Kallio: the authentic side of Helsinki

Wonderfully walkable wonders

First things first: the easiest way to explore the streets of Kallio is by foot, so definitely wear the nicest sensible shoes you own. The area has a lot of hills, nooks, and corners but blends seamlessly with nearby neighbourhoods like Hakaniemi and Kalasatama and is overall delightfully walkable. All three neighbourhoods are covered by a 30-minute walk and span 2.5 kilometres – that’s just over 1.5 miles in case you don’t vibe with metrics.
 
Hakaniemi Market Square is an excellent starting point for all explorations and has the feeling of history all around it. Traditional market stalls rise to the square for a Sunday market, usually held the first Sunday of each month. The market square is also the home for the annual Hakaniemi Christmas Market held in December, so if you’re travelling in the winter and are short on gift ideas, this is a must-visit! Around the square you can see authentic architecture from the early 1900s, like Hakaniemi Market Hall (also known as Finland’s best market hall) and Arena House.
 
Side by side with the wings of history there are buildings from the modern era, the most notable one being Hakaniemi’s signature building, Ympyrätalo – name meaning literally ‘the circle house’. This masterpiece of a public building first served as the headquarters for a local bank, and it’s very unusual cylinder shape is recognised nationally as the high point of 1960s office architecture. Today, its residents include day-to-day conveniences like grocery and liquor stores and a private health clinic, and it is a popular place to sit down to enjoy some drinks with Töölönlahti Bay views. Welcome to the authentic Helsinki experience!

Space and a place for everyone

The unique alternation of old and new continues through the entire area, painting a rather peculiar picture of the neighbourhood. Kallio is rough around the edges but has a golden heart – that’s what makes it so special and highly liked, especially with younger travellers and Helsinkians. Some people also say that once you move to Kallio, you’ll stay in Kallio – a great example is Finland’s first female president, Tarja Halonen, who was born in Kallio and still lives in the neighbourhood to this day!
 
But really, it’s no wonder that this is where most big creative innovators and trendsetters settle down to: when you see something different at every corner you turn, finding inspiration is a ‘helppo nakki’ (or ‘easy wiener’ – that’s how we say ‘piece of cake’ in Finnish). Not to mention Kallio is easily one of the most tolerant and welcoming neighbourhoods in the city for all kinds of people. This is the place where doing your own thing is not only praised but even expected – uniqueness is openly celebrated. Unsurprisingly, the authentic neighbourhood of Kallio is well known for its bohemian art scene and excellent subculture venues like Alimus (check out their fantastic safe-space events).
 
You have a great chance to create or enhance your individual style while visiting by taking a stroll at Hämeentie. The road is lined with various small vintage stores with treasures from many decades. There is also a plethora of new, trendy restaurants that are growing more and more popular among Helsinkians – better to try them yourself to see what the fuss is all about!

Culture, cocktails, and culinary arts

Every day here is an experience – whether it’s your first, sixth, or tenth time visiting, we’re certain you’ll find something that you’ve never tried before.
 
Places like Flät no 14 and Peloton Cycling Eatery are great all-day bistros for when you feel peckish and really embody the atmosphere of this area: something simple and delicious, done in their own way. If you’re looking for more of an evening sit-down situation, try The Alley by Breaking Bread, Harju 8, or Maukku – all known for excellent food and a great selection of natural wines, and Harju 8 for its speciality, summer jazz Sundays.

The area is packed with all sorts of restaurants, though, so if none of these tickle your fancy, you’re certain to find a place that caters to your taste. And if party mood catches you, go bar-hopping to Hämeentie’s ‘bilekompleksi’ (literally ‘party complex’) and pick your favourite from Siltanen, Kaiku, Kuudes linja, and Post Bar.
 
If you prefer culture to clubbing, Kallio is a prime location for the friends of theatre! KokoTeatteri, Arena-näyttämö, and Teatteri Kultsa are all nearby each other and have their own unique repertoire. Helsinki City Theatre is also located here; they are known for their spectacular grand musicals, like Little Mermaid and Moulin Rouge, and run shows from August to May.

For a more graphic experience, head to Riviera Kallio. This small ‘kino’ – a vintage-style cinema – is known for its luxurious red couches, neon lights, freshly popped popcorn, and signature cocktails. It’s the only movie theatre in Kallio, and a new (old) way to experience the modern movies. If you are up for a special little date night with yourself or your loved one, get ready for a truly authentic Helsinki cinema experience.

The old-gone-new

For something a little extra, head towards Kalasatama to find the old Suvilahti factory grounds. The 20 th -century industrial architecture is both impressive and significant to the area’s past, and today, the old factory buildings have been transformed into all sorts of venues for cultural events and experiences. For example, for beer enthusiasts who want to see more of the local brewery scene, Stadin Panimo arranges brewery tours and beer tastings in Suvilahti – just remember to book them in advance.
 
