Helsinki Pub Guide
Bars - Brewpubs - Beer gardens

Introduction
This is a small list of a couple of pubs in the central area of Helsinki. Included are the city's four homebrew pubs. Helsinki all is a big city and has hundreds of pubs. Those listed here are nothing more than a tiny fraction of the total. Index

Pub Listings
Pub Map
The following section about the city and it pubs was written by someone (unlike myself) with personal knowledge of Helsinki, namely Laurent Mousson. Many thanks to him for supplying it.

The City

Helsinki skylineThe city centre is compact enough to be covered on foot, and there's a very good and reliable public transportation system, especially trams and an underground network.

Helsinki is a very good place for shopping, by the way. Especially for rather affordable nordic design crockery, very good cutlery (outdoors knives, but also kitchen ones, and also Fiskars scissors), as well as excellent sturdy outdoor and winter clothing (Very good wooly socks, and Joutsen down jackets and coats are amazing stuff, if a touch on the pricey side). Oh and if like me you're 6ft 7 tall and a touch on the chubby side, there's no problem finding everything in larger sizes.

The Stockmann and Sokos department stores in central Helsinki are true institutions, the way Harrods is in London, except a lot less posh...

Its Pubs

Indeed there's an awful lot of pubs in Helsinki, with amazing beer ranges. I tend to attribute this to the high duty, which means draught bog-standard lager is only marginally cheaper than draught beer specialities, local or imported (EUR 5-6 vs. 7-9)...

The interesting thing also is that they went further then the usual "fake-Irish / fake-Brit" pub thing, and there's fake Dutch browns, fake-pivnice etc. which, fake as they might be, nevertheless add diversity to the beer landscape.

Buying beer elsewhere

Off-sales : supermarkets and food stores sell beer and cider up to 4.6%. From 4.7% up, it has to be sold in the stores of the Alko state monopoly (for example, if you want a few bottles of Koff Porter, that's the place to go). Since Alko stores tend to make most of their money with spirits, the beer selection tends to be rather small, varying from branch to branch from ok to downright poor.

Off-sales of sahti : it may be tempting to buy bottles to bring home, but beware: sahti is still fermenting rather violently in the bottle, and is pretty unstable, getting sour quickly if not kept cool enough.

Drinking habits

Things are the locals still have the prohibitionist nanny state behaviour patterns firmly in place, and on a friday or saturday night, their ability to get from "boringly sober" to "smashed out of their minds" in mere minutes is truly amazing.

Add to that a strong culture of not expressing much whatsoever, especially not one's own feelings, and the change once people get drunk is almost frightening.

Photograph courtesy of Laurent Mousson.

Ackowledgement corner

Many thanks to those who helped me in the compilation of this guide, in particular Laurent Mousson, Micheal Knies and Stephen Beaumont. Thanks are also due to the Good Pub Guide to Finland, which proved to be an invaluable source.




Helsinki Pub Guide
Pub Listings




Map Index



Oluthuone Amsterdam
Itämerenkuja 1 C,
00180 Helsinki.
Tel: 09 - 694 0108
Fax: 09 - 685 3661
Email: oluthuone.amsterdam@sok.fi
http://www.oluthuone.com/
 
Opening hours: Mon -Tue 15:00 - 01:00,
Wed - Thur 13:00 - 01:00,
Fri - Sat 13:00 - 02:00
Sun 15:00 - 22:00
Number of draught beers: 6
Number of bottled beers: 40
Regular draught beers:
Food: Snacks. Beer €4.20-5.60 for 0.5l.
This is the Oluthuone´s chain go at a Dutch brown cafe. Though there are only 5 Dutch beers in the bottled selection - far fewer than there are German or Belgian.
Rating: Public transport:


Angleterre
Fredrikinkatu 47,
00100 Helsinki.
Tel: 09 - 647 371
Fax: 09 - 649 613
Email: angleterre@sok.fi
http://www.oluthuone.com
 
Opening hours: Sun - Thur 15:00 - 01:00,
Fri - Sat 15:00 - 03:00
Number of draught beers: 10 (including real ale)
Number of bottled beers: 40
Regular draught beers:
Food: Snacks. Beer €4.50-5.90 for 0.5l.
They claim to be the oldest British pub in Helsinki, dating back to 1976. The bottled slection, appropriately, features mainly beers from Britain and Finland.
Rating: Public transport:


Black Door
Iso Roobertinkatu 1,
00120 Helsinki.
Tel: 09 - 680 2371
Fax: 09 - 612 3514
Email: black.door@delifox.fi
http://www.delifox.fi/blackdoor/
 
