University of Helsinki
Café Portaali, which doubles as a study space, underwent a redesign in March.
Located conveniently on the way to the Kaisa Library, Café Portaali is a tempting stopping zone for students. Portaali is a good place for group work, and it can also serve as a work area for students who do not need a silent environment to study.
Melanie Loughney, a first-year student in the Media & Global Communcation Master’s degree programme, often comes to Café Portaali to study Finnish. She has noticed that the café is particularly popular among students doing group work, since the bookable group work spaces in Aleksandria are not always free.
The busiest time in Café Portaali is lunch, although a steady stream of students goes through the café from opening to closing time. Loughney sometimes chooses the café for her study environment exactly because of the surrounding crowd.
“I actually like a bit of background noise because sometimes, if it’s too silent, I find it hard to focus.”
Terrace and study nook
Café Portaali has its own real-time feedback channel, accessible through a QR code. Instructions for using the feedback channel are printed on the café’s placemats.
An outside terrace is being planned for Café Portaali. The café cooperates with the Kaisa Library, and next autumn the café is set to receive a terminal which can be used to access Master’s theses.
The study nook under the stairs is also a feature worth mentioning.
Food served all day
Loughney likes Cafe Portaali’s new, modern look. She has previously visited the café for coffee or tea, but thanks to the newly expanded menu, she intends to come to Café Portaali for lunch in the future.
“I think it’s good there’s now soup. Also, I like the range of teas that they have.”
Did you know?
- A total of 20,000 lunch guests and café visitors daily enjoy the tasty lunches, refreshing beverages and lovely pastries at the UniCafe- studentrestaurants.
- There are total 28 Unicafes located on the campuses of UH.
- Students have a discount price and a lunch costs less than 3 euro.
Text: Tiiu Särkijärvi
Photo: Ari Aalto