Pub Sirdie in Helsinki is the one and only place for me to feel the Kallio spirit in its original form! Gentrification in the last 10-15 years has transformed the district a lot with trendy bars, cosmopolitan restaurants, hip cafés and all that cool stuff you basically find in most big cities all over Europe nowadays. But Pub Sirdie has been here, just like it is today, for more than five decades. They say that during the years of prohibition (1919-1932) there already used to be a speakeasy here!
You won’t find any other spot in Kallio that still maintains the original rough and rugged punk rock spirited vibe the district was known for. They even have the old jukebox in operation, with an incredible selection of great old school Finnish rock tunes and international classics! Even though Pub Sirdie has always been more or less shabby, ragged and cramped, there’s no other place in Finland where as many bands have shot either a photo for their album cover or a music video! You wouldn’t imagine that when you look at the place outside.
Pub Sirdie has been a local classic and favourite for ages! In 2018, people got thunderstruck with the news that the place was for sale and started seeing nightmares. So, a bunch of Kallio activists organized a fundraising and the Friends of Sirdie collective purchased the bar, which they run nowadays! That’s a prime example of how much people love Pub Sirdie and old school Kallio. So do I!
Find your way with 65 Insider Tips from our Local Spotters
"Oljenkorsi" in Helsinki is a craft beer heaven. Even after moving away from the neighborhood, I keep returning for the authentic local Toukola spirit...
by
"Vanha Kauppahalli" Helsinki is definitely one of my favorite market halls! My favorite spot inside is Restaurant Story as it is like the heart of Vanha...
by
"Satkar" is one of the most conveniently, centrally located Nepalese restaurants in Helsinki. They're a phenomenon you just have to try for yourself!
by
"Andante" combines two trends in Helsinki: raw cakes and a cafe-shop mix. It's also a cool flower shop with more than 20 years of history. Quality coffee too
by
"Cafe Papu" is one of my favorite places in Helsinki. The reason? It's one of the few places that serve Vietnamese Bánh mì sandwiches.
by
"Pompier Albertinkatu" is a very popular Helsinki lunch spot and one of my favorites. It's located in a volunteer fire deparment, which goes way back...
by
"Stockmann Herkku" in the Helsinki centre is my go-to grocery store to find a great selection of fresh, quality and local products and amazing service!
by
"Löyly" in Helsinki has quickly become a worldwide phenomenon. It's a very Finnish spot, but at the same time, not! Sauna accompanied by sunshine!? But...!
by
"Pikkulintu" in Helsinki is a keep-it-simple beer & (a 300-sort-strong) whiskey bar! Everything costs the same here, regardless of type and strength.
by
"Hietalahti Market Hall" Helsinki has been coming back to life! Nowadays I go there for grocery shopping and for one of the best places for lunch in town.
by
"Leipomo K. E. Avikainen" (est. 1950) is one of the few remaining traditional Helsinki bakeries. They also sell Karelian pies, which makes me happy!
by
"Tavastia" in Helsinki is the most legendary live music venue in Finland. Nobody can compete with them and and they've been around almost 50 years!
by
65 Insider Tips from our local Spotters
Authentic Stories by Real People
Escape the Crowd & Travel Slow 🐌
✓ 0 Insider Tips from our local Spotters
✓ 65 Insider Tips