filled with mashed potato. Needless to say the whole meal was extremely satisfying and allows you to get a taste for Finnish food culture. All items were either freshly baked on premise or locally sourced making it all very fresh and of high quality - which can't be said for your regular Starbucks or Costa. Even just from the photogenic cover photo, you can see how good the food looks!
Once you've completed the meal, be sure to walk across the Café to the right hand side of the premise to explore the offering of Fazer confectionery I have come to love. There is a great selection of wrapped chocolates that can be purchased by weight, by the bar or in boxes which are slightly more presentable as gifts.
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Courtesy of SpottedByLocals.com
Whether you are only in Helsinki for the day or for an extended visit, I'd wholly recommend dropping into Fazer Café for a bite to eat and a taste of Finnish cuisine. It's a clean and homely venue with tasty food in a central location and has a great atmosphere. Definitely one to return to again when I am next in the city!
Fazer Café is open Monday to Fridays from 08h00-20h00, on Saturdays between 10h00-20h00 and Sundays at 10h00-18h00. Other branches of Fazer Café can be found throughout Finland, however the Kluuvikatu branch is the most historic and accessible for tourists in the area.
Let us know your favourite Helsinki café or Finnish foods in the comments!