Best bakeries in Helsinki
Good bread keeps you going, but delicious pastries along the way certainly don’t hurt. Helsinki boasts a plethora of beloved bakeries where locals love to savour the offerings. Whether you’re looking for fresh bread for breakfast or hoping to indulge in the city’s finest korvapuusti cinnamon buns and munkki doughnuts, Timo Santala’s curated list will guide you to Helsinki’s very best bakeries.
Whether a beloved traditional establishment or a newer arrival, every bakery has its own specialities that loyal customers swear by. Bread plays a central role in both everyday life and special occasions, and the tradition of baking with sourdough has deep roots, whether for rye bread or using lighter grains. Opinions on where to find the best Karelian pasties, meat pies, croissants, or classic Finnish cinnamon buns are as varied as the city’s residents. But what could be better than setting off on a bakery tour to discover for yourself what Helsinki’s finest bakeries have to offer?
Traditional Bakery Atmosphere
Helsinki’s oldest bakery, Ekberg, has been delighting generations on Bulevardi since 1852. Known for its patisserie classics, Ekberg’s menu features the famous Napoleon and Madeleine pastries, mille-feuille, and the Champagne Cork pastry, all rooted in 19th-century traditions. Their Runeberg tortes, served in February to celebrate the national poet’s birthday, are also considered some of the best in town. Another champion of tradition is Konditoria Hopia, where freshly baked Karelian pasties are made daily using the original recipe brought by Emma Hopia from Sortavala in Karelia nearly 70 years ago.
Avikainen, a classic neighbourhood bakery in Torkkelinmäki since 1966, offers a nostalgic trip back in time with its bilberry pie and jam-filled doughnuts. Similarly, Väyrysen Leipomo, operating out of the cultural hub Teurastamo, bakes legendary rye breads and small doughnuts using a sourdough starter dating back to 1908.
Lingonberry pies and meat pasties
A true classic, Kanniston Leipomo has been serving its iconic treats from its Punavuori shop since 1914 and now has several locations across the city. Fazer’s Gateau bakery chain also offers a wide selection in its many bakery-cafés but be sure to try their apricot-nut bread and pistachio twists. In Tapanila, Rönttösrouva specialises in hand-baked Kainuu-style rönttönen lingonberry pies in a rye crust, as well as savoury items like kalakukko – a classic fish-filled bread loaf – and voileipäkakku ”sandwich cakes”. Meanwhile, it’s widely agreed that Eromanga has been making Helsinki’s best meat pasties since 1946.
Delights
Helsinki
New bakery trends
A pioneer of Helsinki’s contemporary bakery boom, Levain, with locations in Punavuori and Töölö, is a versatile bakery-café renowned for its sourdough bread and crisp Portuguese pastel de nata custard tarts. St. George Bakery, nestled in the ground floor of the luxury hotel, serves freshly baked sourdough bread daily, including Sundays, making it the perfect spot to pick up picnic supplies for the Old Church Park next to the hotel.
At Way Bakery, located near the Karhupuisto park in Kallio, you’ll find more than just their popular sourdough bread – try their honey-caramelised cinnamon buns and enjoy a glass of natural wine during your visit.
Master bakers and European inspiration
Raka’s, a small home-style bakery in Töölö, is celebrated for its excellent Karelian pasties and samosas. Bakery Iita is the go-to for sourdough bread and their malt loaf, perfect for Skagen toasts. On weekends, Primo in the former hospital area Lapinlahti’s Venetsia building bakes crusty bread that’s worth the trip.
Greenbake deserves special mention for its croissants and baguettes, with the French owner’s touch evident throughout the menu. Similarly, French quality shines at Le Moulin, an artisan bakery lauded for its butter-laced croissants and almond croissants. You can find Le Moulin’s products at Café de la Gare in Huopalahti, Etelä-Haaga, and at Le Grenier in Meilahti, where the quiches and lemon tartlets are also a must-try.
For French-style croissants, visit L’Artisan, a boulangerie in the Old Market Hall. Meanwhile, Patisserie Teemu Aura is known not only for its excellent breads but also for its inventive macarons, seasonal Runeberg tortes, and artistic pastry creations.
