Bar Base

Very fun bar in Helsinki. It reminds me a lot of the San Francisco dive bar «Molotov’s». Grungy metal bar vibe but with friendly service, cheap beer/​wine (for Scandinavia anyway), and wide variety of beers and shots. Also, do yourself a favor and order their fried potatoes… they come with the best BBQ sauce I’ve ever tasted. I came here after a concert and drank salted liquorice shots-​HIGHLY recommended.

I love Bar Base. Originally from San Francisco, this is one bar that reminds me so much of home: cozy, kind of dive-​y, hidden back rooms, and no-​nonsense but great bartenders. It is quite easy to become homesick but Bar Base makes me feel like a little piece of San Francisco has been teleported to Helsinki. Did I mention the bartenders are really great at remembering what I drink regularly and don’t even have to ask– this is bartending at it’s best. Also– quite patient with this American Finnish resident who tries hard but always ends up speaking my own hybrid of Finglish.
Love the wooden paneling and semi-​creaky floors, the young and lively crowd, and the people who work here. Also– their drinks aren’t outrageously expensive. Highly recommended on the following counts: value, service, charmingly semi-​dive bar feel, and location.
If I had to live in a bar, I’d probably bunk in the back room at Bar Base. Or on the terrace at Torni, but that’s a different review. Someday my reviews will be written in Finnish ;) For now, I hope they’re moderately helpful for English speakers :)

What about checking out a new bar today? Maybe something pretty basic? With some rock music in the background? With a rough but friendly atmosphere? If that sounds interesting to you then you should visit Base today. You find the bar in Kalevankatu between Stockmann and Torni.
They serve beer for a reasonable price (at least for the center of Helsinki). And they fill up your glass till the rim. Really good but it makes it tough to get back to your seat without spilling anything.
All in all it’s a nice place for a drink for a Saturday night. Have fun!