Hakaniementori, Helsinki, Finland

Ahhhh, Helsinki! I was there last month and walked past this place as well as my sister lives only a short walk away. It's such a nice area and I love the marketplace and the market hall. I was there in November last year as well and had yummy lentil soup in the soup kitchen in the market hall. :) I highly recommend 'Soppakeittiö'. :)

Hakaniemi is an unofficial district of Helsinki, the Finnish capital. It covers most of the neighbourhood of Siltasaari. It is considered a part of the Helsinki city center. Historically, it was often associated with the working class and worker's associations. However, the cost of living has risen considerably in recent years and is now on par with the rest of the downtown area of Helsinki. The best-known features of Hakaniemi include a large and lively marketplace, Oriental food stores with a good variety of Asian imported products the headquarters of several trade unions, the headquarters of the Social Democratic Party of Finland and the Left Alliance Party and the Helsinki Hilton hotel. Famous buildings include the Ympyrätalo building (architects Heikki and Kaija Sirén, 1968) and the Hakaniemi Market Hall (architect Karl Hård af Segerstad, 1914).

Hakaniemi square has been built on reclaimed land. It has been site of farmers' market since 1897.