Jenni Rotonen
Jenni Rotonen
English
It immediately felt like home.
"I'm an evening walker. An unrepentant aesthetic who might head off on a night walk with a camera and look for the most beautiful light, scenery, moment. I've noticed that beauty is not always found in the most obvious spot – it can show up in an unexpected place," says the blogger and social media influencer Jenni Rotonen.
Rotonen is known for her exquisite photos and the little moments she captures in them. No wonder that the Oulu native builds her Helsinki around evening walks. Important districts for Rotonen include Kallio and Merihaka, as well as the city centre streets. "Kallio has the city's most interesting places at the moment."
Rotonen has moved around a lot during her life, both in Finland and abroad. "When I was younger I had a wish to really find a place where I could settle down and never have to leave. Now I've lived in Helsinki longer than anywhere. It immediately felt like home."
She is especially enchanted by the light and different ambiances found in Helsinki. "Helsinki is a beautiful city with a lot of feeling, especially in spring and early autumn. The summer is special because the atmospheric light lasts so long during the day. Sometimes we go on midnight walks. When other people go to a bar, we head out with our cameras to explore what the flowers and different colours look like in the setting sun. There are deep, beautiful tones."
Rotonen first got to know her adopted hometown by riding around full circles on trams. "It was a way to map out how everything is situated in the city. With the metro, you sort of lose track of the route by just jumping from A to B. With the tram you can see the scenery. Distances are short in Helsinki and you can walk everywhere. If you don't have energy to walk, the city bike system is also a really handy way to see the city.”
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When I moved to Helsinki 12 years ago, my first home was in Haaga. I discovered the Rhododendron Park by accident on an evening stroll. I had no idea that there is such a magical jungle in the middle of the forest. I was completely stunned. I still visit it every year when the flowers are in bloom. This year I have a mission to bring my boyfriend there on a bike ride. Many locals don't even know about it, it's a secret gem, even with a train passing just a couple of hundred metres away.
Tenho is my second living room. I spend a lot of time there and I'm kind of part of the furniture. I was even joking that I would throw my housewarming party there. Tenho has a Berlin vibe, it always feels like a little get-away. There is live music almost every night and no cover charge. My favourite night is Sunday when there is live jazz. This summer, Tenho also has a wine bar at the corner of Helsinginkatu and Fleminginkatu. The kitchen has a good selection of vegetarian dishes and perhaps the best vegan pizza in town.
The most interesting place in the city for friends of fashion and design is Kämp Garden. I feel that the place is a cultural act in itself, a showroom of Finnish fashion and design. If you want a quick cross-section of current fashion in Finland, you can find a good selection of high quality, socially responsible brands. There are also nice places to eat, a pop up space featuring the work of young designers, and in the autumn a new space will host a side branch of the Finnish Museum of Photography.
Merihaka is a much loved and much hated district. An architectural oddity in a top location in Helsinki. A brutalist mix of ugly and pretty. It's especially spectacular in the morning or evening sun. I have come to love Merihaka because of the squash hall where I play several times a week. There are also a couple of nice terraces around the corner, Leblon and Merikerho, both with good DJs, music and drinks.
Puu-Vallila, or Wooden Vallila, is a dear place for me. Beautiful and idyllic, it feels like stepping into another world with its tiny streets and wooden houses. I love to just walk and wander around, look at the lace curtains in the windows, the blooming lilacs. It is a special part of history, it is lovely that it has been preserved.
Siltasaari is the Paris of Finland. I have proof. Once I looked at a photo I had taken there and I thought it was from along the Seine in Paris. I was already posting it on Instagram when I noticed! I had also been to Paris that same summer and taken nearly identical photos in both places. Siltasaari is a beautiful little area in close vicinity to the Tokoinranta shore and its prime picnic spots. The Botanical Garden is also nearby. Highly recommended, especially in the evening light!
Café Regatta is open every day of the year. It is so lovely! They have the city's best cinnamon buns and a great atmosphere. If you want to immerse yourself in a Finnish countryside cabin mood, you can even grill sausages on the open fire. And the little cabin is so cute!
Bun2Bun has the best vegan burgers in the whole city. There is a nice diner-style, very instagrammable decor. Super great burgers. I want to challenge also the meat eaters to try, for instance the Beyond Meat burger. You will definitely not have to compromise with an unclassifiable burger patty.
Amazingly good and cute vintage boutique. They have a great selection of used beautiful vintage clothing. Many of my favourite dresses are from there.
An all-time favourite and a classic place. Bar No. 9, or Ysibaari as the locals call it, has super tasty pastas and salads. Beloved by everyone in Helsinki, this is an easy, delicious place for food amid the bustle of the city centre. A personal option to chain restaurants.
A mix of wine bar, flower shop and creative space. A beautiful interior where you can find imaginative flower arrangements in vases by small designers. If you are looking for a personal floral touch, this is the place to go. NB! A very Instagram-friendly location.
Lokal offers a well-curated selection of creations by artisans and designers, souvenirs with a personal touch. You can have a coffee, and everything you see is for sale! You can also pop into the Helsinki Contemporary art gallery on the same visit.