HELSINKI'S OLD MARKET HALL: MY TOP 4 STALLS & FLAVORS
If you've been visiting Helsinki, guided or not, I am sure you've came across this beautiful red, white and yellow brick building by the shore along the Eteläranta. I remember the sad but exciting times in 2014 when this was closed for renovation, but definitely worth the waiting!
The Old Market Hall (also called in Finnish Vanha Kauppahalli) is a must for every Helsinkian to know and for every tourist to see and experience. It offers an amazing array of stalls selling delicatessen-style of bites, including some unusual tastes like bear meat. The market is a perfect place to stop in wintertime during those chilly days when one needs to warm up his/her fingers and sip on something cozy! The bakery goods here are impressive and always surprising!
- The stall number 9 will delight cheese fans with a wide and diverse variety of cheese. Juustokauppa Tuula Paalanen offers great service and tasty fresh diary products (milk inlcuded!). Sometimes you can stop by for a small free tasting! Yummy!
- Robert's Coffee, the café chain now spread all over Helsinki which you have probably noticed, has its own oldest café here offering breakfast options, lunch and some snacks for after-work. An easy way to have lunch while rolling through the city is to stop by and grab one of their cured salmon or whitefish toasts!
- Another of my favorite stalls is actually a café and cake shop, Röntgren Café & Conditorei situated right in the center of the market hall, a new addition which came all way from Germany being family-owned ever since 1870. They serve take-away for all of their treats that include coffee, cakes, chocolates and even ice-creams and delicious fish sandwiches and German sausage perfect for the hungry ones!
- In my top 4 favorite stalls of the Market, something that I can't skip mentioning ever since I came to Helsinki and I had the chance to taste their goodies in Runeberginkatu 31, is PetriS Chocolate Room. This is the place for chocolate lovers and who can't survive the week without this treat! Their stall will take your breath away not only because of the delicious looking cakes and all sorts of chocolaty treats but also because these are hand-made so precisely and beautifully divine looking and tasting bites of Heaven! They also have their own bakery and offer locally roasted coffee options too or loose tea. Is there something you're missing?
Yesterday the market held a tasting session between 16-21:00. There was live music by young artists and even a magician to accompany the delicious bites, affordable for everyone! People were crowding up (of course as usual) to taste the wine and everyone was sipping on a glass of something. Surprisingly it was not really crowded however, I made my way to PetriS Chocolate Room and tried one of their delicious strawberry-champagne cakes! A-ma-zing! We also have some chocolate tartlets. On our way back we grabbed a little fish salad to share and the flavors were lovely! Unfortunately this tasting session is over but most importantly to remember is that this premise offers top-notch service and products, locally sourced or fresh, gourmetsy and delicious bites for you and tourists to taste and remember Helsinki through the stomach!
Good Friday from Helsinki!
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