Craft Beer · Kaisaniemi · Helsinki
Oluthuone Kaisla
One of Finland's largest beer selections in a corner building by Central Station, where the chalkboards run long and the volume stays sensible.
The Pitch
The First Stop Off the Train
Oluthuone Kaisla fills a corner building at Vilhonkatu 4, half a block from Helsinki Central Station, with one of Finland's largest beer selections. The official count says 30 taps; recent Google reviewers count 39, plus about 200 bottles and cans.
BeerAdvocate regulars treat it as settled law. If you are looking for the best pub in central Helsinki, this is it, hands down, as one long standing review puts it.
Who would hate it? Cocktail drinkers and anyone chasing a scene. Kaisla runs at conversation volume even late, by design.
The Room
Two Bars, Many Rooms
Two entrances feed two separate bars under big chalkboards listing every draught and bottle. A living room style back section keeps sofas and board games, per BeerAdvocate reviewers, and a small terrace opens in summer.
The Drinks
Drink Finland First
Work the Finnish end of the taps: Malmgård's Huvila ESB, Plevna's rye IPA from Tampere, and traditional sahti when it appears. Happy hour puts a pint under 7 euros, which one Google reviewer called one of the best pints in Finland at that price.
The Belgian and Czech staples, Boon Kriek to Budvar, cover the rest of the board.
The Crowd
Students and the After Work Shift
Students share the long tables with the after work crowd, and a Tuesday evening still runs full but not packed, per BeerAdvocate. The volume stays sensible even late into the night, as the house copy promises, and weekends peak with the station traffic.
What regulars say:
- If you are looking for the best pub in central Helsinki, this is it, hands down, per BeerAdvocate.
- Huge tap list, a lot of bottled offerings and a very friendly staff close to the central station, per a January 2026 BeerAdvocate review.
- Astonishing beer selection running to 39 draught beers plus bottles from all over the world, per Google Maps reviews.
- One of the best bar experiences I have had in Helsinki: huge bar, cozy atmosphere, per Google Maps reviews.
Who it is for:
- Beer travelers with a train to catch
- Groups that want 400 seats and board games
- Avoid if you want small and curated; Bier-Bier runs the tighter list
The Verdict
Where It Lands
The standard against which Helsinki beer bars get measured, five minutes from the platforms. Take the chalkboard slowly.
Good to Know
Visit Information
Getting there: Vilhonkatu 4 with a second door on Vuorikatu 16; five minutes from Central Station and closer still to the University of Helsinki metro stop.
Timing: Open daily from early afternoon; Wed and Thu to 1am, Fri and Sat to 2am, Sun to midnight.
Cost: Happy hour pints under 7 euros; regular pours land slightly under the Helsinki average, per BeerAdvocate reviewers.
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