Bars and clubs

Our favorite bars and clubs in Helsinki

B-side Bar

A while ago we wrote about B-Smokery restaurant and its scrumptious meat selection. It's not a surprise that we have to mention its little sibling, B-Side bar, which is one of our favorite Helsinki bars.  B-Side manager Christian Giordano had some mutual contacts with B-Smokery owners and reached out to them when he moved to Helsinki. His background is in hotels & restaurants and he has experience with cocktail design and liquors, especially American Whiskey. The idea of an American Whiskey Bar went along great with BBQ concept at Smokery and this is how B-Side was born.   

At B-side you almost feel like you are somewhere in Brooklyn or even Berlin, which Christian attributes to its open atmosphere: 

We wanted to bring things back to street level and make everyone feel comfortable to explore some drinks they haven't tried before.   

C-Side menu was recently added: it's like a bar within a bar. On Fridays and Saturdays ,B-side offers reservations or walk-ins for up to 6 people at their small bar. You get a personal bartender that can customize a menu for you made of different tastings of cocktails, whiskies or beers. You get to sit at the bar and watch them make the drinks and learn the nitty gritty of how and why things are made.

B-side bar specializes in American Whiskey and have one of the largest selections in Finland (about 31). You can find some special ones that you can't get anywhere else, like High West, which is great to try.  They don't have a ton of fridge space for beers, so they try to keep an ever changing quirky selection on hand.  The bar hopes to stock things people have not tried before and are also well prepared to talk about beer.  

=> B-side Bar tip : Another fun thing to try is a pickle back; it's a classic American Whiskey combo. You have a shot of Whiskey and a shot of Pickle Juice or Brine to chase it down. 

=> B-side bar recommends their smoked Negroni as a must-try cocktail. They smoke the Campari at B-Smokery and make an awesome cocktail with Gin and Sweet Vermouth. It goes great on its own or with food. And we also in Inside Out Helsinki love that smoky taste too.

  => Things to look forward to at B-side bar: They have an awesome slate of summer events planned starting with their terrace opening on May 6th. The Terrace is currently being redesigned and they are adding some fun new features like games and an outdoor DJ booth. In addition to Teurastamo events, they are partnering with Jim Beam for a big American Whiskey event on June 10th & 11th.

Further information
Address: Työpajankatu 2, Teurastamo, 00580 Helsinki
Opening times: Tue-Thu: 3:00 pm - 12:00 am // Fri-Sat: 3:00 pm - 1:00 am
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bsideHKI/
Phone: 044 9883686

Kaiku

If I designed a club it would look like this one. A big wooden box, a great sound system, a Rotary mixer in the booth and working turntables (which is not a given these days, unfortunately). Combine that with a very open-minded crowd and great programming and you have Kaiku. The people behind this place are in it for all the right reasons and pure love of music – and you will notice it when you’re there - The Guardian

Kaiku - which interestingly enough means "echo" in Finnish-  is one of the first clubs Inside Out Founder Emilie was introduced to when moving to Helsinki. Located in the trendy Kallio neighborhood, the club is established in a former warehouse which used to manufacture matches and bread. The complex is now the home not only of Kaiku, but also several other of Helsinki's top nightlife spots, such as Siltanen and Kuudes Linja. It's a great escape from some of central Helsinki's more mainstream and commercial clubs.

Recently listed by the Guardian as one of Europe's top night clubs, music lovers from around the globe flock to Kaiku, to listen to some of the best DJs in town, and worldwide as well.

Don't feel discouraged by the usual long line that will await for you on weekends. Because, Kaiku is definitely worth the wait. You see this isn't your typical nightclub. The vibe and feeling you get depends on where you are. Outside, under the patio, is a laid back ambiance, where you can sip a beer, and enjoy the fresh air before going back dancing. A floor above is a cosy bar, with chairs and table, and a Berlinesque decor to hang out in, before joining the spacious dance floor, and vibrating to the pulse of an amazing sound system.

Kaiku has some pretty amazing bartenders as well. You can enjoy a sip of club Maté, before getting lost in time to the music.
=> Good to know, the music depends on which DJ is playing, so make sure to check out the program beforehand. The sound here is usually techno and house.

Further information:

Website: http://clubkaiku.fi
Address: Kaikukatu 4, Kallio, Helsinki
Phone: +358 45 1111466
Open everyday from 10 pm to 4 pm.

Bar Molotow

Bar Molotow is not your typicial Finnish bar. However it is impossible to overlook it when recommending go-to Helsinki addresses. It is truly the pearl on Vaasankatu, Kallio’s famous bar street. 

Created 5 years ago by founder/entreprenor Sami Nurminen, Molotow reflects Sami’s world traveler experience. Upon entering Molotow, you can see different influences from different cities. You have the impression you could be someplace in New York, with it’s distinctive brick wall, but also somewhere in Berlin or Amsterdam, due to its tasteful blend of old and new elements of decoration. 

=> Fun fact: the name comes from Sami’s favorite club in Hamburg.

The bar’s speciality is a large variety of beers and ciders. They even have a little separate bar with new and changing products (such as Indian Pale Ale, or our recent taste Buxton Brewery American Pale Ale). 

Molotow has a very cozy bohemian atmosphere: it is a place for everyone, and always opens its doors at 4 pm, everyday of the week. The bar can quickly become full, but in a nice way: because of its international and relaxed feel, the crowd becomes a pleasant murmur. 

There is furthermore a true sense of community and authenticity at Molotow: it’s Helsinki’s most street-savy bar. 

=> Future Plans: Sami Nurimen plans on opening a new bar in Kallio with the same kind of spirit but a bigger variety of products and things to eat as well. Stay tuned for more information!  

=> Take note of Molotow’s 5 year celebration on May Day this year! 

Further information: 

Address: Vaasankatu 29, 00500 Helsinki

 Opening hours: 4 pm- 2 am everyday 

Musta Kissa

Musta Kissa means “Black cat” in Finnish. We aren’t going to be introducing you here to the latest witchcraft store, but to a tiny original bar in the heart of Kallio, Helsinki’s district known for its’ artistic and international diverse crowd and bustling activity. For its current owner, Huss, Kallio is the very heart of Helsinki : a place for everyone.. the place to be.

Musta Kissa was originally founded by 2 French guys, Christophe and Fabian, who wanted to create a bar with a living room kind of atmosphere: where you can feel cozy and welcome. In 2012, the place was rebought by Huss, but has kept this ambiance. The crowd at Musta Kissa is very international, and the feeling, laid back. The bar is tiny, so the experience of being there is one of intimacy. You often have to share a table with other people, so it’s a great place to chat and meet new faces.

Black Cat’s future plans are to have a summer terrace but also open the place to other art forms: e.g. creating exhibition walls and continuing the live music nights. The bar is also collaborating with other venues in Kallio (such as restaurants, and different art collectives) and is planning on extending the open mic night to poetry, performance and dance as well.

=> good to know: Musta Kissa collaborated with Kallio venues to create a CD with local artists who have been playing there. 

Further information:

Address: Toinen Linja 15, 00530 Helsinki

Telephone: 040 7711 785

Email: bar.musta.kissa@gmail.com

Opening hours :

Mon: closed

Tues-Sun: 5 pm-2am