Must-see nightlife in Helsinki

Between Hakaniemi and Sörnäinen metro stations, this famed club is the place to find Helsinki’s more experimental beats from top visiting DJs playing…

On the top of Kamppi shopping centre, this classy venue makes the most of the inspiring city views. It's divided into three sections, with a bar area – a…

Lingering over an after-dinner drink is a habit the Spaniards know well. Introducing this habit into Finnish culture is the rooftop bar at Scandic Hotel…

From source to table it's a very short journey here – the beer is brewed in the cellar downstairs then served in the cool street-level bar that wouldn't…

Signed guitars, drums and posters cover the walls of this rock and roll bar, which functions as a before- and after-party for gigs around town for…

A lighthearted Spanish theme here is backed up by hanging hams, wine barrels, guitars and bullfighting posters. It's an atmospheric spot for a glass of…

Attracting an older, relaxed crowd, this stylish spot alongside Esplanadi has a lounge bar, a cocktail bar with drinks themed for countries around the…

Lime-green light fittings, geometric wallpaper, framed photography and art; and turntables spinning jazz make Good Life a great neighbourhood hang-out…

Finland’s most famous gay venue (Don’t Tell Mama) now occupies smart premises in a very out-of-the-closet location on the city’s main street. There are…

Part of a knot of bars on this street just off Mannerheimintie in the heart of town, this unpretentious place stands out for its old-time Finnish…

Built between 1886 and 1888, this elegant old lightship was sunk by the Russians in 1918 and subsequently raised and repaired. The deck provides a…

With plenty of ‘G’days’, this laid-back watering hole doesn’t miss a cliché. Beneath the corrugated iron and faux-colonial fittings, it serves Down Under…

Kallio's Vaasankatu is the best street for a pub crawl, and the classiest place on the strip is Solmu. Soft lighting makes for a cosy atmosphere, and the…

This joint has more beers on tap than you can shake a stick at. All come from microbreweries in Finland and abroad; the line-up changes almost every day…

Set over three floors, this gay bar is aimed at men aged 30-plus (minimum age on Fridays and Saturdays is 24, and 20 on other days). There's a lounge bar,…

A Kallio classic, this dive bar has some of Helsinki's cheapest beer, a soundtrack of metal and rock, and great ragged character. The action spills onto…

One of Kallio’s darkened drinking dens, this small, unassuming bar is frequented by both men and women. The front terrace is a prime streetside spot.