Modern architecture is far from the least important thing attracting tourists to Finland. That is why Cafe Aalto, which is located in a building designed by the famous “father of modernism” Alvar Aalto, is definitely worth a visit.
In the huge three-story building with an inner courtyard, there was room not only for a cafe, but also for the country’s largest bookstore, Akateeminen kirjakauppa. On the spacious balcony of the second floor there are tables, above each of which hangs a lamp of recognizable “Aalto” design.
The history of this interior is interesting: the architect created it for a completely different cafe, which went bankrupt back in the 60s of the last century. All the furniture and decorative items were put up for auction, bought by the Stockmann corporation, and transferred to the Alvar Aalto Foundation.
But when Stockmann decided to open a cafe in one of its buildings, the foundation allowed all these items to be used to recreate the original interior, and the architect’s heir gave permission to use her esteemed ancestor’s surname in the name. Cafe Aalto opened in November 1986 and has since enjoyed enduring popularity among Helsinki youth and the creative intelligentsia.
Alvar Aalto believed that people should be given simple and high-quality design. The cafe follows a similar principle: you will not find sophisticated dishes here, but the menu offers an excellent selection of refreshing salads and hearty pies with various fillings.
