Hietalahden Kauppahalli

This is Helsinki’s answer to The Ferry Building in my native SF. Much like my condo location in SF, I live just near here on Bulevardi. I frequent the flea market because I’m cheap like that. I buy my produce at the Kauppahalli because I’m not cheap like that. The produce is beautiful, there is a huge array of sweets, treats, and food stalls/​cafes.
The cupcake lady, the Spanish delicacy stand, and the juice bar are favorites. Robert’s coffee is not. But that’s my bone to pick and I’ll review where a review is due: on their Unilocal page. I have it on good authority that Roslun makes the best burgers in town (I’m a vegetarian) and that the ramen shop is pretty good too. I can vouch for the French Café and the classic Finnish cafeteria in the back. They are the only place that has baby seats. That’s good to know if you have a kid who needs one of those.
This is the perfect place to go as a local (for the staples and some treats or a quick lunch/​snack out with friends away from the city center) or tourists (it is teeming with them in the Summer). It’s a go-​to for friends visiting from out of town; flea market then market hall = a good 3 hours of your day knocked out in one small space.
Highly recommend the fresh fruits and veggies, meats, fish, cheese, breads, pastries, and sweets. The kitschy tourist-​y stuff can be good too. I really like the olive oil soaps that one of the stalls sells. Overall, I am really thankful they’re here and so close to home. Because a girl can live on cucumber, tomatoes, and apples from S Market for only so long ;)

We were hoping to hit the flea market, but it was closed for some street racing abomination. We stopped in and had a burger at the place at the south end. Delicious, but costly. Cows don’t live in Finland apparently. We ate upstairs which was nice. Pro tip: there is a free toilet downstairs, which is super nice. Surprising décor. Check it out.