Summer Cafés in the Helsinki Metropolitan Area

Wonderful summer cafés with children in 2023

Updated 2.6.2023

Helsinki is full of wonderful summer cafés all around the city where you can happily stop by with children. The summer café list currently features nine favorites from the Little Helsinki background team!
Little Helsinki is happy to hear tips about new child-friendly cafés and restaurants, so feel free to tip us off or invite us to visit!

The cover image of the article is from Puotila Manor.

Play Café summer café, Vantaa

Play Café summer café in Hämeenkylä, Vantaa at Tuomela school (Ainontie 44) is open Wednesday to Sunday 10 am–6 pm (Sundays 10 am–3 pm). The summer café offers the familiar sweet and savory treats from Play Café, and as a new feature, delicious artisanal ice cream and sorbets. The café's delicacies are lovely to enjoy in a lush environment or to take a refreshment break during a bike ride with a lemonade.

Also remember Play Café's playgrounds and children's events, as well as the café's mobile unit that travels around the metropolitan area, whose detailed weekly schedule you can find here.

Karjalaisten Summer House Villa Salmela

Karjalaisten Summer House Villa Salmela in Jollakso is a wonderful summer paradise by the sea. The summer house café is open during the summer season starting 25.5.2023 Wednesday to Sunday 12 pm–7 pm. Occasionally the summer house hosts private events, but the café's outdoor seating is often available during those times as well. Near the summer house you can find Porvariskuninkaan beach, Matosaari, and the city's best pizzeria Fornitaly. Villa Salmela's beach sauna can be rented for private use, and for the public, the sauna is heated on Wednesdays and Thursdays (fee applies).

Café Raparperimeri, Kumpula School Botanical Garden

The Kumpula school botanical garden could be called a secret garden: few people know of its existence, and arriving at the garden you will certainly be surprised. The school botanical garden has operated next to the Kumpula allotment garden since 1928. During the summer, the garden is home to summer café Raparperimeri. The menu is mostly vegan savory and sweet treats. Little Helsinki recommends it—the school botanical garden is a charming place! In summer 2023, Café Raparperimeri is open from 7.6.–26.7.2023 Tuesday to Thursday 2 pm–7 pm and Fridays 12 pm–3 pm.

Kahvisiskot, Hakaniemi

Kahvisiskot operates a café tent at Hakaniemi Market Square even during winter months, but because of its brick pastries, porridge offerings, and central location, it makes the summer café list. The Kahvisiskot selection includes daily changing porridge as well as traditional café treats, and the market atmosphere is wonderful. A trip to the market and a café visit is part of summer! A great Midsummer tradition is a visit to Hakaniemi Market Square and enjoying Midsummer porridges or brick pastries at Kahvisiskot while accordion music plays.

Hermannin Piirakkaleipomo Summer Café, Vallila Allotment Garden

The charming summer café at Vallila allotment garden has found new operators, and now serving in the middle of blooming flowers and a charming allotment garden is Hermannin Piirakkaleipomo. We haven't tested this place ourselves yet, but at least in theory, it's an excellent destination for a trip with children.

Villa Ullas Café, Vuosaari

Villa Ullas serves customers at Pikku Kallahti beach in Vuosaari even during winter months, but the outdoor terrace is a wonderful place to enjoy treats and spectacular views, so its place on the summer café list is definitely deserved. The café treats baked on the premises are this place's main draw! Villa Ullas provides employment for young people through a workshop experiment and thus does important work. Be sure to check the opening hours!

Kahvila Kampela, Vuosaari

The highly popular Kahvila Kampela at Aurinkolahti in Vuosaari serves customers year-round, but has earned its place on the summer café list for its location alone. Its good location between Aurinkoranta and Uutela outdoor recreation area, set lunch menus, and beautiful views are reasons to make the trip to Kampela for coffee.

Kahvila Buffetti, Lauttasaari

In spring 2022, Puhvetti's Riitta announced her well-deserved retirement BUT a successor has been found for the operation! The café at the HKL summer cottage area continues in Puhvetti's footsteps under the name Summer Café Buffetti, though the Little Helsinki background team doesn't yet have personal user experience with the new operator. Kahvila Buffetti is also open, for example, on Midsummer Eve until late evening. Check the opening hours before visiting!

On Lauttasaari's Länsiulapanniemi, at the HKL summer cottage area, there operates a wonderfully friendly summer café Puhvetti. The café's owner Riitta makes almost everything herself, so it's worth making the trip to enjoy the treats. Note that Puhvetti only accepts cash and mobile payment.

Puotila Manor and Svenkka, Puotila

Puotila Manor and the Svenkka operating in its courtyard offer food and café treats to be enjoyed on a summer terrace overlooking Puotila's waterfront. Beautiful old buildings, a lovely old park, and next to it Puotila beach. In summer 2022, the Puotila Manor area was also home to chickens, but unfortunately in summer 2023 the manor no longer has chickens.

Puhuri By Patisserie Teemu Aura, Lauttasaari

Right next to Lauttasaari metro station's Otavantie entrance, next to Lauttasaari Manor, there operates a café run by Patisserie Teemu Aura in an old wooden building. Guaranteed Patisserie Teemu Aura treats in a manor setting and a pleasant atmosphere. Also offering All Day Breakfast items and lunch.

The operations of Kahvila Siili, Sompasaari's Ihana café, Vallila Allotment Garden's Min Kaka café, and Summer Café Kumpu mentioned earlier in the article have ended.