Table en Bois

Café Table en Bois

Jaana Hankonen

For over 10 years, Jaana Hankonen has been running the small café Table en Bois at the final stop of bus line 16, just before Alvar Aalto’s ”Experimental House” on the island of Muuratsalo.

The spacious outdoor area with a lake view features a varied playground, plenty of space to roam, a toboggan hill (in winter), and a summer terrace.

The café becomes truly interesting inside. Jaana loves the nature of the islands and spends a lot of time there. On her website, myheartplace.fi, some of her profound nature photographs and ceramics can be seen. These are also displayed in the café, and the photos can be purchased as originals.

In addition, the café boasts an extensive collection of vinyl records featuring various classical music recordings, which Jaana inherited from Anne Fried, a relative of her husband. On Sundays, Jaana plays these records during opening hours, creating a wonderful and very relaxed atmosphere. On other days, the café features a diverse mix of music, including jazz, popular music, or radio. Guest requests are also considered.

For many locals on the island of Muuratsalo, the café serves as a sort of second living room. People visit to have a drink, enjoy a small snack (ice cream is especially popular in summer), chat about various topics, browse the available books (including art books), or play the board games available for use. All of this happens in a very cozy and welcoming atmosphere. ”Sometimes people ask me if I live here,” says Jaana, ”but I have my own house elsewhere.”

Those looking for tips on exploring Muuratsalo will always find someone at the café who is happy to help. Table en Bois is part of Muuratsalo, and anyone wanting to explore the island should definitely stop by.

(Small footnote: the late owner of the classical vinyl collection, Anne Fried, was a writer (”Colors of Life”), essayist, and co-founder of the hospice movement. She emigrated to the United States as a Jew with the outbreak of World War II and later settled in Finland.)

IMAGES: Sabine Paulke