A boon for pub crawlers, Helsinki has clubs and watering holes to suit various tastes and age groups; from the bars where the arty crowd hangs out to the pubs which are frequented by working executives to the rhythmic trance clubs…Helsinki has it all.

And what’s more, the city has pubs and bars across price ranges, which means that it can suit every pocket – from the affluent tourists to the budget travelers. Without further ado, let’s dive in and see what exactly the nightlife in Helsinki looks like.

Helsinki nightlife pays much more importance to quality as opposed to quantity; so there might be lesser number of pubs and bars here than other European capitals, but don’t let that get your spirits down. In the recent past the number of options for night time activities has seen a meteoric rise. The Finns sure know how to party, and one can see them making a beeline for the pubs and clubs every weekend, and this is especially true during the summers when the weather here is great.

On the weekends, especially Friday and Saturdays one can easily spot winding queues in front of the clubs post 9 pm, so it is always better to get to the club of your choice early in the night. Also, since most of the bars and clubs are located in the vicinity of the market and the city centre, you might be able to pub hop more easily in Helsinki when compared to other cities. Some clubs have a cover charge, which can range from Euro 5 to Euro 10; there are also others which don’t require you to shell out any entry or cover charge.

Atlejee Bar is located on the rooftop of the Sokos Hotel Torni, and gives you splendid views of the Helsinki cityscape. Frequented by a number of artists and writers, this is a quaint bar which serves good wine.

Corona Bar & Café Mokba are both owned by the distinctive Finnish filmmakers Aki and Mika Kaurismaki, and bear testimony to the quirky personality of their owners. Corona Bar is frequented by people who want to enjoy a game of snooker while sipping their vodka; the bar has 20 pool tables and offers cheap beer to its guests.

Café Mokba or Café Moscow in Russian is a small place serving only 26 people at a time and is a throw back to the Brezhnevian Era. Kappelli is another favorite bar of the Finns; located in Esplanade Park, this bar is known for its cellar pub and has performance by popular Finnish bands during summers. Juttutapa is a must visit for anyone who loves Jazz, known for its all year contemporary jazz and rock fusion performances, Juttutapa overlooks a bay on the Helsinki Harbour. Wednesdays are arguably the best days to visit this bar.

Apart from these notable bars, there are many other pubs and bars which dot the city of Helsinki. Amongst them are names like The Rock Bar, Old Anchor, Painobaari, Sparakoff, SimonKatu and Underbar. For those who love to gamble, there is the Grand Casino Helsinki which is located 30 game tables with popular games likes poker, blackjack and roulette.

This is the largest casino in Finland, and features mechanical horse racing, which is a must watch. Helsinki also has a lot to offer in terms of gay & lesbian bars – Con Hombres, Lost & Found, Mann’s Street, Nalle Pub are all well known bars and clubs for the not so straight.

Helsinki also has a number of dance clubs on offer. The Helsink club is known for its trance and techno music, while Club Kong has loyal patrons who frequent the club between Tuesdays to Saturdays, when the club is open till the wee hours of the morning.

Kaarle XII, named after a Swedish King is another much loved nightclub which features 6 bars, a street level pub and a level up dance floor, huge lines can be seen outside the club on Thursdays and Saturdays which are the most popular days at this club.

Onella is a sprawling nightclub which caters to three different tastes in its three different sections; Glam Rock, Disco-Disco and Finnish Pop or Suomi Pop are all played here to a full house of 1000 people, on a daily basis. Studio 51 is a glitzy place which is reminiscent of the club Studio 54 in New York; having a young clientele this pub too is open to partygoers till late in the morning.

All in all Helsinki has a pulsating nightlife, which has something to offer to everybody. It doesn’t matter if you are young or old. As long as you are in
Helsinki, you are sure to find something which fits into your plans for the night.