Opening hours: Sun - Thur 11:00 - 02:00,
Fri - Sat 11:00 - 03:00
Number of draught beers: 15 (including real ale)
Number of bottled beers: 40
Regular draught beers:
Food: Snacks.
Very much like an English pub, with bench seating, a dartboard and cask beer.
Rating: Public transport:


Pivnice Hádanka
Mannerheimintie 104,
00250 Helsinki.
Tel: 010 - 76 63760
Fax: 010 - 76 63769
Email: pivnice.hadanka@sok.fi
http://www.oluthuone.com/
 
Opening hours: Mon - Thur 15:00 - 02:00,
Fri - Sat 14:00 - 03:00,
Sun 14:00 - 02:00
Number of draught beers: 6
Number of bottled beers: 20
Regular draught beers:
Food: Snacks. Beer €4.60-5.20 for 0.5l.
A pub that styles itself as a Czech pivnice. The bottled selection is similarly dominated by beers frm the Czech Republic.
Rating: Public transport:


Janoinen Lohi
Linnankoskenkatu 12,
00250 Helsinki.
Tel: 09 - 4780 3344
Fax: 09- 4780 3343
Email: janoinen.lohi@delifox.fi
http://www.hyvat-olutravintolat.fi
 
Opening hours: Sun – Thur 12:00 - 02:00,
Fri – Sat 12:00 - 03:00
Number of draught beers: 15
Number of bottled beers: 125
Regular draught beers:
Food: Snacks.
A beer pub supposedly in the style of a Dutch brown cafe. Its name means “The Thirsty Salmon”. Part of a chain of about 20 pubs.
Rating: Public transport:


Oluthuone Kaisla
Vilhonkatu 4,
00100 Helsinki.
Tel: 09 - 622 3723
Fax: 09 - 678 682
Email: oluthuone.kaisla@sok.fi
http://www.oluthuone.com/
 
Opening hours: Sun - Thur 14:00 - 02:00,
Fri 13:00 - 03:00,
Sat 14:00 - 01:00
Number of draught beers: 23
Number of bottled beers: 100
Regular draught beers:
Food: Snacks. Beer €5-6 for 0.5l.
Quite a modern looking bar that is yet another link in the Oluthuone chain.

The bottled selection has an emphasis on Belgian ales, but there are also quitea few from Britain and Germany. The Finnish beers are again rather disappointing, a couple of draughts excepted.

This what Laurent Mousson has to say about it:
"Aabout 100m east of the Station, nice surrounding (tables up front, a few armchairs and sofas at the back), and a very good beer selection featuring a good Belgian / German / British split."
Rating: Public transport:


Oluthuone Kuikka
Helsinginkatu 32,
00530 Helsinki.
Tel: 09 - 730 039
Fax:
Email: kuikka@sok.fi
http://www.oluthuone.com/
 
Opening hours: Mon - Thur 16:00 - 01:00,
Fri - Sat 15:00 - 02:00,
Sun 15:00 - 24:00
Number of draught beers: 11
Number of bottled beers: 50
Regular draught beers:
Food: Snacks. Beer €4.20-5.90 for 0.5l.
One of a chain of beer pubs.
Rating: Public transport:


Pivnice Milenka
Haapaniemenkatu 3-5,
00530 Helsinki.
Tel: 010 - 76 64030
Fax: 010 - 76 64039
Email: pivnice.milenka@sok.fi
http://www.oluthuone.com/
 
Opening hours: Mon - Thur 15:00 - 01:00,
Fri - Sat 15:00 - 02:00,
Sun 15:00 - 22:00
Number of draught beers: 9
Number of bottled beers: 30
Regular draught beers:
Food: Snacks. Beer €4.30-5.20 for 0.5l.
A pub that styles itself as a Czech pivnice. It´s the only pub I´ve ever seen that sells 3 Czech dark lagers. The bottled selection is similarly dominated by beers frm the Czech Republic.
Rating: Public transport:


One Pint Pub
Santakatu 2,
00180 Helsinki.
Tel: 09 - 562 6101
Fax:
Email: markku.korhonen@nettilinja.fi
http://
One Pint Pub Helsinki
Opening hours: Sun – Thur 11:00 - 01:00,
Fri – Sat 11:00 - 02:00
Number of draught beers: 8
Number of bottled beers: 50
Regular draught beers:
Food: Snacks.
One Pint Pub Helsinki interiorA small, one-room pub on the ground floor of a modern block of flats. It´s not very well marked so be warned: it can be tricky to find (see photo).

