Kulmakuppila Ipi
This corner café in Kallio has big windows that let all the natural light flood in all year round. Climb the stairs up to the balcony and you will find around a dozen leather bat chairs that you can sink into, put up your feet and focus on your reading. From behind all the plants you can peek out from time to time at the local street life of the Kallio district. The staff is friendly, and coffee refills are free of charge. Note that this café plays background music, which may or may not be a good thing if you want to read.
Porthaninkatu 13
Villa Angelica
One of the most bohemian reading spots can be found opposite the bridge leading to the recreational island of Seurasaari. The pretty wooden villa dating back to 1901 has a café with numerous sofas and lounge chairs. This is the perfect place to isolate yourself from the rest of the world with a good read. The café is open daily until ten in the evening, giving the place a mysterious atmosphere that is perfect for a classic whodunnit!
Tamminiemenkatu 3
Rikhardinkatu Library
Designed by architect Theodor Höijer in the Neo-Renaissance style and completed in 1881, this public library is the perfect place to go and read – even if you don't have your own book with you. The lounge chairs on the second floor are perfect for hiding among the shelves in complete anonymity. The building itself is of considerable cultural and historic importance, as it was the first in the entire Nordic region to be designed specifically as a library. It’s the kind of place where you can really smell the books and the history!
Rikhardinkatu 3
Kaisa House
The Main Library of the University of Helsinki represents contemporary library aesthetics at their best, and all the students give it a lively atmosphere. At one end of the ground floor you will find a few comfortable lounge chairs, but you can also find absolutely perfect places to read on any of the floors. Up on the 7th floor you can enjoy one of the best panoramic views of Helsinki Cathedral in the entire city. The stunning design of the building offers plenty of natural light. Kaisa House was designed by architects Selina Anttinen and Vesa Oiva and completed in 2012.
Fabianinkatu 30
Winter Garden
At the Winter Garden on the north side of the Töölönlahti bay you can enjoy a book beneath the palm trees in a tropical atmosphere. The glass and steel building dates back to the 1890s, and its central fountain is a great place to sit and relax on one of the benches. You can even take with your own thermos bottle and picnic. Hundreds of plants guarantee a soothing atmosphere.
Hammarskjöldintie 1 B
Johan & Nyström
If you want to enjoy one of the best coffees in town and a slice of raw cake while reading your book, head for the Katajanokka district. Johan & Nyström’s café has comfortable lounge chairs both upstairs and down. Music is played in the background, but if that doesn’t disturb you, you’ll definitely enjoy some quality reading time.
Kanavaranta 7 C