Helsinki/Kamppi and Southwest

Map of Helsinki/Kamppi and Southwest

Kamppi and southwestern Helsinki is here defined as the part of the city raying out to the southwest of the city core, stretching along freeway 51 to the border of next-door Espoo. Kamppi is for the purposes of this article delimited by Baana and Hietaniemi cemetery in the northwest, Mannerheimintie in the east and Bulevardi in the southeast. In addition to Kamppi, Ruoholahti and Jätkäsaari it also includes Lauttasaari.

Southwestern Helsinki has something for everyone. The part next to Mannerheimintie with the shopping centers of Kamppi and Forum are not much different from the rest of the downtown, though just a block or two into Kamppi the environment becomes much more residential. There is no lack of restaurants, cafés, bars and clubs, though and aside of downtown itself and Kallio, this is a good place to go out for a drink.

Ruoholahti, still in the 1980s a somewhat rough and dirty part of the city is now modern and clean with glass and steel office and apartment buildings, partially built on land reclaimed from the sea. Still the former cable factory (nowadays a cultural center), the Salmisaari power plant and the shipyard reminds of the former industrial character. A bridge to the west lays the island of Lauttasaari, mostly residential.

Get in

The eastern parts of this district are practically part of the downtown and the rest of Kamppi within walking distance from it. Ruoholahti is best accessible by metro or tram 9 from the central and eastern parts of the city, by tram 8 from the Töölö. The new metro extension takes you all the way to Lauttasaari and beyond.

If you travel in from Espoo or western Uusimaa by bus or metro, this part of Helsinki is the first you will reach. The same is true if you're arriving from Tallinn on Tallink's or Eckerö Line's ferries, from St. Petersburg by ferry or on a massive cruise ship that can't dock in central Helsinki.

To the ferry terminals, take tram 7.

Get around

Getting around in the western parts is no struggle, you can use the buses, the trams or the metro to get wherever you want, not forgetting going afoot. Even though the options for public transport are great, don't immerse yourself only in them and remember the option of going on foot; it might save your time since especially the trams might be slow.

See

60.166324.93961 Helsinki Old Church (Helsingin Vanha Kirkko) (between Lönnrotinkatu, Bulevardi, Georginkatu and Annankatu). A neoclassical wooden church built in the early 19th century, which is the oldest church in central Helsinki. It's in the middle of the Park of the Old Church, which is also known as the Plague Park (Ruttopuisto) because it was used as a cemetery for many of the victims of the plague of 1710.
60.1667724.938812 Lönnrotinpuistikko. A tiny little park next to the Old church. In the middle there's a statue of 19th century author and scientist Elias Lönnrot (author of Kalevala, the Finnish national epic). (updated Sep 2015)
60.1683424.93743 Amos Andersson Art Gallery, Yrjönkatu 23. M Th F 10:00-18:00, W 10:00-20:00, Sa Su 11:00-17:00. In the Forum block. The largest private gallery of contemporary art in Finland. Adults €10.
60.1673724.928394 Helsinki synagogue, Malminkatu 26. The center of the Jewish community in Helsinki; there are also a Jewish school, kindergarten and a kosher store on the premises. You probably have to call ahead for visiting. (updated Sep 2015)
60.1631224.931195 Metropolia Polytech main building. This impressive 19th-century building next to the Hietalahti square hosted the Helsinki Technical University until the 1950s, nowadays it's the main building for the Metropolia University of Applied Sciences. As you're there, check out the Hietalahti market hall and market square. (updated Sep 2015)

60.1635524.933516 Aleksanterin teatteri, Albertinkatu 32. The Alexander theater, named after the Russian czar Alexander II and finished in 1879 is likely Helsinki's most beautiful venue for performance art. Occasional shows and concerts in English. (updated Sep 2015)
60.156224.9217 Computer and video game museum, Tyynenmerenkatu 11 (Verkkokauppa.com building). Interested in old video games, game consoles, computers and related paraphernalia? Then this place is definitely something for you. (updated Sep 2015)
60.17027824.9369448 Lasipalatsi. Another of Helsinki's most iconic functionalist buildings right next to Mannerheimintie, the "glass palace" by Viljo Revell, Heimo Riihimäki and Niilo Kokko was finished in 1936 and is functionalist both on the inside and outside. It was planned as a temporary office building and shopping mall, to be replaced by a bigger one in the future but that never happened. In the 1980s and 90s the building was in a fairly sorry state but due to opposition by citizens and the Board of Antiquities it wasn't demolished but underwent a major restoration at the turn of the millenium. Today the gorgeous white building with colorful neon signs houses shops, restaurants, the movie theater Bio Rex, and beneath it, the art museum Amos Rex. (updated Nov 2019)

In addition the district of Ruoholahti is one of the few places in Helsinki to see modern glass and steel architecture, and of course the Crusell bridge across Ruoholahti bay. Lauttasaari is one of the greenest areas in Helsinki. The island's landmark, the 1950s water tower, was dismantled in 2015.

