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It has never been easier to find a good glass of wine in Helsinki. But now the wind has changed. explore the city’s best spots for wine tasting and find your favorite with this list of wine bars and wine-focused restaurants. Cheers!
Carelia
A classic brasserie with a solid wine list should never be taken for granted. Located opposite the Opera House, Carelia is a well-known pre- and post-opera haunt. If you are having a night in the town with a splash of sensory stimulation via music, why not include wine as well. Here, the wines are sourced from small independent wine growers, and it’s one of the reasons why Carelia has been and continues to be an all-time favorite among local wine enthusiasts.
Carelia
Mannerheimintie 56, 00260 Helsinki
Website
Vin-Vin
This stylish wine bar in the buzzing city center is a great place to knock back a glass of wine and watch the world go by. Whether you are looking for Riesling, Champagne or Spanish red, Vin-Vin will take care of all of your vinous needs. A regular for wine-fueled after work debriefings and an excellent spot for a classy aperitif.
Vin-vin
Kalevankatu 6, 00100 Helsinki
Website
The Bull & The Firm
Walking by you would probably miss The Bull & The Firm. It doesn’t stand out. The door doesn’t exactly scream “great wines inside,” it doesn’t even scream “come inside.” While this part of Helsinki isn’t exactly Las Vegas skipping this chill neighborhood joint would be a colossal mistake. Expect to sip wines from small organic wine producers, perhaps a natural wine or two, while listening to some funky tunes and sampling well-thought-out bar food from the kitchen. Also, the cocktail program at The Bull & The Firm is on point, so be sure to save some room for a cocktail or two.
The Bull & The Firm
Kulmavuorenkatu 2, 00500 Helsinki
Wino
As its name suggests, this wine-focused restaurant has become a fan favorite for all wine lovers visiting Helsinki. Here you can dive right in and order wines by the glass or explore the wine list that covers mostly artisanal wines with an inclination towards organic and natural producers from well-known wine countries such as France or, uh, Serbia. The Finnish word vino means oblique or slanting which might refer to the street outside or the fact that you will probably not walk completely upright leaving the restaurant. Whatever the case you can trust the kitchen to serve carefully crafted dishes to soak up all that good wine.
Wino
Fleminginkatu 11, 00500 Helsinki
Website
Bricco
This wouldn’t be a proper list without a wine bar completely obsessed with Italy. Bricco, a newcomer in the local wine scene, is a warm and welcoming wine bar for Italophiles and average wine geeks alike. Antipasti, Italian bubbles or perhaps a raunchy Sangiovese, at Bricco you are having the cake and eating it too. Add this to your wine bar hopping route.
Bricco
Annankatu 22, 00101 Helsinki
BasBas & Staff Wine Bar
BasBas & Staff is the vinous sidekick of a popular local restaurant Baskeri & Basso Bistro. BasBas is a cozy wine bar with a moody laid-back atmosphere where you can order a glass of wine at ease. Given a chance the staff at BasBas is not afraid to tell you exactly what they think of your favorite wine, friendly banter is a staple here. However, behind the cheeky and chill facade, you will find a wealth of knowledge and know-how which makes BasBas & Staff probably the best wine bar in all of Finland, or perhaps even the entire Nordics.
BasBas & Staff Wine Bar
Tehtaankatu 27-29, 00150 Helsinki
Soil Wine Room
If you are in the mood for Iberian flavors, head to Soil Wine Room. Chef Matti Romppanen has somehow managed to make traveling to Spain entirely unnecessary for the locals, that is if you don’t mind the iffy weather. Just grab yourself a plate of boquerones or bellota and a bottle of the good stuff; trust me, you don’t need much else.
Soil Wine Room
Fredrikinkatu 37, 00120 Helsinki
phone: +358504630366
Gohan
Located in the historical Torikorttelit district, Gohan is a fantastic place for a quick bite and a glass of wine, or sake! Gohan serves food and drinks with a Japanese flair in a stylish little nook in Helsinki. The central location means you are never too far away from this adventure park for taste buds. Moderation is for cowards when it comes to pleasure so why not treat yourself with a bento lunch and some high voltage Pét-Nat.
Gohan
Sofiankatu 3, 00170 Helsinki
Website
Way Bakery & Wine Bar
This delicious little bakery, cafe and wine bar opened in the edgy neighborhood of Kallio, and things haven’t been quite the same since. Here, you come for the bread but stay for the wine. However, don’t come looking for “conventional” wines because you will struggle to find any; instead what you will find is natural wines up the wazoo - an increasingly popular trend in Helsinki. If that’s not your thing, well, this might be the place where you will learn to love it. The guys behind this establishment also run a little restaurant downtown called Grön, often ranked the best restaurant in Finland, so the bar food menu is definitely worth a look.
Way Bakery & Wine Bar
Agricolankatu 9, 00530 Helsinki
Website
Le Petit Chaperon Rouge
If you feel like taking a short pause while sightseeing in Helsinki, stop by Le Petit Chaperon Rouge. Located near the Presidential Palace in the shadows of the Uspenski Cathedral this charming wine bar is the perfect place to soak in the city’s Baltic vibes while sipping a glass of the good stuff. And while you’re at it why not order some cheese or perhaps a morel mushroom risotto to go with the wine.
Le Petit Chaperon Rouge
Kanavaranta 3 C 9, 00160 Helsinki
phone: +358447304000
Pontus
This delightfully eclectic restaurant in the heart of Helsinki is ideal for hungry (and thirsty) passersby who feel like having it all. There’s not many places in Helsinki - or the world - where you can enjoy a pizza Margherita and then seamlessly move to a reindeer shepherd's pie. The sheer disregard for the norm at Pontus is awe-inspiring. But don’t let the delicious food completely distract you from the wine list, which both compact and bulletproof. Restaurant manager Mia Stjerna is a superstar in the local restaurant and wine scene, and whatever she has to offer you will drink with a big smile on your face.
Pontus
Kapteeninkatu 26, 00140 Helsinki
Website
