In Kaarlenkatu the traditional Kallio and its cheap bars meet the new, trendier Kallio with its not-so-cheap bars and cool cafes. That’s why I love my neighborhood: it’s so versatile and diverse.

Oma Maa is actually a co-operative society of organic food grown near Helsinki. But they have also a cafe in Kaarlenkatu, for those of us who are not ready to join the society but want to enjoy good, organic food produced nearby.

Oma Maa serves organic vegan lunch from Monday to Friday and occasionally also dinners, often accompanied by a small concert. It is a really nice place to have lunch with a nice and calm atmosphere and very friendly service. The food is good and fresh and for €10 you get a great salad buffet, home-made bread, main course and dessert, all really tasty, so it’s a very good deal. The portions are so big I’ve never left the place hungry. It is also a nice place just to have a cup of coffee or tea and you can also buy for example organic flour from the café.