Karaoke in the Restroom

Finns love karaoke. Even better if it takes place in an unusual place. Like e.g. in a bus or taxi. Or in a former public toilet.

The small pub Restroom in Eira makes exactly that possible. The place that used to fulfill peoples most urgent needs now is a cozy little bar that is famous for its karaoke evenings.

Drop by and give it a try. Have a nice weekend!

A pint at Kitty's

The weekend is here! Time to leave work and reward yourself for a hard week of work with a tasty pint of beer.

And how about enjoying it with friends in a cozy booth, dim light and a friendly bar atmosphere? Sounds good? Then head over to Kitty's Pub right in the city center.

At Kitty's they have everything you expect of a good English pub: a good selection of beers on tap, a decent whiskey collection and lots of cozy corners to enjoy your drink.

Give it a try and have a good start into the weekend!

Primula goes Skiffer

After being closed for a while the new renovated Primula opened again a couple of weeks ago. The renewed place comes also with a new concept.

Half of the location was turned into the Old Skiffer, a new gin bar by the owners of the Skiffer restaurants. The other half remained Primula which still offers delicious modern Scandinavian food which is now complemented with the famous Skiffer liuskas (pizzas).

Pay it a visit and dine in a stylish yet cozy sail style ambiance. And if you are still up for it, head over for a perfect gin or Skiffer's own brewed beer at the Old Skiffer next door.

Or go check out Primula for their brunch on Saturday and Sunday.

Why join the navy when you can be a pirate?

Excellent question, right? And at the same time the name for a new bar in Kamppi at the corner of Annankatu and Eerikinkatu. At WhyJoin it is all about mixing. The specialize in smoothies and cocktails. And they definitely know what they are doing. Have a look at their menu. You will for sure find something that suits you. 

Should you wonder about the uncommon names of their drinks, such as Kalle, Victoria, Heini, Giovanni, well, those are the names of the people working in the advertising agency just on above the bar. A drink has been dedicated to each of them.

Not up for smoothies or cocktails? Then go for a good wine or beer. And if you are hungry, they also have pretty good sandwiches. So all together everything you need for a great night out.

WhyJoin is open on weekdays from 8:00 and on Satuday from 11:00 till late. Have a nice weekend!

A house for all occasions

Do you have any plans for the weekend already? Looking for a good place to go for dinner? For having drinks? For a nice brunch? Or maybe a nice theater evening?

In all those cases you can head to Café Talo in Hakaniemi. This place has it all. And it is a good choice for all those occasions. They have an excellent selection of wines and whiskeys, delicious dishes for any time of the day and a real feel-at-home athmosphere.

Check it out and have a nice weekend!

Hell's Steam

If you don't know where to go tonight and want to try something a bit different from the usual then check out Steam Hellsinki.

The place at Kamppi opposite of Teerenpeli has changed name and concept regularly over the past years but for a couple of months now draws attention as the cities first steampunk bar. And it is definitely worth a visit.

With an eye for details the owners have put a lot of effort into sticking to the steam punk theme. Everything fits perfectly together. The bar over which a huge zeppelin hovers, the steampunk/jazz music, the decoration items in each corner, the waiters' outfits and even the bathrooms.

And if you are into gin then have a look at their extensive gin selection.

Give it a try and enjoy a cool and relaxed evening at Steam Helsinki! There is a coat charge at the entrance of 3 €.

Whiskey from Finland

Scotch? Irish? Why not Finnish instead? Yes, indeed, there is a Finnish whiskey. And not a bad one. 

Teerenpeli distills it Lahti and sells it in all their restaurants around Finland. It's an 8 year old single malt. The whiskey is made with local barley and a real Finnish product. 

Give it a try here in Helsinki at Teerenpeli either in Olavinkatu 2 or in Keskuskatu 7. Enjoy and have a nice weekend!

Art goes Kapakka

Helsingin Juhlaviikot has a lot to offer. It also brought Art goes Kapakka back to town. This culture city event brings art to the best restaurants, bars and cafes around town.

Experience exhibitions, music, fashion, design, theater plays and much much more in some of your favorite drink or food spots. The program is filled with exciting events every day and still goes on until this Sunday.

And the best thing: all events are free of charge. Check out the official website for more information and enjoy the August in Helsinki!

Chill out by the sea

Many restaurants, cafes and bars by the sea pop up during the summer months in Helsinki. Another new one joined this year and opened in Hernesaari.

Hernesaaren Ranta has a slightly different concept from most other places. Much like Allas you can find food and drinks here from several small kiosks that all offer something different.

No matter if you want to have a relaxed glass of wine or spoon some delicious ice cream by the sea you will find what you were looking for here.

There is even a free shuttle connection from the center leaving next to Ateneum at the full hour that gets you straight there. You can otherwise also take bus 14 from Kamppi.

Check it out and have a nice Sunday!

A beer to rock on

Would you like to try a new beer over the weekend? Try the Rock And Roll Hurriganes Lager Beer then. It is truely Finnish. Not just because it is brewed by the Laitilan Wirvoitusjuomatehdas Micro Brewery from Western Finland. But also because it is named after the famous Finnish rock and roll band The Hurriganes.

And after all it is actually quite a good beer. So give it a try and have a rockin' weekend!

Brewing dogs and dead ponies

It's Friday! Looking forward for a good beer tonight? Then head to Punavuori and drop by at BrewDog. You might now their bars from other places around the world. Especially in the UK, the origin of the company, you can find their bars in many cities.

