Drinking in Helsinki: Nightclubs

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The Clock Bar, Teatteri

In Helsinki, the most popular nightclubs have long queues starting to form around 11:30 PM. Get in early to avoid standing, although it can be a nice way to meet people. After around 1:00-2:00 AM it might be impossible to get in anymore. You may try to just walk past the queue looking important, but a more efficient strategy is to discreetly tip the bouncer (€10-20). The larger group you are, the more difficult things get. Look smart!

• Cuba, Erottajankatu 4, www.cubacafe.fi. A night club with a somewhat more "Latin" touch and softer tunes. Clientele mostly trendy young adults. Open until 4 AM, often hosts student parties on weekday nights. No entrance fee.

• DTM, Iso Roobertinkatu 28, www.dtm.fi/info/english.php. Open Mon-Sat 9AM-4AM, Sun 12PM-4AM. Formerly "Don't Tell Mama", DTM is the largest combination of gay cafe, bar, disco and nightclub in Scandinavia. Saturdays the second floor of the club is ladies only. Popular among many celebrities. Entrance €7-10 (Sat and special nights only).

• Fever, Annankatu 32, www.fever.fi. Mostly popular with 20-something crowd, this club plays the current Top 40 list. As a rather unusual feature in the Helsinki scene, this club is open every day of the week.

• Hercules Gay Night Club, Lönnrotinkatu 4, www.herculesgayclub.com. One of the busiest gay nightclubs in Scandinavia, targets a 30+ clientele, good for bare-faced cruising. Entrance free; coat check €2.50.

• Jenny Woo, Simonkatu 6, www.jennywoo.fi. Tries to profile itself as a nightclub for trendy young adults and has succeeded in doing so: "because it's all about yoo", goes their cringe-worthy tagline. You can lie on couches next to the crowded dance floor while sipping some bubbly. Expect long lines on weekends.

• Kaarle XII, Kasarmikatu 40, tel. +358 9 6129990, www.kaarle.com. A Helsinki institution better known as Kalle, this former church hasn't had a renovation in years and really needs one. It still continues to pack in a hard-partying thirtysomething crowd, especially on Thursdays. No less than six different bars (all small), playing top 40 tunes, rock and Finnish pop. The last of the bars has a dancefloor and gets particularly packed, with people dancing on the tables. Minimum age 24. Open Thu-Sat 10PM-4AM.

• Kuudes linja, Hämeentie 13 (entrance from the inner court at Kaikukatu 4), www.kuudeslinja.com. A live music oriented nightclub for the somewhat artsy crowd. Located a 10 min tram/bus ride away in the Kallio district, Kuudes linja usually offers more experimental/alternative music than the mainstream downtown clubs and also hosts electronic music parties. Arrive early to avoid queues on popular nights — admittance is not guaranteed once the place gets full. The weatherproof terrace in the courtyard is open during the summer from 6PM daily and is especially popular on Sun with live DJs. You can also bring your own food to the terrace and cook it on their gas grill. Tue-Thu 10PM-3AM, Fri-Sat 11PM-4AM, Sun 10PM-3AM. Not open on all Tuesdays and Sundays, check in advance.

• Lost & Found, Annankatu 6, www.lostandfound.fi. Formerly a hetero-friendly gay club and nowadays more likely vice-versa, this nightclub is open every day till 4 AM. Mysteriously popular despite the sweaty atmosphere on the unbelievably crowded dance floor. In the somewhat cheesy disco downstairs, there's always action here on late nights (even on weekdays). One of the best places for celebrity-spotting in Helsinki. Sunday especially good.

• The Tiger, Urho Kekkosen katu 1 (Kamppi Center), www.thetiger.fi. Open Wed-Sat 10PM-4AM. Formerly Lux, this is a contestant for the title of Helsinki's classiest mainstream nightclub, with its dress code, stylish decor, relatively high prices and an age limit of 24. Five bars, two spacious terraces, a VIP lounge and six luxurious booths that can be reserved. Live music on Thur. Cover charge €4-8, free entrance before midnight.

• Redrum, Vuorikatu 2, www.redrum.fi. Open Wed-Mon 10PM-4AM. Recently renovated and with a reshuffle of the programming, Redrum is easily one of the top club venues in Helsinki. Music includes house, techno, indie rock, hip hop, reggae, and plenty more. Run by the same people as Kuudes Linja. Exclusive sound by Funktion One www.funktion-one.com/main.htm, whose other reference locations include Space in Ibiza and Berghain in Berlin. Expect a crowd during weekends and popular events. Cover charge €4-10, includes a free beer, cider or soft drink from Sun to Thu.

• Playground, Iso Roobertinkatu 10, www.clubrosegarden.fi. Formerly Rose Garden, entrance to this literally underground spot is easy to miss as it is unmarked and hidden in an inner court. With a maze-like setup, the venue is not quite as popular as it used to be after the former proprietors left and opened up their new club Redrum (see above). Reggae is prominently featured in the club lineup, along occasional electronic music nights. Drinks €5-8.

• Royal Onnela, Fredrikinkatu 48, www.ravintolaonnela.fi.Open Wed-Sat 10PM-4AM, Sun Mon 11PM-4AM (bars at the street level open at 4PM). Onnela, a Finnish word meaning the place of happiness, is popular amongst the mainstream twenty-something crowd. The nightclub consists of two floors and eight different bars (Lapland-themed street bar, karaoke bar, club, disco, retro, rock, Finnhits and 99 shots bar). Cover charge ranges from free to €7.

• Tavastia/Semifinal, Urho Kekkosen katu 4-6, www.tavastiaklubi.fi/index.php?lang=en. One of the most prominent rock clubs in Scandinavia, a must see for fans of live rock of any kind. Semifinal has smaller indie/alternative bands for a young crowd. On special nights the two clubs are joined, but usually they host separate gigs. Tickets for all gigs can be bought in advance from the Tiketti ticket sellers next door. The annual Tavastia new year party is an institution in itself, with fans flying from all over the world for the show.

• Teatteri, Pohjoisesplanadi 2, www.teatteri.fi. A complex featuring a deli, a restaurant, a bar and a night club, all of them trendy and popular among the well-dressed crowd. Check out the aptly named Clock Bar (Kellobaari) downstairs. Closed Sun.

• Djupgrundet, 6 km (4 miles)
• Itakari, 6 km (4 miles)