Café Engel
Named for the architect Carl Ludvig Engel, this café on Senate Square serves traditional lunch fare, and it's also open for breakfast, with porridge, muesli, croissants, cheeses, eggs, and fruit on the menu. Lunch portions are hearty—you can fill up on salmon soup, meatballs, reindeer stew, or the cold smoked salmon sandwich; for a lighter snack, try a savory Karelian pie (karjalanpiirakka) or one of the smaller open-face sandwiches. Locals stop in for coffee, wine, and desserts, which include seasonal treats such as lingonberry cheesecake, fruit tarts, and an excellent Sacher torte. The outdoor Kesäkino Engel summer cinema is held in the courtyard, which is also the occasional venue for recitals and other events.