The beer selection isn´t the largest, but includes some unusual items. There are several Cantillon products, including two available nowhere else: Groseille and Baie d’Argousier. It also has sahti.

This what Laurent Mousson has to say about it:
"It's slightly off the edge of the city centre, and the really tricky bit is that there's about half a dozen similar small (4- 5 levels or so) blocks close to one another, if I recall correctly ('twas two years ago, Nov. 2004) One pint is in one of the blocks nearest to the city centre. The place is tiny (8 or ten tables, plus a poll table...) with a tiny bar in the corner, but indeed the beer selection would put to shame many a continental beer café. Not in numbers, but in quality. They apparenly also have house specials (I remember a wonderful IPA brewed for them by Stadin Panimo)."
Exterior photograph courtesy of Laurent Mousson.
Interior photograph courtesy of Gazza Prescott
.
Rating: Public transport:


Perho (Ravintola)
Mechelininkatu 7,
00100 Helsinki (Kamppi).
Tel: 09 - 5807 8600
Fax: 09 - 496 648
Email: hovi.mestari@perho.fi
http://www.perho.fi
 
Opening hours: Mon - Fri 11:00 - 23:00,
Sat 12:00 - 23:00,
Sun 13:00 - 17:00
Number of draught beers: 7
Number of bottled beers: 16
Regular draught beers:
Food: Snacks €4-5, meals €10-18.
Brewpub in the restaurant of the Helsinki Culinary School Perho.
Rating: Public transport:


Olutravintola Pikkulintu
Klaavuntie 11,
00910 Helsinki.
Tel: 09 - 321 5040
Fax: info@pikkulintu.fi
Email: info@pikkulintu.fi
http://www.pikkulintu.fi
 
Opening hours: Sun - Thur 15:00 - 24:00,
Fri - Sat 15:00 - 02:00
Number of draught beers: 8
Number of bottled beers: ?
Regular draught beers:
Food: Snacks.
Beer bar with an unusal range of draught beers that includes a couple each from Swedish and Finnish micros. It als sell cask-condtioned beer.
Rating: Public transport:


Pullman Bar
Kaivokatu 1,
00100 Helsinki.
Tel: 09 - 0307 22930
Fax:
Email: pullmanbar@avecra.fi
http://www.avecra.fi
 
Opening hours: Mon - Wed 12:00 - 24:00,
Thur - Sat 12:00 - 01:00
Number of draught beers: 10 (including 2 cask ales)
Number of bottled beers: 50
Regular draught beers:
  • Fuller's ESB (cask-conditioned)
  • Pullman Bitter
Food: Snacks, meals. Beer €1.80 for 0.3l.
An English-style pub in Helsinki´s main railway station.

It has two handpumps dispensing real ale and a reasonable selection of British and Belgian bottled beers.
Rating: Public transport:


St. Urho's
Museokatu 10,
00100 Helsinki.
Tel: 09 - 440 815
Fax:
Email: myynti@botta.fi
http://www.botta.fi
 
Opening hours: Sun – Thur 15:00 - 01:00,
Fri – Sat 15:00 - 03:00
Number of draught beers: 15
Number of bottled beers: 100
Regular draught beers:
Food: Snacks, meals €10-21. Beer €4.80-5.90 for 0.5l.
Specialist beer pub with a good selection of quality beers from Britain, Germany, Belgium, the Czech Republic and Finland. They usually offer two cask-conditioned beers.

This what Laurent Mousson has to say about it:
"I ate once there, pretty nice slab of veal liver with fried bacon & mushrooms, mash and steamed cranberries (nice and sour). The place also now and then sells sahti as a special. "
Rating: Public transport:


Suomenlinnan Panimo
Rantakasarmi C1,
00190 Helsinki.
Tel: 09 - 228 5030
Fax: 09 - 228 50320
Email: myynti@panimo.com
http://www.panimo.com
Suomenlinnan Panimo Helsinki
Opening hours: Mon - Sun 10:00 - 01:00
Number of draught beers: 4
Number of bottled beers: 6
Regular draught beers:
Food: Snacks, meals.
Suomenlinnan Panimo Helsinki interiorRather posh looking brewpub and restaurant.

This what Laurent Mousson has to say about it:
"On the Suomenlinna island, a short boat ride away from Helsinki City centre. The island was turned into a fortress in the last years of swedish rule over Finland, and is a very popular tourist attraction, if that may explain the posh looks of it."

