Carry on Kämping
“That’s the place where everyone drinks champagne,” orthodox monk Father Andreas once said about this legendary establishment. Kämp Bar and Kämp Club at Hotel Kämp shift more fizz per square meter than anywhere else in Finland. Their champagne selection is the country’s largest, with 45 main varieties plus some speciality vintages.
“About half of our sales comes from champagne, so it’s really a big seller,” says club manager Jussi Ankkuriniemi. “Many people come to us specifically to taste different champagnes.”
“The most popular cocktail is gin & tonic, while martinis are in vogue among well-heeled 35-to-40-year-old women,” Ankkuriniemi adds. “First, women learned to drink cosmopolitans, and now they’re discovering other cocktails as well.”
Kämp Bar and Kämp Club are in the renowned Hotel Kämp next to Esplanadi Park. The downstairs bar is more casual, somewhere for a drink after work, or a quick stop while shopping. The club upstairs opens Wednesday to Saturday until 4am and offers a much more exclusive experience.
Every big city must have at least one international standard bar-nightclub – in Helsinki that role has been bestowed on Kämp. The mothership hotel boasts a classic among the city’s restaurants (YuMe) but the entire establishment has the status of Finnish legend.
Today’s reconstructed Kämp stays true to the original opened on Pohjoisesplanadi back in 1887. Even then, it was frequented by Finland’s elite. Kämp is still where you find the country’s top names in academia, business, culture, and media – the stylish place to be seen.
This is the old school however: a redoubt of hierarchy with the discreet charm of the bourgeoisie in its DNA. Minor breaches of the dress code go unremarked, but pestering a celebrity for an autograph? Vulgar and unforgiveable.
Kämp Bar & Club
Address Pohjoisesplanadi 29, 0010100Helsinki
Tel. Bar +358 958409530, Club +358 9576111
Website www.palacekamp.fi
Seats Bar 75, Club 150
Open Bar Mon-Wed 10:00-01:00, Thu-Fri 10:00-02:00, Sat 11:00-02:00, Sun 11:00-01:00. Club Wed-Sat 20:00-04:00
Signature drinks Bar – Kämp Martini, Bloody Mary. Club – Royal CC, Freshly Picked Martini
Restaurateur Palace Kämp Group
Restaurantmanager Club – Jussi Ankkuriniemi
Bar manager Andrei Cioanca
Bartenders Bar – Riku Hailio Kirsi Nykänen, Suvi Puranen. Club – Ralitsa Ivanova
Location Hotel Kämp by Esplanadi Park.
“Committed, skilled professionals behind the counter. They know elegance like no other!” / “International atmosphere with prices and style to match. Skilled, focused bar staff.” / “Continentally stylish interior that makes you feel a tad finer than you actually are.” / “The bartenders have lots of unique ideas for drinks, if they just had more time to give recommendations between pouring champagne.” / “Fine staff and groove. I’m attracted to hotel bars; they have a really special atmosphere.” / “Champagne requires a certain type of interior. The staff keep suitably distant.” / “The location is unmatched. The dot on the i is the nut selections served with drinks.”
