This fun design shop, Lokal, at Annankatu is definitely a place to visit if you want to see and buy some local design from Helsinki AND have a cup of coffee while shopping.

Not only is it a design shop, but it also features different exhibitions throughout the year. The exhibitions change every few weeks, so check the website for what’s coming next. The items in the shop are quite unique, definitely more so than the usual Iittala and other brands have (and I absolutely love Iittala, so don’t get me wrong, but the design district products have something special about them). That being said, they are also a bit more expensive, but totally worth it.

I like the store itself, because it’s nice and spacey and full of light. I could easily just go there every day, but might end up with some budgeting issues in the long run. There are occasional events held at the store as well, so you never know what might be in store for you.