With the sun hardly setting in Helsinki these days, we are taking every opportunity to enjoy dinner outdoors.
Our favourite places Skiffer and Cafe Birgitta only open in summer and they are now in good company with the opening of Hernesaaren Ranta.
Hernesareen Ranta (Hernesaari Beach) is located south-west of the city, in the redeveloping area of Hernesaari (Pea Island).
Bus number 14 will take you almost to the door, but as always there’s also plenty of parking for bikes.
The area is home to a range of eateries, including Piece & Love Pizza and Mexican Chalupa. There’s also a venelaituri (boat pier) for those arriving by boat.
Once ashore there’s many areas to sit and you don’t all have to order food from the same place.
Unfortunately, some food providers are still learning how to run food events efficiently. The night we visited, the Champagne Bar ran out of champagne and the sushi bar was hand-rolling sushi to order, meaning a 25-minute wait for food after a 20-minute wait to order.
Luckily there’s another bar where you can grab a drink while you wait and there’s also a dance floor for those who stay late.
These guys knew how to kill time, turning up for dinner in a boat equipped with a sauna and sofa up on top.
And we’ll be back. With the area measuring 2000m² and open all week from 10am-2am, there’s something for every man and his dog.
It’s a bit hard to find – continue west from Cafe Birgitta, past the public sauna building site until you feel sure you must be lost. Hernesaaren Ranta will appear as if a mirage in the distance, just as you are about to turn back.
Hey Helsinki 
This is a great place! 🙂 I’m happy to see someone kitesurfing, I sail too!
I can’t wait to come in Helsinki!
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It’s really great, I hope you’ll get to visit. There was such a breeze over the water this day that this guy was just floating above the water for ages. Magic to watch. You can just sail right up to your table. ; )
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When I was in Helsinki ,last July, every night i walked with my boyfriend along Hernesaari Beach … We looked the little islands on the horizon and the water motors speed on the water … Nostalgia !!!
Thanks Mel ☺️
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What lovely memories. You’ll have to visit again & see the changes, especially the sauna when it’s ready ☺️
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How is the water? With all that sun, I’d be so tempted so go swimming! I do see that the kitesurfer is in a wet suit, but was that really necessary? The sauna-ers on the boat must have jumped in the water when they emerged from the sauna…. After jumping in snowbanks after running out of the sauna in the winter in Finland, I certainly developed a tolerance to cold.
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I’ve only had one swim this summer in Helsinki – the water was 16 degrees and freezing but having a sauna first definitely helped! Last year it was quite warm but this year it feels like it’s still partly frozen…. ; )
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As we used to say when I was growing up on the farm, “make hay while the sun shines.” In Helsinki, “have fun while the sun shines” for soon it will be dark again 😉
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Absolutely right! And never complain about how light it is because soon you’ll wish it was ; )
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