Photographs courtesy of Laurent Mousson.
Rating: Public transport:


Teerenpeli (Panimoravintola)
Vuorikatu 16,
00100 Helsinki.
Tel: 0424 - 925 200
Fax: 09 - 4780 2773
Email: tuuli.torni@teerenpeli.com
http://www.teerenpeli.com/
 
Opening hours: Mon - Thur 12:00 - 02:00,
Fri - Sat 12:00 - 03:00,
Sun 16:00 - 24:00
Number of draught beers: 3
Number of bottled beers: 7
Regular draught beers:
Food: Snacks, meals.
Brewpub with sofas and a slight pub-like air.
Rating: Public transport:


William K. Annankatu
Annankatu 3,
00120 Helsinki.
Tel: 09 - 680 2562
Fax:
Email:
http://www.oluthuone.com
 
Opening hours: Sun – Thur 15:00 - 01:00,
Fri – Sat 15:00 - 02:00
Number of draught beers: 11
Number of bottled beers: 80
Regular draught beers:
Food: Snacks, meals. Beer €4.50-5.90 for 0.5l.
Part of a chain of beer bars.

The bottled selection is, usnusually, about split between lagers and ale, Germany and the Czech Republic being well represented in the former, Britain and belgium in thje latter.
Rating: Public transport:


William K. Fredrikinkatu
Fredrikinkatu 65,
001030 Helsinki.
Tel: 09 - 693 1427
Fax: 09 - 693 1015
Email: williamk.fredrikinkatu@sok.fi
http://www.oluthuone.com/
 
Opening hours: Sun - Thur 15:00 - 01:00,
Fri 15:00 - 03:00,
Sat 13:00 - 03:00
Number of draught beers: 8
Number of bottled beers: 40
Regular draught beers:
Food: Snacks. Beer €4.50-6.00 for 0.5l.
Yet another member of the Oluthuone chain. The bottled list is a mixture of German, Belgian, CZech and British beers. Sadly, there are only Finnish macro beers.
Rating: Public transport:


William K. Mannerheimintie
Mannerheimintie 72,
00250 Helsinki.
Tel: 09 - 409 484
Fax: 09 - 406 645
Email: williamk.mannerheimintie@sok.fi
http:///www.oluthuone.com/
 
Opening hours: Sun - Tue 15:00 - 01:00,
Wed - Thur 15:00 - 02:00,
Fri - Sat 15:00 - 03:00
Number of draught beers: 10
Number of bottled beers: 60
Regular draught beers:
Food: Snacks. Beer €4.40-4.80 for 0.5l.
Yet another bar in the Oluthuone chain. It has their usual mix of Belgian, british, Czech and German bottled beers.
Rating: Public transport:


Zetor
Mannerheimintie 5,
00100 Helsinki.
Tel: 09 - 666 966
Fax: 09 - 624 781
Email: info@ravintolazetor.fi
http://www.ravintolazetor.fi/
 
Opening hours: Sun - Mon 15:00 - 01:00,
Tue 15:00 - 03:00,
Wed - Fri 15:00 - 03:00,
Sat 11:00 - 04:00
Number of draught beers: 5
Number of bottled beers: 6
Regular draught beers:
Food: Snacks, meals. Beer €4.80-5.00 for 0.4l.
Pub with a bizarre tractor theme that sells Lammin Sahti.

This what Laurent Mousson has to say about it:
"Opposite the main station, through the passage in the ugly glass/steel building, and on the right as you come out in the open at the end of the passage.

A place owned by the Kausrimakki brothers (filmmakers) with a decor created by the Leningrad Cowboys (tongue-in-cheek finnish rock act, who once recorded a live album with the red army choir).

The idea is to allow foreigners to realise how it is to be finnish. It's bare concrete, tree stumps as seats, and refurbished 1950s Zetor tractors as part of the decors, along with frescoes halfway between sovie-neo-realism and rural naïve paintings (a good illustration of the uneasy cold war years, when Finland had to manoeuver in-between Eastern and Western blocks). Apparently, the tractors are a sympbol of the eternal, hard-working finnish people with its feet firmly stuck in the motherland mud... a bit like some swiss tend to worship cows as a symbol of an idealised past rural and pastoral Switzerland.

Anyway, Zetor is is a place where you'll also find a lot of locals getting pissed, and a place where you're sure to find draught Sahti available at all times. The food is ok, but the English version of the menu is a festival of silly puns."
Rating: Public transport:


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