Cafe Regatta — Restaurant in Helsinki sub-region

Café Regatta is a true Helsinki gem and easily one of the most atmospheric cafés in the city. Famous for serving what many consider the best korvapuusti (cinnamon bun) in town, it’s the perfect place to experience authentic Finnish coffee culture. Freshly baked, aromatic, and generously sized, the korvapuusti alone is worth the visit.

The atmosphere is wonderfully laid-back and cosy, with a rustic charm that makes you feel like you’ve stepped into a storybook cottage. The café’s location by the water offers beautiful views year-round, whether it’s glistening summer sunshine or a snowy winter scene. Outdoors, the fire pit adds a special touch – guests can gather around, warm up, and even grill sausages, creating a uniquely Finnish experience.

The red wooden building itself, with its traditional architecture and charming details, fits perfectly into the surrounding scenery. Combined with the relaxed vibe, stunning outdoor setting, and unbeatable baked goods, Café Regatta is not just a café, but a place to slow down and enjoy the best of Helsinki’s atmosphere.

A must-visit for locals and...

Very cozy inside (I mean tiny, of course) and pretty good carrot cake.

It was winter time and there were plenty of tables available outside for the brave, but on that particular day we were not feeling it. We arrived early enough to find a table in the cozy, compact interior decorated with photos and paintings. Shortly after we got our order, the line outside was quite big, so I’d advise planning to go early too if you want to sit inside. You can also get items to grill over the fire (sausages and marshmallow for example) but we only saw one such fire and it was taken by a family.

I of course got a cinnamon bun (which got progressively softer and sweeter as I bit more into it), meat pie from the apparently very well known Eromanga bakery (with a doughnut-like bread, which I had never tried before) and some coffee plus carrot cake. The cake, albeit tiny, was really good in my opinion, with delightful frosting, and not at all dry. Coffee was ok. It’s a bit on the pricier side, but...

This is a gem in Helsinki city centre, just 3-min walk from the Sibelius Monument. We took a relaxed walk along the lakeside and were attracted by this red cottage house.

We reached the cafe around noon time, but there were many guests already. The cafe was very small with limited indoor seating. If you can get a seat near the fire outside and don’t mind the birds flying around, it seems better to sit outdoor with fantastic lake views. We could see some guests having BBQ outside! There were canoes, row boats and kayaks for rental too.

The staff were nice and friendly. The hot chocolate with cream (“kaakao” in Finnish) and the blueberry pie were so yummy! This cafe is just like a small vintage shop with unique decors and paintings. Even the washroom has very interesting decors! We love them very much.

In Helsinki, such an expensive city, this cafe is great value for money. You can enjoy sunshine or sunset, lovely ambience and awesome lake views...