But even though BrewDog basically belongs to a chain it has a really original atmosphere to it. And the selection of beers in incredible. Aparts from a good variety of draft beer they have countless bottled ones. Many of their beers are their own productions, such as the Dead Pony Club Ales.

You can get your beer in normal but also in very small sizes which gives you the opportunity to try many different ones on the same visit.

Give it a try and have a great evening!

Burger with a view

The location of Kiila is probably one of the best in town. Through the big glass windows you have an excellent view over the busy square at Mannerheimintie/Aleksanterintie. Watch people passing by while enjoying your breakfast, dinner, lunch or just a glass of wine or beer.

If you are just up for small meal then check out Kiila's burger menu. Every day starting from 15.00 you get good burgers for just 10 € like e.g. the pulled pork, the vegie-halloumi or the salmon burger.

Give it a try and enjoy!

Small bird, huge variety

Are you up for a drink tonight? Maybe a beer or a whiskey? Then head to Pikkulintu in Eastern Helsinki. The small pub in Puotila is know all around Helsinki for its excellent beer and whiskey selection. 

Choose one out of 14 beers on tap. Like e.g. the famous and hard to get Siperia Imperial Stout brewed in Tampere. Or try one of their over 100 different whiskeys. Let the bartender help you with your choice since you most likely will loose the overview pretty fast. You can also go for one of their beer or whiskey tastings. For more information check out their website or give them a call.

Pikkulintu is by the way one of the very few independent pubs in Helsinki that are not part of any of the big retail and restaurant chains.

Enjoy and have a great Saturday night!

Loosen up for the weekend

The week is almost over and the weekend ahead. Do you already have plans for the evening? Maybe some after work drinks in the afternoon and later some live music?

Well, then you should head to Bar Loose. Located in Annankatu it is easy to reach from anywhere in the city center. Upstairs you can hang out with your friends and a cold beer from the tap. Bar Loose has good after work offers every day till 2 minutes before midnight.

Later you can go downstairs for one (or two) or their regular gigs. They have live almost every day except for Mondays and Tuesdays. Check out their program for the upcoming days and weeks.

Have a great weekend and a relaxed evening!

Time for Glöggi

It is not as cold as it could be around this time of the year. Still it's definitely cold enough to start the glöggi season. You can get them in white and red at Alko and the alcohol free version at any supermarket. No matter which one you prefer don't forget to put some raisins and almonds in.

Have you had some already this year?

Finnish-American art of brewing

Beer fans listen up. There is something you should try. The Finnish Sinebrychoff Brewery started a cooperation with the Brooklyn Brewery from the US.

Together they created the Two Tree Porter. This dark malty and fruity beer has a slight taste of chocolate and coffee. It is one of the finest Finnish beers you can find. Give it a try and enjoy!

Casual, central and delicious

Are you searching for a casual place with good beer and decently priced but delicious food? Then come to Café Bar 9. It's located on Uudenmaankatu and the perfect place for a filling lunch or a casual dinner.

Café Bar 9 offers a selection of sandwiches, burgers, pasta, wok, salads and soups for. Mains are around 10 - 18 € and the portions are always quite big. So don't worry about having to leave hungry. One of their all time favorites that made this place favorite is their Pollo Limonello Pasta.

But even if you are not hungry you can alsoways drop by just for a drink and watch people pass by outside on the street.

Give it a try and enjoy!

The best view over Helsinki

Helsinki doesn't have many very high buildings. One of the highest ones is Hotel Torni. And on the very top of it you find Ateljee Bar.

Coming up here is a must for every tourist visiting Helsinki. From both their terraces you have a great view over the whole city and can get a good overview of what is where in Helsinki. You can see all of Helsinki's main sights and neighborhoods from Linnanmäki to Kaivopuist, from Katajanokka to Lauttasaari.

But Ateljee is not only a place for tourists. Also for locals it's a great place to come from time to time to see their beautiful city from above and enjoy the view with a glass of wine or an outstanding cocktail.

To get to Ateljee Bar you have to enter from the main entrance of Hotel Torni and take the small evelator to the 12th floor. You have to climb the last steps yourself. And if you are at Ateljee don't forget to go to the bathroom. The toilets here are the most impressive in whole Helsinki.

Check it out!

Birgitta - summer terrace by the sea

The great weather doesn't seem to stop. If you don't have any lunch or after work plans you should head to Hernesaari and visit the new cafe and restaurant Birgitta.

Located right next to the sand beach Birgitta is the perfect summer hangout. Sit down on the summer terrace, smell the salty sea air and watch the boats entering and leaving the harbor.

But it's not only the location that makes Birgitta a great place to be on a warm day. Their offering is as well. To keep a cool head get an iced latte, a cold lonkero or cider or one of their delicious homemade fruit juices. Getting hungry? Go either for some tasty pastry or check out what their food from the grill. A nice burger with potato wedges might fit well with your cold drinks.

Birgitta is open daily from 9:00 till 22:00. Between 11:00 and 14:30 they also serve lunch. Check it out and enjoy the wonderful summer day!

Drinks at the Bock Terrace

Are you searching for a new summer terrace in the city to have a drink and also something nice to eat? Then look no further and check out the Bock Terrace of Street Gastro.

The amazing sandwiches of Street Gastro were mentioned here on HelsinkiIn before and are of course also available there. The back yard in the torikortteli offer much more though. Here you can sit down on one of the comfortable outdoor sofas or even jump into the hammock if you like.

Bock Terrace of course also has some good summer drinks on the menu. Appart from wine and beer you can also go for a delicious Aperol Spritz while enjoying the cozy athmosphere of the place.

On the weekend the Bock Terrace is open till midnight and has DJ music. Check it out!