7 Helsinki wine bars you should visit this year
For wine lovers there’s never been a better time to visit Helsinki.
With new wine bars opening all the time and a growing natural wine movement, the city’s wine culture is growing with calm confidence rather than hype. Or as we say in Finnish, hiljaa hyvä tulee (slowly, good things come).
In this guide, we explore standout Helsinki wine bars — from trendy downtown spots to up-incoming local favourites — where you can enjoy thoughtfully curated wine lists, delicious small plates, and a welcoming atmosphere. So come have a sip and stay for a while.
Viinibaari
Where to find the best wine bars in Helsinki
Helsinki may not be the first city that comes to mind when you think of wine culture, but the number and quality of wine bars has grown in recent years. From classic European wine lists to passionate advocates of natural wine, Helsinki wine bars now offer a range of stops that fit easily into everyday life, for locals and visitors alike.
Many of the best Helsinki wine bars are found in and around the compact city centre, where neighbourhoods flow into one another and distances stay short. Areas like Kallio, Kamppi, and the Design District are home to wine bars that reflect Helsinki’s relaxed approach to drinking: informal, thoughtful and food-led rather than showy.
Wine lists are curated with curiosity, sustainability and small producers in mind, shaped by the same values that define the city’s food culture: closeness, collaboration and humble quality without pretence. These are spaces designed for after-work glasses that turn into long evenings, spontaneous visits that stretch into dinner, and bottles chosen – not for the label – but for the taste.
While alcohol in Finland has traditionally been expensive (and visitors from Southern Europe will still find prices higher than they’re used to), wine has become easier to explore in Helsinki. Privately owned bars and restaurants keep margins low to prioritise variety over volume, making it simpler to try different regions, styles and producers. The result is a wine scene that feels open, generous and unhurried — where curiosity is encouraged, and discovering something new is simply part of the night.
Here we explore some of the Helsinki wine bars paving the way for a new era of exploration in Finland.
A guide to the best Helsinki wine bars
Apotek
Apotek is an easy place to return to, whether for a single glass or a longer evening. Set in a more than 100-year-old Art Nouveau pharmacy, the space was thoughtfully transformed into a wine bar in 2020, keeping much of its original character intact. Vintage brown pharmacy bottles line dark wooden shelves, sitting naturally alongside wine glasses and bottles — nothing feels staged, and nothing feels rushed.
The wine list leans towards organic wines from family-owned European producers, with a by-the-glass selection that changes often and rewards curiosity. There’s always something new to try, without needing to overthink it. Food is designed to support the wine rather than compete with it, with seasonal small plates, cheeses, cold cuts and pâtés that fit easily into the rhythm of the evening.
Apotek’s atmosphere comes into its own as the light fades. On darker autumn and winter nights, it’s a place to slow down, settle in and let the evening unfold — quietly, comfortably, and at its own pace.
BasBas Kulma
BasBas Kulma sits on the corner of Tehtaankatu and Telakkakatu, and that sense of openness runs through the whole place. It was born out of a simple need: when the BasBas restaurant upstairs became a firm favourite, there was a growing demand for a space where guests could drop in for a glass without committing to a full dinner or a reservation.
That idea still defines BasBas Kulma today. While reservations are recommended if you’re planning to eat, the bar remains a natural stop for a single glass that often turns into more. The wine list reflects the team’s curiosity and confidence, with a strong focus on natural wine, particularly from France, alongside a wider selection of high-quality bottles from small European producers. Wines are opened with ease, and the by-the-glass selection changes often, encouraging spontaneous choices.
Food is an essential part of the experience, designed to work alongside the wine rather than sit apart from it. Dishes are generous, full of flavour and easy to share, making it hard to rush away. In this corner of the city, evenings have a way of stretching out — unplanned, social and exactly as long as they need to be.
Klaava
Wine Bar Klaava comes from the same team as Restaurant Kuurna next door and the Kasvispuoti, the long-standing vegetable shop in Hakaniemi Market Hall. That background shows in Klaava’s ingredient-first approach, where seasonality, simplicity and quality guide both the wine and the food.
The wine list is curated with care, moving easily between classic European producers and more exploratory choices, including organic and low-intervention wines. The focus is on bottles that work naturally with food and reward curiosity without demanding it. Staff guide with ease, making the bar comfortable for both regulars and first-time visitors.
Small plates follow the same philosophy as the wine: thoughtful, seasonal and produce-led. It’s a natural place for an after-work glass that often turns into dinner, in an atmosphere that stays calm, central and unhurried — shaped for conversation rather than performance.
Klaava reflects Helsinki’s understated confidence: wines chosen with intention rather than spectacle, and a balance between food and drink that feels easy, generous and quietly assured.
