🍫 Hot chocolate, coffee and glögg in Helsinki in winter: where to warm up and what to try
"In this article, you will learn..." — how to keep warm in Helsinki
Winter in Helsinki smells of cedar, the sea and warm cinnamon. You get off the tram, snow hangs on your eyelashes, and a sweet aroma wafts around the corner — somewhere mulled wine is being heated, korva-pusti slowly rotates in the window, and the barista draws a fox on a latte, similar to those that appear in Finnish fairy tales.
In this article, you will find out where to go for the best hot chocolate, where to find the right glögi (alcoholic and non-alcoholic), and which coffee shops serve the coffee that Finland is so proud of. We will show you points on the map, give you a widget selector, an order checklist, transport life hacks for 23–26 December, as well as basic recipes so you can recreate the taste of the holiday at home.
Quick compass: what to choose — chocolate, coffee or glögg
Hot chocolate. In Helsinki, it comes in two varieties: "Belgian" (thick, dessert-like) and "Scandi" (slightly lighter, with an emphasis on cocoa and milk/kauru milk). Ask for "dark / milk / valkoinen" and request lactose-free or oat milk — this is standard practice.
Coffee. Finns are world champions in coffee consumption, and the city spoils them with a speciality scene: espresso, filter, hand brew, skandinaavinen light roast. Look for roasters with single origin, guest grinds and filter menus.
Glögi. A holiday classic: red/white base, spices, almonds and raisins in a cup. At Christmas markets and cafés, you can find non-alcoholic and "strong" versions. Supermarkets have entire shelves of ready-made mixes, and bars offer their own versions.
Life hack on the rules: in 2025–2026, you can buy fermented drinks up to ~8% ABV in Finnish shops, anything above that — in Alko. Hot alcoholic beverages (mulled wine/glögg) to go with alcohol content can only be purchased from licensed areas (markets, bars), and in supermarkets, they are non-alcoholic (or up to the limit if it is ready-made "hehkuviini"). To "strengthen" it, buy a bottle at Alko and mix it at home with a non-alcoholic base.
Neighbourhoods and legends: where to go right now
Kruununhaka and Senate Square are the heart of December. During the day, the Christmas carousel rings out, in the evening the choir sings, and the smell of glögg and almonds wafts from the stalls. The steps of the cathedral are visible through the warm windows of Cafe Engel, and around the corner is the artisan chocolate shop Chjoko.
Esplanade and Kampi are wider, brighter, with shop windows and movement. Along the park is Cafe Esplanad (legendary buns and cups "to go"), nearby is Fazer Café (the flagship of Finnish sweets and — you guessed it — hot chocolate), and on the way to the station is the cosy Roasberg.
Katajanokka and the port — a route to the shore and back: Johan & Nyström by the water — for perfectly brewed filter coffee and wide windowsills.
Töölö and Sibelius Park — here the sea smells of salt, and the red house of Cafe Regatta makes winter even better: cinnamon in your hand, a mug warming your gloves, a crackling fire.
Punavuori — for speciality and minimalism: Andante with its "sweet" filter coffee and daylight, and a little further north — the lamp-lit Cafetoria (Latin-Nordic roast, honest cups).
Location cards: addresses, format, price ranges (winter 2025–2026)
Cafe Regatta — Taka‑Töölö
Fazer Café — Kluuvikatu 3
Cafe Esplanad — Pohjoisesplanadi 37
Cafe Engel — near Senate Square
Johan & Nyström — Katajanokka
Andante — Punavuori
Cafetoria — Töölö
Chjoko — Kruununhaka
Roasberg — near the station
Prices are approximate and vary depending on the season. On 24–25 December, many places have short opening hours or are closed; please check the current opening hours.
Interactive map (2025–2026)
Basic recipes (alcoholic/non-alcoholic), vegan options
1) Helsinki hot chocolate (2 cups).
● Dark chocolate 70% — 80–100 g (finely chopped).
● Milk or kauramaito (oat milk) — 300 ml + cream/vegetable cream 50 ml (optional).
● A pinch of salt, sugar to taste, optional — cardamom or orange zest.
Melt the chocolate in warm milk over low heat, do not boil. Bring to a thick consistency, serve with a dollop of whipped cream (coconut cream for the vegan version).
2) Basic non-alcoholic glögi (4 cups).
