When I wake up, in my make-up…
Without Teatteri, there would be no Finnish tabloid newspaper industry. This is the venue of choice for disco-mating celeb-girls and ice hockey players who dance on tables, take their clothes off, or fall asleep on the bar – all reported in the gossip columns the next day.
The focus for these shenanigans is The VIP Room which offers no access to mere mortals. You can’t buy a VIP card, you have to “earn” it. Strangely enough, VIPs often turn out to be affluent Finns with a public profile who can afford to send a bottle of champagne to a friend’s table rather than say “hello” the old fashioned way. Fortunately, Teatteri offers a whole range of other attractions to people who are poorer, uglier, or less well-connected.
This is actually the only true multipurpose bar-restaurant in the country: an entire complex with just about everything apart from a neighborhood pub. Here you can have morning coffee, lunch, dinner, after-dinner drinks, or boogie ‘til 4am.
At its heart is the slick Kellobaari with its Le Corbusier -style leather sofas, the favorite of many barhoppers. To understand its name (”Clock Bar”) lean back and you’ll find large clock faces on the ceiling. The Long Bar is popular at lunchtime, but also pulls in the crowds for strawberry margaritas in the evening, while the big seller at the upstairs Club is gin & tonic.
Teatteri has kept up with ever-changing restaurant trends by subtle but constant facelifts that have extended to even the smallest detail on the fixtures and fittings. In a country where the winters are dark and summers feature very long days (24 hours in the north) lighting is a vital component of restaurant design. Here, the relationship between natural and artificial light is taken further than anywhere else in Finland: it becomes the element that completes the space.
Staff are skilled and patient, even on the busiest evenings.
ravintola teatteri
Address Pohjoisesplanadi 2, 00130 Helsinki
Tel. +358 9 681 1130
Website ww.ravintolateatteri.com
Seats 1 400
Open Mon-Tue 09:00-02:00, Wed-Fri 09:00-04:00, Sat 11:00-04:00, Sun 12:00-01:00
Signature drink Mojito
Restaurateur Royal Ravintolat
Restaurantmanagers Eetu Halmesmäki, Ahti Juuso, Pekka Tyynilä
Bartenders Maiju Aalto, Kirsi Koponen, Jan Nyrhinen, Matti Piippo, Erno Vainanen.
Chef Kalle Lindroth
Location Esplanadi Park in the same building as the Svenska Teatern (”The Swedish Theater”), across from the Academic Bookstore.
“Bartenders are always business-like but friendly, sometimes too busy and therefore distant.” / “The Bold and the Beautiful of Helsinki. The VIP terrace with views of urban greenery is nice. The new grill has also proven a success.” / “Wide selection of beverages. The staff are expert and obliging.” / “Has maintained a high level thanks to its trained staff. The magnificent space sends a message that the client is getting his money’s worth. From a restaurant industry professional’s point of view, what’s behind the scenes is also well taken care of. Money talks but who cares!” / “Probably the coolest bar in town; beautiful space in the very heart of Helsinki – a fab place.”