Do

60.1634224.933581 Aleksanterin teatteri, Bulevardi 23-27.
60.1677824.934632 Annantalo, Annankatu 30. M-F 08:00–20:00, Sa Su 10:00–16:00. Feel creative? Annantalo, a multimodal "house of art" arranges art workshops and courses for both kids and grownups, as well as performances and exhibitions.

60.16224.90373 The Cable Factory (Kaapelitehdas or just Kaapeli), Tallberginkatu 1 (tram 8). The former cable factory in Ruoholahti is nowadays a multi-purpose culture center. It hosts concerts, fairs, art workshops and odd/original museums like the restaurant museum and photography museum. There is a Restaurant/Café/Bar Hima & Sali in the building. At lunch time you can choose your meal from a daily menu or watch the cook prepare your wok from ingredients you selected. Good place for vegetarians.
60.1593924.909714 Huone, Länsisatamankatu 16, ☏ +358 20 78 51 440. 08:00-00:00 mostly. Huone ("Room") claims to be the world's first event hotel, providing premises and services for their customers to hold their own events. There are twelve rooms of different sizes, and each can be rented for a day, a morning or an evening. Huone can host various kinds of events such as business meetings, birthday parties or sauna evenings. The customer holds the event - Huone provides the premises and services, including catering, with alcoholic drinks or without. €44-59 per person. (updated Apr 2016)
60.15505924.8718395 Kasinonranta Beach, Lauttasaari, Tiirasaarentie (Buses 20N, 55A and 66A, stop Hevosenkenkäpuisto.). A popular place in summer with a large playground for children and a pleasant café Kasinonranta (in summer season open M-F 15:00-19:00, Sa Su 10:00-19:00). At the beach and the park around you can picnic, kick a ball, play a beach volleyball, swim, canoe or skatefurf. In winter it is possible to snowkite here or hike, skate or cross country ski on frozen sea around Lauttasaari island and even reach some nearby islands.
60.16360624.8674236 ^{[dead link]} Outdoor skating Lauttasaari, Lahnalahdentie 2 (Short walk from Lahnalahdentie bus stop (lines 102, 110, 147, 154, 167) or Lahnalahden puisto bus stop (lines 20, 65A, 66A)). Daily 08:00-21:00. Two outdoor skating rings, open approximately 2 Jan - 24 Feb, depending on weather.
60.1678524.937467 Little Theater (Lilla Teatern), Eerikinkatu 2.
60.165924.90378 Salmisaaren Liikuntakeskus, Energiakatu 3 (next to Helsinki Energia @ Ruoholahti). New sports mall in Helsinki, includes indoor beach, bowling, ice hockey, wall climbing, gym, Megazone, restaurant and lots more...
60.1694624.930719 Tennispalatsi, Salomonkatu 15. The Tennispalatsi ("Tennis palace") was built to house tennis events for the 1940 and 1952 Olympics. Nowadays, it retains no trace of its Olympic past. Instead, it functions primarily as Helsinki's biggest movie theatre, with more than ten halls on two floors, showing movies both from Finland and abroad. As well as functioning as a movie theatre, Tennispalatsi also houses cultural exhibitions, small stores, restaurants (including Pizza Hut and Hesburger) and cafés. (updated Dec 2015)
60.16811424.93896610 ^{[dead link]} Yrjönkadun Uimahalli, Yrjönkatu 21b (across from the Torni Hotel), ☏ +358 9 310 87401. An art-deco bath house with three types of saunas and a swimming pool. Take a sauna and swim in the nude. There are separate days for women and men. Bathing suits are not banned, but almost everyone goes without one. Men's swimming days are: Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday; Women's days: Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Sunday. 1st Floor €5 (or €5.40 with a lockable stall or 'cabin'), 2nd Floor €14. The second floor (accessible only the afternoons from Tuesday to Sunday) includes access to a steam sauna and a wood-heated sauna, as well as a café.

