There are currently at least half a dozen completely vegan cafés in Helsinki: Encanto Art Café, Rakastan, Plants by us, Roots Helsinki and three spots from Round. However, the situation is changing all the time, and the number is sure to grow. In addition, vegan confectionery products, savoury snacks and café lunches are increasingly available in other cafés and bakeries. The style varies from vegan versions of Nordic classics, such as “porkkala” on rye bread (see below) and tofu skagen, to French-style patisserie art.
I've visited all the cafés featured below, some numerous times over the years. The list at the end contains both my own recommendations and those of reliable café-goers and vegan food connoisseurs. However, the list is certainly incomplete, because the city is big and the locals love their coffee.
Banu Café & Bakery
I have been to this Persian café-restaurant in Jätkäsaari for weekend lunch. Among vegan food lovers, Banu Café is especially known for its brunches, but I fell in love with the vegan selection in their pastry showcase. I enjoyed an incredibly wonderful flaky napoleon cake, the likes of which I have not come across anywhere else as a vegan version.
Heino Kasken katu 4 C, Länsisatama
Cafe Eliel
This retro-inspired cafe that opened inside Helsinki Central Station in the spring of 2022 was a perfect addition to the station's services: now you can find there a cosy café that is open all day and where it's nice to arrange get-togethers, read and enjoy not only breakfasts but even a drink while waiting for your train. The nutty sandwich cake is a fun speciality, and you can also find a varying selection of sweet and salty pastries at Cafe Eliel.
Helsinki Central Station, Elielinaukio 3, Kluuvi
Café Lasipalatsi
Housed inside the city's most handsome Functionalist building, Café Lasipalatsi has long offered vegan donuts and, above all, excellent “porkkala” on rye bread, featuring “smoked salmon” made from carrots. In addition, various vegan sweet pastries and smoothies can be found in the showcase. Nowadays, the café’s lunch selection also includes vegan options.
Mannerheimintie 22–24, Kamppi
Cafe Pequeño
This fun Argentinian-Spanish café is connected to a barbershop. The vegan offerings of Cafe Pequeño are not extensive but always high quality: I have eaten here one of the best cheesecakes and the best banana cake ever. With a little luck, they might even be serving their delicious vegan empanadas when you visit.
Vaasankatu 11, Alppiharju
Ekberg
The word “classic” is not enough to describe Ekberg, which has been operating since 1852. I always feel like coming here in slightly better clothes and drinking coffee or tea with a book or newspaper in front of me instead of a laptop. Or you can simply enjoy the atmosphere. The vegan offering is always the same, the “kuningatartorttu” queen tart, but it is admittedly one of the finest vegan representatives of the classic patisserie style in Finland!
Bulevardi 9, Kamppi
Kiasma Café
There is always something vegan in the display case of the café at the Museum of Contemporary Art Kiasma, usually both savoury and sweet. Moreover, the café’s lunch offerings now regularly include vegan options and even a vegan waffle portion.
Museum of Contemporary Art Kiasma, Mannerheiminaukio 2, Kluuvi
Outrun Café
Outrun café in Pasila refers to itself as “retrofuturist”, which certainly describes the milieu – this is just what the future looked like in old sci-fi movies! The pastries are quite simply works of art, and there are many vegan options to choose from – often including macarons!
Asemapäällikönkatu 3, Pasila
Way Bakery
Way Bakery’s breads may just be the best in town, and you can enjoy them by taking some home with you or as part of one of the excellent breakfast or brunch sets. You can also find other seasonal vegan specialities, such as vegan shrove buns.
Agricolankatu 9, Kallio