Starbucks coming to the center

Did you know that at Stockmann Akateeminen a new Starbucks will open soon? It is going to be the first Starbucks outside the airport in Finland.

When it exactly opens is still a secret though. But it can most likely be expected during the month of August.

Western Lauttasaari in 360°

A 360° view over the sea at Western Lauttasaari.

Jazz on Espan Lava

All of you who like jazz should come to Espan Lava on Esplanadi this week. At the free open-air Jazz Festival Jazz-Espa bands play every afternoon starting from 16:00.

On their website you can see what artists will be playing this week. You can either watch the performances from the benches in front of the stage or if you fancy a cold drink in your hand while listening to the relaxing jazz sounds just sit down at the terrace of Kappeli.

The big final of Jazz-Espa will be on Sunday at mbar with the long JazzPiknik from 14:00 till 1:30 at night. Several great jazz bands and artists will be performing.

Enjoy the music!

Rocky beaches

That is what makes Finland so special. The rocks might not be as comfortable to lay on as sandy beaches. But they just have so much more character.

Helsinki’s balcony to the sea

Are you looking for a brunch place for the weekend? What about sitting on a small island overlooking the city and enjoying a selection of delicious archipelago buffet?

You can get all that at Restaurant Saaristo on Klippan island. You get there easily with a small ferry leaving every few minutes south of the Olympia Terminal next to the Peace Statue.

The white Jugend style villa with the red roof can already be seen from far and is a landmark in Helsinki. Its history dates back to 1898 and during the summer months it serves as a high class restaurant.

The buffet is served only on Sundays between 12:00 and 16:00 and costs 32 Euros. This is one of the more expensive brunches in the city but it’s probably also the one with the most unique surroundings.

Saaristo is also open during the week as an à la carte restaurant and also serves lunch. You can of course also just come there and have a drink on their beautiful terrace.

Saaristo is still open till September 1.

8 Metre Worlds in Helsinki

The 8 Metre Sailing World Championships are held in Helsinki at the moment. Till August 3 boats from all over the world will compete in several races. The main hub of the competition is Liuskasaari.

The organizing sailing club HSS even opened a Sailors Café just for the event. From its terrace you have a wonderful view onto the open sea and can also follow the races. They serve coffee, tea and small snacks for reasonable prices. Especially when the sun is shining it’s a great place to enjoy a fresh sea breeze.

From the mainland you can take the small ferry going to Skiffer and Boathouse to get there.

Una cerveza, por favor!

The weekend starts again. And that is always a good opportunity to try out new places in the city.

My recommendation for today is Los Cojones. This Spanish bar was opened not long ago and is already one of the most popular places for drinks in town.

Los Cojones is decorated with attention to details. The Spanish theme can be seen in every part of the bar. You can even sit in a small bull fight arena. You also find the Spanish influence in their selection of drinks. You won’t find such a wide range of beers and wines that you might be used to from other places in the city but almost everything they offer comes from Spain. So time to try something new.

Oh, and be there early. Especially on weekends it gets crowded in no time.

Have a great weekend! 

Perfect sushi in Punavuori

You might have read my review of Sushibar + Wine calling it THE place you should go for sushi in Helsinki. Well, that is not entirely true. You can also get the same great sushi at Sushibar in Punavuori by the same owners.

Located in Uudenmaankatu this small sushi place offers the same quality and the same wonderful wines you also find at Kampintori. All together there are now four of their places in Helsinki. For directions check their website.

Tip: Try the EDAMME soy bean next time as a starter while you wait for your sushi. They are delicious!

The summer comes back

After some cold and windy days the summer will come back today according to the weather forecast. During the thermometer should be at around 23° and should rise to over 25° during the next days.

So think about your plans for this week’s afternoons already. Maybe have a picnic on the rocks next to the sea. There are countless beautiful places along the shoreline of Helsinki and Espoo.

The bike fixer

Nothing is more annoying than a broken tire during a cycling tour along the sea side. Luckily during the summer time there is help waiting. Right in front of Carusel you find the small caravan of the Bike Fixer. Here you can get all minor and major bike repairs done in short time.

The Bike fixer is open on weekdays from 17:00 to 22:00 and on weekends between 9:00 and 22:00. The caravan will still be at its place till the end of September. For more information visit the website (Finnish).