Buy

View to Kamppi with Lasipalatsi, Forum and Kamppi center

60.1692324.932861 Kamppi Center (Kampin Keskus) (Trams: 2, 9 Metro: Kamppi.). Big shopping mall in the center of Helsinki. Plenty of international brands and restaurants. Long-distance bus terminal in the basement.
60.1693324.93812 Forum (corner of Simonkatu and Mannerheimintie). Kamppi center's next door older brother with plenty of shops, restaurants and other services. (updated Sep 2015)
60.163724.91073 Kauppakeskus Ruoholahti (Metro: Ruoholahti. Tram: 8.). Quite small compared to the suburban malls along the ring roads, but this urban mall still has a Citymarket and a couple of speciality stores and cafes.
60.156424.92094 Verkkokauppa.com (Metro: Ruoholahti - entails some walking; Tram: 9; Bus: 15A). 2 km from the Helsinki city center in the Western Harbour (Länsisatama). Northern Europe's and possibly Europe's largest home-electronics store with 20 000 m² of retail space. The best spot for electronics, computers, digital cameras, mobile phones and gadgets in general in Helsinki. They not only sell electronics but also imported snacks (mainly from the USA) to enjoy while watching TV or barbecuing - think soda, chips, barbecue sauce, candies and such. In addition to being a store it features a couple of fast food outlets one of them with Australian meat pies, and a computer game museum on the 5th floor. Literally on the top of it all, the 7th floor features Finland's largest sightseeing terrace with views of Helsinki, the sea and prime view of cruise ships in the summer and in the middle of it a real MiG-21BIS fighter plane, the entrance is free. Free parking underground and on an outdoor parking area behind the complex.
60.164924.93835 Ruslania (Ruslania Books Oy), Bulevardi 7 (The buses 14, 18 and 21 stop near the store. Although, the trams 1, 3 and 6 are stop right next to it and tram is the best way to get there from the north.), ☏ +358503889439, customerservice@ruslania.com. 09:00-18:00, 09:00-16:00. Ruslania offers Finnish and Russian products (which includes for example souvenirs, literature, music, candy, posters and cards). A nice, not that big shop full of mostly Russian products which makes it a heaven for lovers of Russian culture or Soviet-y stuff. (updated Mar 2018)

Shops

60.1677324.936376 Helsinki 10, Eerikinkatu 3, ☏ +358 10 5489801. M-F 11:00-20:00, Sa 11:00-18:00. This bright-white "lifestyle department store" sells both international and Finnish (designer) labels such as Raf Simons, Wood Wood, Acne and April77 as well as second-hand clothes, accessories, records, magazines etc.
60.1672724.935157 Paloni, Eerikinkatu 7, ☏ +358 50-5894131. Open M-F 11:00-19:00, Sa 11:00-16:00. Paloni is a creative design concept store. It sells items that are designed and made by over 70 independent designers. Paloni's product range covers women's clothing, accessories, jewellery, home decor, gift items and children's clothing.
60.1683924.932698 Keltainen Jäänsärkijä, Urho Kekkosenkatu 4-6 A. Helsinki's largest indie store, covers virtually everything except classical and electronic. Lots of indie vinyl at reasonable prices.
60.1648424.933769 Compact Records (Dark Side of the), Lönnrotinkatu 23.

Markets

Flea market on Hietalahti square, to the left the market hall, straight ahead the old technical university

60.1630324.9294710 Hietalahti Old Market Hall, Hietalahdentori (tram 6), ☏ +358 9 670145. One of Helsinki's three traditional market halls until the turn of the millenium, after that concentrating on antiques and as of 2019 a kind of a food court, with some gift shops.
60.1625924.9300311 Hietalahti Open Air Flea market. Next to Hietalahti Old Market Hall, this is the most popular flea market in Helsinki. Open year round, but busiest from May to August.

