The guide to 12 great wine bars in Helsinki
In Helsinki and thirsty for some wine? Here's the insider's guide to the best wine bars in the Finnish capital!
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Address: Tehtaankatu 27-29, Helsinki
Drinkability is the keyword here; BasBas in Helsinki appreciates fresh and easy-drinking natural wines. The food menu is shown on the blackboard and changes often – sometimes daily, or even in the middle of the evening. The portions are on the smaller side, and perfect for sharing if you want to have the whole experience of what the staff in the huge open kitchen can offer. This restaurant is all about feeling good and enjoying yourself while sipping wine and eating well, so remember to bring an open mind when coming here. The wine bar isn’t big, but there’s space enough for you to sip a gla...
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Phone: +358 44 2305900
Address: Tehtaankatu 27-29 (Telakkakadun kulma), Helsinki
BasBas & Staff Wine Bar is a cosy and small wine bar in Helsinki, run by French-Canadian sommelier Marc-Antoine Marcoux. The kitchen serves simple but tasty food, perfect for enjoying while having a glass wine or three. This bar is the ideal spot both for having an aperitif before dinner and for gathering all your best friends and spending an entire evening.
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Phone: +358 10 3229388
Address: Eteläesplanadi 20, Helsinki
Restaurant Bronda is situated right in the heart of Helsinki and is a well-frequented spot amongst the city’s wine lovers. Here you can stop by for a quick glass of wine or a cocktail, or spend the whole evening wining and dining. In the bar, you can order small snacks, and if you want a full meal, you can take a seat in the restaurant and enjoy some wine-friendly brasserie dishes based on Spanish, Italian and French cuisine. After dinner, head over to the cosy bar for some late-night wine-drinking, listening to the DJ’s playing while sipping away.
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Phone: 09 27090976
Address: Mannerheimintie 56, Helsinki
Restaurant Carelia is one of the most classic restaurants in Helsinki and is well-known for its ambitious wine list, based mainly on European wine countries, especially France. The restaurant was established in 1995, in what used to be an old pharmacy. The food is typical French brasserie-style, and this is a place where people often stop by to eat before going to the opera or theatre. Downstairs there's also a private room for arranging wine tastings, and here you can bring your own bottles as well.
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Phone: 010 5050900
Address: Kluuvikatu 2, Helsinki
Restaurant Emo, located right in the middle of the city, has for many years been one of the best wine restaurants in Helsinki. The kitchen cooks a modern take on European cuisine, taking inspiration mainly from the Nordics, but also other countries throughout the continent. Emo is a restaurant where you can go and enjoy a high-end dinner, or just pop by the small bar, order wine, cocktails and snacks and have a chat with the staff. Summertime there’s also a small terrace where you can enjoy your wine while watching the busy streets of Helsinki.
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Phone: 0300 472335
Address: Fredrikinkatu 41, Helsinki
Restaurant Muru in Helsinki is one the most acclaimed wine restaurants in Finland and has received several prizes and awards for its wine program, for example ”Best of Award Excellence” by Wine Spectator. Muru opened in 2010, and the food philosophy is to pick the best seasonal ingredients and turn them into high-end bistro dishes that you can either enjoy as a four-course meal or à la carte. In the small bar you’re always welcome to drop in for a glass of wine and something to eat, but remember that it’s a well-known spot for wine lovers, so it might be crowded.
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Phone: +358 9 61285600
Address: Kanavaranta 7 F, Helsinki
Restaurant Nokka is located in a beautiful old warehouse, just next to the water in Katajanokka, Helsinki. Nokka has made a name for itself all over Finland for its food, made with ingredients from small local producers. There’s also a tiny bar where you can enjoy wines by the glass or bottle, and in the back of the restaurant, you’ll find a walk-in wine cellar where you can select your bottle, assisted by the sommelier.
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Phone: +358 50 5058643
Address: Eteläranta 10, Helsinki
Established already in 1952, Michelin star-restaurant Palace has for long been one of the very best restaurants in Helsinki, with its eclectic high-end food and beautiful roof-top location with a view over the sea. During weekdays Palace is usually packed with business people, and during weekends with foodies and gourmets from all over the world, so make sure to make a reservation if you want to dine here. If you only want something to drink, there’s a small bar next to the restaurant where you can have premium cocktails and top-notch wines, always flawlessly served.
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Phone: 0300 472336
Address: Pieni Roobertinkatu 2
Pastis in Helsinki is a French bistro-style restaurant, also with a small bar where you can pop in to have a glass of wine or a plate of food. The staff is knowledgeable and always willing to help you with some advice on the wine. Summertime Pastis has a small terrace outside the restaurant, and there’s also a chambre separée where you can have wine-themed events designed by the venues’ sommeliers.
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Phone: +358 10 6668459
Address: Kalevankatu 6, Helsinki
This small, cosy and comfortable living room-like wine bar opened up in 2012 and was actually the first proper wine bar in Helsinki. Apart from the solid wine program, they’ve become famous for their servings of small-producer cheeses and charcuteries to go with the wine. Vin-Vin runs their own importing company, and thanks to that they’re able to get hold of some rare wines without prices going through the roof.
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Phone: 050 4702388
Address: Agricolankatu 9, Helsinki
This small and cosy bakery and wine bar, based in the suburban area of Kallio in Helsinki, is open seven days a week. Here you can start your day with a high-quality breakfast, and then continue with lunch until late in the afternoon. And, of course, you can drink wine the whole time. The food is based around the bakery’s now-famous sourdough bread, of which you can have one or several to accompany your wine.
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Phone: 045 2227745
Address: Fleminginkatu 11
Since 2017 Winebar Wino has been a second living room for many people living in the suburban area of Kallio, and they've gained a reputation among all the wine people in Helsinki. The restaurant offers small and mid-sized food of varied styles – always tasty – served by knowledgeable staff. Since the venue is both small and very popular, booking a table in advance might be a good idea.