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Despite only having 600,000 inhabitants, the capital of Finland has a wealth of places to go out and have a good time. The focus here is on quality rather than quantity, and they have something for everyone. So whether you’re interested in clubs, microbreweries or casinos, you’ll want to check this list before your next trip to Helsinki.
Generally speaking, the trendy places are located in the Kamppi and Punavuori neighborhoods. In the city center near the Central Train Station one can find larger venues that are suitable for anyone. Young people congregate in the Kallio neighborhood while the Töölö is favored for older groups.
To start the evening, you may want to head to one of the pubs or bars. Some also offer food and live music.
If you’re looking for something different, have a vodka cocktail at the Arctic Ice Bar, which is located at Yliopistonkatu 5. With walls made of thick ice, it has a temperature set at -5 degrees. You’ll be given a warm cape and gloves at the entrance to make your visit more pleasant, so you don’t have to worry about bringing additional clothing. It’s definitely worth going just for the unique experience. The admission fee of € 10 includes one drink.
At the Soumenlinna Brewery Restaurant in the Jetty Barracks you can enjoy great food and freshly brewed beers, but it is only open during good weather. Teerenpeli, located at Olavinkatu 2) and Bruuveri (in the Kamppi Shopping Center at Urho Kekkosen katu 1) are additional microbreweries you may want to visit.
Once the bars close at around 2 a.m., you can still party in the clubs until about 4 a.m. The minimum age for the clubs can vary but are usually between 18 and 24 years old.
Helsinki’s DJs have developed a reputation internationally and are an important part of the nightclub scene here.
The A21 Cocktail Lounge (Annankatu 21) received recognition as the world’s best bar and it’s a great place to try Finnish cocktails. Weekends are quite busy, so it’s best to recommend a table in advance.
Cocktails can be quite expensive, however, so if you’re on a budget you may be more interested in the music venues where you can spend your money on entrance fees rather than drinks. The Tavastia Klubi, Urho Kekkosen katu 4-6, is a small venue that hosts international bands.
Kalle, as the club Kaarle XII is called, is especially popular on Thursday nights when the guests are mainly the over 30 crowd. It has a total of six bars spread out over two floors. They must be doing something right, since this popular club has been getting people out on the dance floor since 1976. It’s located at Kasarmikatu 40.
And if you like to bet against the odds, you may be interested in the Casino Helsinki. It’s open pretty much every day of the year and also offers dinner shows featuring entertainment. It’s located at Mikonkatu 19.
Rent one of our apartments in Helsinki for your next trip to the capital of Finland. You’ll be glad to have all the comforts of home when you sleep in after a long night out.
