It's a ways off, but will be visiting in November for the NHL Europe series (Go Kraken!). Looking for must-hits, etc.
I’m currently planning on being in Helsinki for a long layover in June. It’ll be a short stay, but if I see anything cool, I’ll update this thread. And, of course, I’m sure Todd can give all the recommendations
@blackcloud @flagmantho: It's been a busy week or so, but I'll drop my revised list of recommendations sometime this week/end.
I like Juova, Pikkulintu, One Pint, Willi Waino and Sivukirjasto. Different atmospheres all with good, primarily local beers. Willi Waino often has several varieties of Sahti. Many places in Helsinki have a good supply of Belgian lambics at a price. One Pint often has Cnudde Oude Bruin.
(@blackcloud @flagmantho: Sorry for the delay! I've been insanely busy and forgot to come back to the thread.) There are a ton of places you could hit in Helsinki based on your mood, but you're not going to be able to hit them all. So here's a good start that keeps you mostly downtown and walkable or easily accessible by bus, ferry, or tram. Bars: Juova: the must-hit beer geek haven with a very solid selection of Finnish beers and select imports. (Kaisla: it's around the corner from Juova, so you might as well swing by for a pint.) Villi Wäinö: huge selection of beers, mostly Finnish, including a bunch of Sahti. Biggest beer bar downtown. Pikkulintu Ruttopuisto: solid selection and just down the road from Villi Wäinö. Bier-Bier: worth stopping in for at least one to check out the bar and rooms. Black Door: one of the first beer bars in Helsinki, just around the corner from Bier-Bier, with a wide-selection on tap and in the coolers + a cask or two. One Pint Pub: small beer bar just on the edge of Ruoholahti that focuses on imports, but you'll find Finnish beers here too. (Barley & Bait: if you visit One Pint Pub, you might as well take a quick walk over the bridge to Jätkäsaari. Mostly Finnish beers on tap with some imports too.) Breweries: CoolHead Brew: if you have the time, grab the 78 bus (platform is outside of central station) up to the brewery, which is located in a massive previously abandoned greenhouse. Very unique spot. Helsinki Bryggeri: our downtown brewery near the end of the Esplanade Park. Small bar upstairs, brewery and restaurant in the basement. Olarin Panimo: popular brewery/taproom just North of downtown. The 9 tram from central station will take you there in around 20 mins. (There are some other beer places in the area too.) Salamanation: brewery taproom/craft beer bar about a block away from Villi Wäinö. Suomenlinna Panimo: take a quick ferry ride to Suomenlinna (islands/sea fortress), hike around, hit the brewery for some beers and food. (Only costs the price of an AB ticket to get there using the HSL app.) Shops: Pien Shop: small bottle shop/beer bar with a solid selection of beers from Finland and elsewhere. They're a bit pricey though and charge a service fee for drinking bottles/cans on-premise, but they have around a dozen beers on tap and dozens in the coolers that you can also buy to takeaway. I could go on, but you really can't got wrong with any of the above. Enjoy Helsinki! Kippis!
Awesome, thank you! I'll be there on Saturday so right on time Some of these places were already on my radar, too. Good to know they are worthwhile!
Thanks for this! I'd gleaned a few of those, but added some more to my map to check out. Getting more excited for the trip by the day (even if it's still 5 months out....)