● Base: blackcurrant/cherry/blueberry (juice) — 700 ml.
● Water — 300 ml.
● Spices: cinnamon stick, 3–4 cloves, cardamom, ginger, simmer for 15–20 minutes over low heat (do not boil).
● Serving: almonds + raisins in a cup.
3) Glögi with alcohol (delicate, Finnish style).
Approach: heat the non-alcoholic base and add 20–40 ml of red/white "hehkuviini" (or dessert wine/berry liqueur) per serving — this preserves the aroma and allows you to control the strength. Outside — drink only in licensed areas.
4) White glögi (vaalea glögi).
Apple/pear juice + white hehkuviini, cardamom, vanilla — served with almonds and a slice of apple.
Transportation insert: how to get there 23–26 December
🚋 How Helsinki Moves During Christmas (Guide)
- Dec 23 10:00 — Check shortened opening hours of some city center cafés; grab takeaway and stroll under Esplanadi lights.
- Dec 24 12:30 — Senate Square Christmas market is open on its last day; many cafés close early in the evening.
Live updates: 23–24 December (times, delays, traffic)
📝 What to Say at the Cashier
Checklist of orders and useful Finnish words
❌ “You can drink mulled wine anywhere on the street”
No. Alcohol is only allowed in licensed areas/terraces and in bars/markets.
ℹ️ “Non-alcoholic means it’s for children”
Non-alcoholic mulled wine is a Finnish classic that everyone enjoys. Its taste is just as festive.
✅ “Ask about milk alternatives”
Oat/almond milk is available almost everywhere. Gut comfort is more important than habits.
❌ “Everything works normally on Dec 24–25”
No: short days or weekends. Plan ahead and get takeaway during the day.
A warm final note — share and come visit
Winter in Helsinki is when it's freezing outside, but inside, chocolate smells like childhood, glögg smells like Christmas, and coffee smells like a little adventure that begins with the first sip. Let this map and selection help you find your cup: by the sea at Regatta, on the windowsill at Johan & Nyström, with dessert at Fazer, with a smile from the barista at Andante, or with an artisanal flavour at Chjoko. If you found this material useful, share it with your friends, save it for the winter of 2025–2026, and write in the comments which cups warmed you up the most. We will add your findings to the map, and someone else's winter will have even more warm doors.
❓ FAQ
For a "dessert" cup, go to Chjoko (Liisankatu 9) — an artisan chocolate shop with cocoa drinks and a selection of bars. For an "atmospheric" mug under the open sky, try Cafe Regatta by the sea; in the centre, try Fazer Café and Cafe Esplanad.
Johan & Nyström in Katajanokka has a large hall, a view of the harbour and a serious filter/espresso menu. For a minimalist experience, check out Andante in Punavuori or the lamp-lit Cafetoria in Töölö.
At the Helsinki Christmas Market (Tuomaan Markkinat) on Senate Square: 28 November–22 December 2025, weekdays/Sundays 11am–7pm, Fridays/Saturdays 11am–8pm. Both non-alcoholic and "strong" glögi are available in licensed areas.
Yes. The K and S chains have entire shelves of seasonal glögi/tiiviste. Prices are approximately €1.9–6 per litre for basic drinks and concentrates; premium and "special" ones are more expensive.
Fermented beverages up to ~8% ABV can be purchased in shops; anything stronger must be purchased at Alko. Many people buy a non-alcoholic base at the supermarket and add a little wine/liqueur at home.
It's an 8–12 minute walk from the station. Trams run on a Sunday schedule and become less frequent early in the morning. It's convenient to plan your routes in the HSL app.
Yes: Cafe Regatta has a bonfire and wool blankets; the market has warm corners and fenced-off areas for drinks. Dress in layers: a hat and gloves are a must.
Roasberg near the station has a spacious hall and clear layout. The market has wide aisles; it's best to come during the day.
Almost everywhere: kauramaito (oat) is standard. At Andante, Johan & Nyström, and Cafetoria, milk alternatives are the norm; at chocolate shops, ask about the ingredients in the drink.
Cards/phones are accepted everywhere. At the market and in small shops, the connection sometimes "freezes" in winter — keep a spare card handy.
For gift bottles, go to Alko (alcohol) and supermarkets (0% and up to the limit). For bars/truffles, go to Fazer, Chjoko, and other city confectioneries. This is purely about shopping and souvenirs.
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