Eat

Budget

60.16328524.9155271 Yeti-Nepal, Itämerenkatu 12, ☏ +358 9-6933010, yetinep@gmail.com. M-Th 10:30-22:00, F 10:30-23:00, Sa 12:00-23:00, Su 12:00-22:00. One of many Nepalese places. It might not be the cheapest one, but the food is great. The restaurant is well visited and often full at lunch time. Main dishes €10-15, lunch menu from €8,50.
60.1685624.937142 Barbarossa, Yrjönkatu 29. Good price-quality ratio pizzaplace, always fast service. Very small location though, so you might have to eat your pizza elsewhere.
60.1665624.933113 Eerikin Pippuri, Eerikinkatu 17. One of the more popular kebab places in town. On the same street as many bars, so good for a midnight meal as well.
60.1649124.932774 Pompier (VPK), Albertinkatu 29. M-F 11:00-15:00. Run by the Volunteer Fire Brigade, this restaurant serves a daily changing buffet of hearty Finnish fare in a cafeteria straight from the 1950s, complete with grim portraits of moustached Hosemasters staring down at you. Pea soup and pancakes on Thursday are particularly popular. €12.60 per head.. (updated May 2015)
60.1684924.931765 Singapore Hot Wok, Kamppi Shopping Centre, E floor, Urho Kekkosen katu 5 B. Select from a few tasty plates of Wok. €9.50 per head..
60.1681124.935476 Sky Express, Annankatu 31. A pizza spot very close to the city center. It's a relatively small place, but the service is very fast and the place is open late at night. Opens around 11:00, and closes at 23:00 (22:00 on Sundays). Try the Päivän jättipizza ("Daily giant pizza"), which is a large, thin pizza with a varying selection of fillings plus a 0.4 liter soft drink for €6, which is almost unbeatably cheap. They also offer a liter of beer + the daily giant pizza for €13.

Mid-range

60.1665124.93127 Bites Burgers, Lapinlahdenkatu 3. Tasty burgers made to order, with a regular, vegan, vegetarian and special option that can be further customized. They have a good selection of sodas and craft beer. In their Kamppi location there's also an inner yard open during the summer with live music most nights. They also have a restaurant in Vallila and in the Leblon Merihaka food court. €10-12. (updated Jul 2019)
60.169224.934048 Empire Plaza, Urho Kekkosen katu 1, Kamppi Shopping Centre. Tasty Chinese food. Main dishes €7-20, lunch buffet €8.5.
60.1608924.907529 Faro, Kellosaarenranta 2, ☏ +358 10 424 9830, myynti@faroravintola.fi. A rather nice restaurant and bar located right at the seashore, offering nice views. Serves lunch and à la carte menu. Lunch is affordable, if not quite cheap, but the à la carte menu is a bit on the pricier side. Also functions as a bar. Serves a variety of cuisine, lunch varies daily. Lunch €10 to €13, main courses €20 to €30. (updated Nov 2017)
60.1695524.9339310 Fisken på Disken, Urho Kekkosen katu 1, ☏ +358 401971157, info@fisken.fi. 11:00-21:00. The name means "The fish on the table" in Swedish, and the restaurant indeed focuses almost exclusively on fish and seafood. Located on the fifth floor of the Kamppi shopping centre amongst other restaurants, easy to find as it's right next to the escalators. Rather crowded so reservations are recommended, although not mandatory. Try the fish and chips, available at €16. Main courses €10 to €28. (updated Dec 2016)

60.1650824.9263911 Halikarnas, Ruoholahdenkatu 18, ☏ +358 9 685 1862. 11:00-23:00 mostly. One of the most famous Turkish restaurants in Helsinki. Famous for its Mediterranean-style buffet, served not only on working days but on weekends also (it's a bit more expensive on weekends though), but also serves quality Turkish à la carte dishes. The coffee, although served from a nondescript thermos can, is one of the best coffees available in Helsinki. Spacious with stylish Turkish decor, with artwork depicting ancient Mediterranean cities on the walls. Buffet around €10, à la carte dishes €14 - 22. (updated Oct 2015)
60.1693924.9383712 India House, Simonkatu 8, Forum (Tram 2, 9), ☏ +358 504630155, indiahouse@indiahouse.fi. M-F 10:30-22:30, Su 12:00-23:00. The only Indian restaurant in Helsinki accepted as decent by Indians here. Mains around €20, lunch €10.
60.160724.886813 Ka-Shing, Lauttasaarentie 14, ☏ +358 9 676 319. M-F 10:30-21:00, Sa Su 12:00-21:00. Probably the best Chinese restaurant on the residential and office district of Lauttasaari. Rather small, and can be quite packed at lunch time. Lunch is very cheap, usually €7-8, but on evenings and weekends à la carte courses cost €12 - 20. The restaurant provides Donald Duck comic books in Finnish for the customers to read. (updated Feb 2015)
60.1639424.9267514 Konstan Möljä, Hietalahdenkatu 14, ☏ +358 9 694 7504. Traditional Finnish food. Very nice if you want to try all kinds of Finnish meals! Lunch buffet €7.90, main dishes from €15, dinner buffet €20..
60.1679524.9394915 Kosmos, Kalevankatu 3 (Trams: 3, 4, 6, 10), ☏ +358 9 647 255. A Helsinki institution dating to 1924, proudly serving "Helsinkian" food — a melange of Russian, French and Swedish influences. Try one of the three classics: Vorschmack with duchess potatoes, the Sylvester Sandwich au gratin and Baltic herrings with mashed potatoes. Mains €15-25.
60.1510624.8854916 Limone, Nahkahousuntie 1, ☏ +358 50 562 5010, lauttasaari@limone.fi. 11:00-21:00 mostly. A real Italian restaurant in the mostly residential district of Lauttasaari, serving authentic Italian cuisine, mostly pizzas and pastas. Easy to arrive at as it's located almost right next to the terminus of bus line 21V. Open for lunch (weekdays only) and à la carte dining. Main courses €13-26. (updated Mar 2017)

