Nightlife
Most of the nightlife is centrally located around Uudenmaankatu and Eerikinkatu and bar-hopping is easily done on foot. The Helsinkiliset are fairly relaxed about their dress code; visitors will feel at ease in anything from jeans to eveningwear, depending on the venue. Helsinki seems to specialise in the bar-cum-restaurant – the early shift comes to dine, the later crowd to party. Most stay open until about 0300 in the summer, while hours vary in the winter, often depending on patronage. Discos or nightclubs generally close about 0400. The Finns love dancing to tango music and many restaurants have dancefloors. Outdoor dancing is a particular favourite and can be found at Pavin tanssilava, in nearby Vantaa. The legal drinking age is 18 years old although some pubs and discos have an age limit of 21 years. The minimum age for nightclubs is generally 24 years. The price of a bottle of beer is approximately 3-3.50, while a glass of wine costs from 3 to 4.
The best guide to the city is Helsinki This Week published by the City of Helsinki Tourist Office and widely available (website: www.helsinkiexpert.fi).
Bars: Most of the bars are found on two nearby streets, so a bar crawl will reveal most of Helsinki’s nightlife. Start at media hangout Bar 9, Uudenmaankatu 9, domain of Helsinki’s movers and shakers. Just beside it is Bar Tapasta, Uudenmaankatu 13, a hole-in-the-wall bar, always spilling over with a hip crowd washing down tasty tapas with designer beers. Bar Corona, Eerikinkatu 11, has billiards, pool and a laid-back atmosphere, where you can either perch at the bar or sit outside on the street. Just next door is MOSKOVA, normally packed with youngsters enjoying a honey-vodka or ten. Further down the road, Mother, Eerikinkatu 2, is the newest, trendiest hangout, while a little further along is Con Hombres, Eerikinkatu 14, a small, often packed gay bar, which plays some of Helsinki’s best techno tunes. There’s also Caf Soda, Annankatu/Uudenmaankatu 16, which is very popular with younger people and is a bar as well as a club (see below). To experience the Finnish national passion for tango dancing first hand, Vanha Maestro, Fredrikinkatu 51-53, is where it all happens. Cover charge is 5 weekdays and 8.50 at the weekend.
Casinos: Casino Ray, Etelinen Rautatiekatu 4, is open daily from 1200 to the early hours. It is an international casino with games including roulette, blackjack, punto banco, money wheel and more. Players must be at least 18 years old and require a passport to obtain a membership card (1.50 for one week or 5 for one year). Smart dress is required.
Clubs: It is difficult to know where to place Caf Soda, Annankatu/Uudenmaankatu 16, as it is a caf by day, bar by night and nightclub after midnight. DJs spin Helsinki’s best moves and grooves and a young, funky crowd frequent the bar and dance floor. Nightclub DTM, Annakatu 6, is large, noisy, gay and steaming with pumping techno music. Hotel bars tend to cater to the business crowd – some of the more popular include the Helsinki Nightclub, Sokos Hotel, Kluuvikatu 8, Helsinki, Yliopistonkatu 8, and Hesperia Nightclub, at the Radisson SAS Hesperia Hotel, Mannerheimintie 12. Also popular is 10th Floor Dance, Kaivokatu 3, which attracts a mix of celebrities, business people and Helsinki movers and shakers.
Live music: The best source of information on entertainment is found in the daily press or Helsinki This Week. The Finnish Music Information Centre (MIC), Lauttasaarentie 1 (tel: (09) 6810 1313; fax: (09) 682 0770; e-mail: info@mic.teosto.fi; website: www.fimic.fi), also provides information.
Current Helsinkian rock groups include Ultra Bra, Nylon Beat, HIM, Darude, Bomfunk MC, J Karjalainen, Heikki Silennoinen Soul-special and Sami Saari. Other favourite singers include Karita Mattila, Arja Koriseva (the queen of Tango music) and Soile Isokoski. A good club for live music is Nosturi, Telakkakatu 8 (website: www.elmu.fi). For major rock concerts, the venue is Tavastia Klubi, Urho Kekkosen katu 4-6 (website: www.tavastiaklubi.fi).
For jazz, the Storyville Live Jazz Club, Museokatu 8 (website: www.storyville.fi), has a different band on most nights, including the Helsinki City Jazz Orchestra. The newest jazz club in the city is JUMO, Pursimiehenkatu 6.
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Nightlife