In between the buildings there is a graffiti art wall and a community-built Suvilahti DIY skatepark – a great representation of the new generation adopting a historical area and making it their own. In Kalasatama, the new era is fully tangible as well: once Finland’s first oil port is nowadays one of Helsinki’s newest and freshest residential areas.

The eye-catching combination of mall REDI and Finland’s highest private tower house will soon be accompanied by Helsinki’s first floating quarters (yes, we are building houses on the sea). And the area is fun, too! For the daredevils who want to spice up their visit with a hefty dose of adrenaline, REDI’s indoor skydiving tunnel Fööni is the place to be. Imagine just stopping by a local mall to dash and dive through the sky. It’s pretty incredible.

Beer Bear Park

You might wonder if there’s anything in Kallio for more laid-back nature enthusiasts, and we’re glad to say yes! In fact, for a place so substantially urban, there’s a huge number of green areas to enjoy. That’s something we pride ourselves on in Helsinki: this is one of the few capitals in the world where there’s real nature close to the people.
 
If you’re a city park enthusiast, Karhupuisto is one of the most popular spots in the area for a leisurely lounge. The park was named ‘bear park’, named after an adorable statue that can still be spotted there. The location is also excellent for a tasty breakfast or brunch, with cafés like Gateau and Beard Park Café next to the park opening their doors early in the morning for the birds trying to catch a worm (or, in this case, freshly baked goods).

A short walk away from Karhupuisto is Braahenkenttä sports field to stay active. In summer, basketball courts and football turfs invite ballsy people to compete, and in winter the field turns into a popular ice-skating rink. For a more maritime atmosphere, Tokoinranta Park by the Eläintarhanlahti Bay has excellent paths for walking, running, and even biking to enjoy the breath-taking views all year round.

If you fancy a ride, yellow Helsinki City Bikes can be found all over the city and can be rented via the public transport provider HSL. Linnunlaulu Bridge is a great place to enjoy the gorgeous autumn colours that line the railways, and it connects Tokoinranta to Töölönlahti Bay, which also has a popular walking path around the bay. Head to the northern side of the bay and give Helsinki City Winter Garden a visit – this little paradise is always glowing with floral glamour no matter the season!

Photo Beatrice Bucht

Neighbourhood that embraces the business casual

Just like uniqueness, diligence, and determination are things that describe the Kallio vibe. Originality and being cool area way of life here, self-expression stretching to all parts of people’s lives. The desire to live a life like you decide goes for working as well, remote working being an integral part of Helsinkian lifestyle in Kallio. The modern coworking spaces (like Työpaja, VillageWorks Valas, and Workland Teurastamo) are located conveniently next to transportation and other everyday services.
 
It’s also quite common to work in less traditional environments. More often than not, you’ll spot busy business people working in the cafés (try Patisserie Teemu Aura, Cafe Pequeño, or Café Pikku Maria for a good cup of coffee and freshly baked goodies), libraries (Kallio and REDI equally comfy), and even parks around the area. Whatever suits you best is the way to go!
 
For the digital nomads and other Helsinki fans, there are furnished apartments (like Noli Studios) in the area for short and longer stays. Combining the efficiency of remote working with effortless everyday life, they are a great way to turn a taste of the city into a bigger bite. And if you’re a newcomer wanting to settle down in Helsinki permanently (an excellent choice), International House Helsinki in Kallio will help you take your first steps as a new Helsinkian!
 
Looking to grow? Constantly moving also means constantly growing. Along with the on-going construction work expanding the area and its population, the conveniently located and well-connected area is attracting more and more businesses – like IBM Finland, Yousician, Red Bull Finland, and Gofore, just to name a few. Office spaces around the area are well-equipped and suitably compact for businesses of all sizes, combining cosy with the feeling of communality. And it doesn’t stop here – building in Kalasatama is estimated to continue until the end of the 2030s, which means it’s the ideal time for companies and investors alike to set their views to here.

Final thoughts: Kallio demands authenticity

Kallio is a completely unique combination of neighbourhoods that are always moving, constantly growing, and never boring. Just over 5 minutes from Helsinki Central Station by a metro and 20 minutes from Pasila railway station by a tram, this conveniently located area truly is what Helsinki is all about.

Someone might describe the area as the home for edgy hipsters (which sounds super cool by the way), but the way of life here is actually very simple and can be achieved by anyone: be you and do what you love. So, when you’re craving to have a taste of the coolest side of Helsinki and daring enough to be unapologetically yourself, the authentic neighbourhood of Kallio will welcome you with open arms.