I understand that an art-lover can at the same time be a beer-lover, but to make this web site somehow manageable, I have to split my travel advice in smalller chunks. So the following suggestions could be equally interesting for an art-lover! The Finnish beer culture was long centered on getting drunk while paying as little as possible. In some ways, large part of the population is still optimizing its drinking habits on this bases. Since the 1990s, however, Helsinki has seen a veritable burst of new pubs providing a wide selection of international and local beers. These pubs are, of course, among the more expensive ones in the city -- but they are a nice place to meet local people who speak English. In the suburbs, you pay probably only half the price for your pint -- but you'll probably enjoy your pint alone or with a few very drunken Finns not able to communicate a single meaningful sentence in English. Thus you should mostly have your pints in the centre! One of the most popular and nice pubs is the Kaisla, located in Kaisaniemi next to the Hotel Cumulus Kaisaniemi. Hotel Cumulus Kaisaniemi is a nice chain hotel, with no special identity. It is, however, an excellent choice for anyone looking for an affordable and nice hotel in Helsinki centre. I almost forget I promised to write about pubs, not about hotels in this article! | In Kaisla, you can choose your pint from a huge selection of beers. I would suggest you to taste some of local Finnish beers brewn in some of the smaller breweries. Most of the time, the waiters speak fluent English and they can suggest you some of the local specials. Just remember that you have to order your pints at the bar!
Another nice pub is located in the old Student's house located next to the Stockmann Department Store. The Student House is owned by the Students Union of the University of Helsinki, as it was donated by a patriotic and wealthy Finn to the students of the nation. Today, the house is used for student festivities and as a bar that is daily open. Usually there is no entry fee, but on some nights the house is used as a concert venue and a rock club. The concerts can be sold out weeks in advance. The third pub to visit on a weekend trip to Helsinki is something unique in the city centre: The bar Moskva. The very small bar is is filled with memorabilia that reflect the movie director Aki Kaurismäki's films and their atmosphere. For years, the quality of customer service was rather Soviet-like but during the last years I have seen the waiters to smile at least accidentally. This is the place to have a pint of beer and drink silently a few shots of vodka, not a place to chat with locals. |