Löyly

From the outside, Löyly looks like a giant, geometric wooden sculpture set against the Helsinki waterfront. The building’s most prominent element is a multi-faceted cloak made of heat-treated pine slats, an architectural shell that wraps around the entire structure. This outer layer isn’t just for show – it functions as a set of bleachers you can climb to reach a rooftop terrace with open views of the Baltic Sea. Designed to grey over time, the whole form will eventually blend in with the rocky shoreline of the Hernesaari peninsula. Inside, the space is divided into two distinct zones. One half is a bright, open restaurant and bar filled with natural light, all pale Scandinavian birch wood and clean lines. The other half contains the sauna facilities, which are kept intentionally dim and serene. The materials here are darker and more elemental – blackened concrete, steel, and a central fireplace area with a cold-water basin. The whole experience is built around the three wood-heated saunas: a continuously heated one, another that’s heated just once a day, and a traditional Finnish smoke sauna. The ritual here is straightforward. You move between the intense heat of the saunas and a cold plunge into the sea, with stairs leading directly from the terrace into the water. This is a year-round activity. The most common way to visit is to book a two-hour sauna slot first, then move over to the restaurant for a meal. The kitchen serves Scandinavian dishes focused on organic and locally sourced ingredients, like elk meatballs with potato purée. Because the sauna area is unisex, bathing suits are required. Booking ahead for both the sauna and the restaurant is essential, as slots fill up quickly.