Helsinki

So now I'm spending some time in Helsinki. This has been my first weekend here, and the place is brilliant. It's genuinely what one might call "cool". For a start, every other shop is selling designer homewares, and the people are reserved, universally slim and generally rather attractive and well-dressed. The architecture is varied, the streets fairly quiet and the public transportation excellent (not that you need to use it much, as stuff is pretty close together).

Here's a quick round up the places I've been to:

Hotels
Helka, near Kamppi (Kamppi is the main bus station, and is surrounded with a shopping mall, cinemas, restaurants and so forth. 3*, but quite acceptable. A little noisy from the road, but not really that bad. Great location, as a short stroll to the bus station to get to work (15 mins, on the 147 or 160K, and some others, get off at the Iso Omena ("Big Apple" - it's a massive, and nice mall)).
Anna, down the south end of Annankatu. A low-end 3 star, ok, but with slightly odd receptionists. A bit village.


Restaurants
Aino on the Esplanade - the Esplanade is very chic, and this place is jolly nice.
Lapp, not sure where - it's a Lappish place, and the mixed starter, reindeer, and vodka were all fantastic.
Atelje Finne, Arkadiankatu - former sculptor's studio, lovely lovely lovely. Small menu, outstanding service, good clientele, modern Finnish food.
Kathrina - an old wooden sailing boat, moored next to the market square. Run by very nice people, and they do a good goulash soup on a Sunday lunchtime when you've got a stinking hangover.
Cafe Fanny - a place next to the Sinebrychoff art gallery (see later). On a Sunday (and Saturday too, I expect), they do brunch and the place is packed with lovely people. And young single types, not packed with pushchairs and braying Sloaney fu*kers. Highly recommended.

Bars
Nolly, my local, 2 doors down from Helka. Relaxed, DJ on most of the time, food ok. Good.
Torni - near the Lapp restaurant - it's a very big tower, with open to the skies bars. Great at sunset.

Musea, galleries and activities - reviews to follow. (Ok, not really a review, as I don't expect anyone to read this, but it's simply an aide-memoire for me.)
Oh, everywhere's good, but I can't remember the names of the places we went on Friday night.