60.167724.91317 Loop, Lapinlahdentie 1. Lunch 11:30-14:00. A novel concept: The restaurant serves food made of the waste of other restaurants and groceries, giving new life to food left uneaten. Satisfactory and tasty fare, but don't expect an exquisite culinary experience. The restaurant is located in an old, abandoned mental hospital, giving its location and interior a unique charm. Lunch €9.20. (updated Jul 2016)
60.1681324.9354918 Mai Thai, Annankatu 31-33, ☏ +358 9 685 6850. One of the best Thai restaurants in Helsinki - simply incredible! Make sure to reserve a table in advance, and heed the chilli ratings when ordering.
60.1535424.8802419 Meng Loong, Itälahdenkatu 27, ☏ +358 9 682 0866. 10:30-19:00 mostly. A nice Chinese restaurant in southern Lauttasaari. Not much in the way of à la carte dishes, but a very tasty buffet provided at lunchtime every weekday, with the dishes on offer varying every day. For an extra €1.50, you can have a sushi buffet with your Chinese lunch buffet.
The Chinese food on offer includes chicken, pork, beef, fish and tofu every day. There are various kinds of spicy sauces available.
Be sure to get in early, as the restaurant is quite packed. In early afternoon, actual Chinese customers come to the restaurant to eat a pre-set menu. They have tables reserved well in advance so they won't bother you. After a few hours past noon the buffet food tends to get a bit tasteless though. This restaurant is sometimes favoured by the Finnish police forces. €8.50 for lunch without sushi, €10 for lunch with sushi. (updated Jun 2016)
60.1626624.9143220 Meritähti, Itämerenkatu 14, ☏ +358 451712277, ravintola@meritahti.net. 11:00-23:00 mostly. The name means "starfish", but despite that, there is actually very little seafood on the menu. The menu is very meat-oriented, with the restaurant specialising in Hungarian cuisine. The restaurant is rather small, and about half of it consists of a pub area. Very easily accessible as it is next door to the Ruoholahti metro station. Main courses €12-30. (updated Mar 2015)
60.163124.942221 Monal (Restaurant Monal), Annankatu 4 (Peaceful location close by Kamppi), ☏ +358-50-5969316, info@ravintolamonal.fi. M-F 10:30-22:00, Sa 12:00-22:00, Su 12:00-20:00. The restaurant provides excellent hospitality and a wide variety of authentic Indian cuisine. An affordable and changing lunch buffet, dinner, delicious Indian desserts, take away service and catering for smaller or larger events. Lunch €10, main dishes €15-20. (updated Feb 2018)
60.1670624.927622 Mt. Everest, Lapinlahdenkatu 17, ☏ +358 9 6831 5450. Good Nepalese food. Main dishes €10-20.
60.1678124.9358623 New Bamboo Center, Annankatu 29, ☏ +358 9 6943117. Well-known and popular downtown Malaysian-Chinese restaurant. Cheap lunch/dinner. Vegan-friendly with several vegan dishes. If you like elbow room you might want to pass on this restaurant, since the seating is somewhere between "intimate" and "cramped". The food is very good, though. The restaurant is famous for its hot Malaysian curry dishes, which are among the hottest dishes available in Helsinki.
60.1679124.9358124 Pikku-Nepal, Annankatu 29, ☏ +358 9 6931778. A very good Nepalese restaurant. Good vegetarian options. Main dishes €13–25.
60.1621524.9287425 Salve, Hietalahdenranta 11, ☏ +358 10 7664 280. Harbour restaurant. Salve's operations began in 1897 as a small food kiosk for sailors. Even now, you can catch the feeling of Salve's past - a time when ships were made of wood and men were made of steel! Herrings of Salve you should taste.
60.16836724.93748826 Suburritos, Yrjönkatu 29, ☏ +358 441 709 0777, suburritos@suburritos.fi. 11:00-21:00 mostly. Mexican-style restaurant near the Forum shopping centre. Famous for its lunch buffet, where you can fill up tortillas and tacos with toppings of your own choosing. Buffet and burritos €9, main courses €13-25. (updated Dec 2015)