Petit
Bar Petiit is a small, focused wine bar in Vallila, built entirely around the glass. This is a true wine-first space, with no food menu of its own — a choice that keeps the attention firmly on what’s being poured. Just across the quiet street, the restaurant Plein makes it easy to continue the evening over dinner, without breaking the rhythm.
The wine list centres on natural and biodynamic organic wines, chosen with confidence and care. The by-the-glass selection usually features around ten wines, but the bottles lining the walls invite conversation — and it’s always worth asking what else might be open or about to be. The team is knowledgeable and engaged, happy to guide without over-explaining.
Music plays a subtle role at Petiit, with local DJs occasionally shaping the mood as the evening unfolds. Intimate, characterful and quietly social, it’s the kind of place where a short stop can easily turn into a longer stay.
Pinocchio
Pinocchio is as much about hospitality as it is about wine. Co-owner Giovanni welcomes guests with a mix of energy and professionalism that immediately sets the tone, making Pinocchio one of the warmest places to settle into for the evening. From the moment you arrive, it feels personal, open and genuinely social.
The service moves at its own pace — deliberately unhurried, and very much part of the experience. This is a place where you wait, listen and learn, guided by someone who knows the wines deeply and enjoys sharing that knowledge. Rather than rushing decisions, the evening unfolds through conversation, recommendations and glasses poured with intention.
The setting adds another layer. Art lines the walls like a small gallery, telling the story of Pinocchio through playful, expressive works that invite you to look around as much as you taste. Combined with a wine list that leans Italian and strongly towards natural and low-intervention producers, the result is a space that feels both cultured and relaxed.
Pinocchio captures something essential about Helsinki’s wine culture: knowledgeable, unpretentious and deeply human. And if you happen to stay until closing time, you may find the evening ending with Giovanni singing an opera aria — an unexpected but fitting way to close the night.
Rolling Cheese
Rolling Cheese is first and foremost a cheese shop — the wine bar comes second, and grows naturally from it. In January 2026, the space enters a new phase with a renovation that will expand its capacity to around 20 seats, making room for more guests and opening up new possibilities for events, while keeping the intimate atmosphere that defines the place.
Even in its current form, Rolling Cheese has earned a reputation for quality. The shop’s shelves hold more than 100 artisan and farmhouse cheeses, among the city’s best, selected with care and deep respect for craft. Alongside the cheeses are cured meats, salamis, sausages and hams, as well as Portuguese preserved fish — all designed to be enjoyed with a well-chosen glass of wine.
The space regularly hosts events that bring people together around the table. Fondue nights are a firm favourite, turning simple ingredients into long, shared evenings, while tastings and seasonal gatherings add variety throughout the year. They tend to book up quickly, so checking the website in advance is a good idea. The adjoining shop also makes it easy to take part of the experience home, whether that’s cheese, charcuterie or a bottle recommended on the spot.
Run by an international couple, Rolling Cheese reflects a quiet openness in both its selection and hospitality. If there’s one thing not to miss, it’s the grilled cheese sandwich — generous, comforting and exactly right with a glass of wine.
Way Bakery
Way Bakery & Wine Bar is a neighbourhood place that moves easily through the day — bakery in the morning, wine bar by the afternoon, and an easy stop for a glass well into the evening. The original location in Kallio set the tone: informal, social and grounded in everyday rhythms.
From the same team that brought Let Me Wine, Way’s wine programme reflects close relationships with small producers and a clear focus on low-intervention, drinkable wines. Bottles are chosen to work just as well alongside fresh sourdough and seasonal baking as they do with small plates later in the day. Many wines are available by the glass, making exploration easy and unforced.
Since opening in Kallio, Way has expanded to Herttoniemi and Vanha Kauppahalli, carrying the same balance of baking, wine and neighbourhood hospitality into new settings. Each location keeps the atmosphere relaxed and welcoming — a place to drop in without a plan and stay a little longer than expected.
Whether you’re picking up bread to take home or settling in with a glass, Way reflects a wider Helsinki approach: thoughtful, open and quietly confident.
A city that pours with intention
From Klaava’s calm precision to Bas Bas Kulma’s lively natural wine culture, these Helsinki wine bars show how the city defines its own direction — guided by trust, proximity and a deep respect for craft. Wine here isn’t about performance. It’s about presence.
And in Helsinki, that presence is felt one glass at a time
Ask Lokki for personalised recommendations
Looking for something more tailored? Lokki, our friendly AI chatbot, is here to help. Friendlier than your average Helsinki seagull, Lokki is designed to guide you through the city — from wine bars and restaurants to neighbourhood tips and seasonal ideas.
Lokki is still learning, so a little patience goes a long way. Ask nicely, and it will do its best to point you in the right direction.
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