Helsinki’s pubs and beer cafes

March 1, 2002 By Julie Johnson

The “Fish” cafes

Juho Lehto, a leading figure in the craft beer movement, operates a string of six beer cafes all with fish names. Lehto started the trend for Helsinki bars with welcoming atmospheres, ranging in feel from “grand cafe” to homey sitting room, with daily papers, board games to play, and a great selection of beers–no accident, since Lehto also heads the country’s biggest beer import company and chairs the Leading Beer Bars Association.
Hilpeä Hauki (The Jolly Pike), Vaasankatu 7
Janoinen Lohi (The Thirsty Salmon), Linnankoskenkatu 12
Kaunis Kampela (The Beautiful Flounder), Lauttasaarentie 10
Leijuva Lahna (The Hovering Bream), Iso Roobertinkatu 13
Punavuoren Ahven (The Punavuori Perch), Punavuorenkatu 12
Vastarannan Kiiski (The Fish That Swims Against The Stream), Runeberginkatu 26

The William K cafes

Another chain of beer cafes, these a mix of Belgian, Dutch and English pub settings, with an excellent beer selection.
William K, Annankatu 3
William K, Mannerheimintie 72
William K, Fleminginkatu 6
William K, Fredrikinkatu 65

One Pint Pub, Santakatu 2

Markku Korhonen, the first to import real ale into Finland and co-organizer of the Helsinki Beer Festival, runs this small corner pub that has all the welcome of a friend’s living room: comfy chairs, billiards table, and a beer menu Markku supplements with trips to Belgium to pick up his own selection.

St. Urho’s Pub, Museokatu 10

Next to the National Museum, St. Urho’s has the feel of a traditional English city pub

Pub Angleterre, Fredrikinkatu 47

English-style pub, faithfully decorated, with real ale a feature.

There are three brewpubs in Helsinki:

Ravintola Perho, Mechelininkatu 7

Ravintola Roll In, Nuijamiestentie 10)

Suomenlinnan Panimo on Suomenlinna Island

Stadin Panimo, Kyläsaarenkatu 14,

is Helsinki’s only microbrewery.