Splurge

60.1659724.9421727 Gaijin, Bulevardi 6, ☏ +358 10 3229386, info@gaijin.fi. 17:00-00:00. One of Helsinki's finest Asian cuisine restaurants, serving a mixture of Japanese, Chinese and Korean cuisine. Famous for its tasting menus. As the restaurant is very popular and a bit cramped, prior reservations are recommended, although not mandatory. The food is a bit expensive but extremely tasty, and the staff are very friendly. Main courses €26-42, tasting menus €62-66. (updated Jul 2016)
60.167224.924228 Kabuki, Lapinlahdenkatu 12, ☏ +358 9 694 9446. Helsinki's best-known Japanese restaurant and a favorite of Finnish celebrities, which explains the signed ice hockey jerseys and Star Wars memorabilia scattered throughout. Alas, while the food is decent, it's not quite the real thing. Reservations recommended. Closed Sat.
60.1679924.9392129 Karljohan, Yrjönkatu 21, ☏ +358 9 6121121. Very nice restaurant opposite the Hotel Torni with Swedish and Finnish traditional cooking and keeping high standards. On Thursdays, try the traditional lunch of pea soup and pancake.
60.1665224.9371630 Lappi Restaurant, Annankatu 22, ☏ +358 9 645 550. Although Lapland (Lappi) is on the other edge of Finland, you can enjoy cuisine of Lapland in Helsinki too.

Drink

Cafes

Is it a carousel? No, it's Café Mutteri!

60.16137724.8930391 Cafe Mutteri, Lauttasaarentie 2 (Lauttasaari island), ☏ +358 45-6335418. M-F 06:00-19:00, Sa Su 10:00-16:00. Lovely small cafe in an octagonal old wooden building just at the Lauttasaari bridge. Its name translates to café "nut" as something you use with a bolt. Coffee, pies, pastries and ice cream are on offer. You can enjoy a slightly nostalgic atmosphere of the place, or just get pleasantly cozy on a freezing day.
60.1677624.938912 Ateljee Baari, Kalevankatu 5 (Hotel Torni (14th floor)). Despite the name it's more like a cafe, located on top of Hotel Torni, Finland's first high-rise. Excellent views over Helsinki's downtown. You even have a view from the (famous) toilets. Highly recommended. Find the elevator close to the lobby to get there, but be prepared for expensive drinks. If you're on a tight budget, you can just enjoy the view on the elevator level.
60.1648224.937823 Café Ekberg, Bulevardi 9, ☏ +358 9 6811 860. One of the classic Helsinki cafés and a Bulevardi institution. Was renovated in 2017 and at that lost some of its old flair.
60.1652424.932424 Gran Delicato, Kalevankatu 34, ☏ +358 9 694 0403. M-F 08:00-22:00, Sa 10:00-18:00, Su closed. A very cosy cafe serving Mediterranean salads and paninis, and a variety of coffees. The Greek owner is a showman, usually around to amuse customers. Coffees €2-4, salads €7-9, pastas and soups €7-9.

Bars, pubs and clubs

60.1625824.91435 Amsterdam, Itämerenkatu 1C. Dutch beer house in Ruoholahti.
60.1666924.937416 A21 Cocktail Lounge, Annankatu 21. A high-priced but incredibly high quality cocktail bar situated in the city center, a few hundred meters from Stockmann's. Generally serves classic cocktail drinks with a twist, but also features several cocktails with a distinctly Finnish vibe (featuring garnishes such as birch leaves and fresh cloudberry) and innovative house specialities. According to worldsbestbars.com, this unlikely find is one of the world's best bars , winning the title of the best bar in the world in 2009 and 2010. Drinks €7-25, try the Birch Cooler, Blinker or XXX..
60.16758524.9295557 Ravintola Wanhakettu, Malminkatu 22. A journey into traditional Finnish bar culture, where fireside debates and poetry recitals are a common place occurrence in this historical tavern. Frequented by a more intellectual if not boisterous crowd, the common traveler will find a home away from home at Wanhakettu. A famous haunt for many members of the classical artist communes of Käpyla and Suvela. According to historian Antti Mäjänen of the Ostrobotnious Historical Society, it was in this very spot that the second treaty of Vyborg was signed in the summer of 1902, adding character and flavor to this lovely tavern of old. Drinks €3.50-15, try the Karhu III Pint, Salmari or Kolme Leijonaa Malt Whisky..
60.1700624.933338 Aussie Bar, Salomonkatu 5 (next to Kamppi shopping mall). M Tu Su 14:00 - 02:00, W-Sa 12:00 - 03:00. The name says it. Place to go get some drinks with some international fun. Live music every Wednesday and the weekends are always crazy in Kangaroo Land.
60.1679724.940629 Baker's, Mannerheimintie 12. A great place to start up your party. From Tues to Sat they have a sparkling wine happy hour from 17:00: for 100 minutes, a glass of cava costs 100 cents (that's €1). The service might be somewhat rough. Also lots of young people there on weekends. Has a bar, nightclub, pub and serves also food.
60.1669424.9341310 Corona Bar & Billiards, Eerikinkatu 11, ☏ +358 9 751 75611. A bar and billiard hall owned by the film director brothers Aki and Mika Kaurismäki, echoing the melancholic mood of their films. Also check out the affiliated Kafe Moskva bar next door for authentic Soviet style experience, complete with Russian music played on dusty vinyls and Russian vodka and champagne. Downstairs is Dubrovnik, a small club-cum-movie theater that can be rented for private events and host occasionally live gigs or clubs.
60.1667124.9373911 Loose, Annankatu 21. A very street-credible rock bar, it is highly popular among Finnish rock musicians.
60.1675924.9391412 Le Bonk, Yrjönkatu 24. W-Sa 21:00-04:00, Sa 16:00-04:00. Design music club with 3 floors. During the summer very nice roof terrace.
60.1705424.9347213 The Circus, Salomonkatu 1-3. Music venue club.
60.1670924.9419914 DTM, Mannerheimintie 6 B, 2nd floor (with stairs/elevator). Daily 21:00-04:00. Formerly "Don't Tell Mama", DTM is the largest combination of gay cafe, bar, disco and nightclub in Scandinavia, with 2 dance floors and 3 bars. Popular among younger, trendy people and some celebrities. Straights usually welcome, too, as long as they don't "take over" the place. Entrance Su-Th €2.50, F €5, Sa €8 (on special nights fees may vary). Around the corner is Hercules Gay nightclub.
60.1670424.940915 Hercules Gay Night Club, Lönnrotinkatu 4. One of the busiest gay nightclubs in Scandinavia, mainly a 30+ clients, dance floor and 2 bare, good for bare-faced cruising. Entrance free; coat check €2.50 (on special guests nights fees may vary). Around the corner is located DTM Gay nightclub.

Tavastia, where already the youth in the 1960s went to rock concerts

60.1684424.9330116 Tavastia/Semifinal, Urho Kekkosen katu 4-6. One of the most prominent rock clubs in Scandinavia, a must see for fans of live rock of any kind. Semifinal has smaller indie/alternative bands for a young crowd. On special nights the two clubs are joined, but usually they host separate gigs. Tickets for all gigs can be bought in advance from the Tiketti ticket sellers next door. The annual Tavastia new year party is an institution in itself, with fans flying from all over the world for the show.
60.1690824.9337817 The Tiger, Urho Kekkosen katu 1 (Kamppi Center). Open W-Sa 22:00-04:00. Formerly Lux, this is a contestant for the title of Helsinki's classiest mainstream nightclub, with its dress code, stylish decor, relatively high prices and an age limit of 24. Five bars, two spacious terraces, a VIP lounge and six luxurious booths that can be reserved. Live music on Thur. Cover charge €4-8, free entrance before midnight..
60.1692724.937318 El Patron (former Jenny Woo, Vatican), Simonkatu 6. Tries to profile itself as a nightclub for trendy young adults. You can lie on couches next to the crowded dance floor while sipping some bubbly.