Henry's Pub Helsinki, Helsinki, Visitor Guide & Things to Do Nearby

Henry's Pub is a pub and live music venue at Mannerheimintie 22 in the centre of Helsinki, Finland. It sits on the city's main street and is known for its terrace and for putting on new bands. It makes an easy stop on any walk through the middle of Helsinki.

The story behind it

According to the notes from local route creators, the place has had several lives, including time as a bus station and as military barracks, before it turned to music and nightlife. That fits the city's past. Finland was part of Sweden, then of Russia, and became independent in 1917, so the centre of Helsinki has changed hands and purposes many times. Swedish is still an official language, and signs around town are often in both Finnish and Swedish.

Today the pub is best known for its music. Creators describe a regular Thursday club night that showcases promising bands, and a daily selection of music that is worth hearing too. Locals also like to say that a terrace seat is fine down to a few degrees below zero, a good example of Nordic outdoor habits.

What to look for

• The terrace facing the busy Mannerheimintie, which is full of people on mild evenings and, as locals will tell you, is used well into the cold months.
• The posters and listings for upcoming bands, which show how seriously the pub takes live music.
• The signs and street names around the entrance, written in both Finnish and Swedish, a reminder of Finland's bilingual history.
• The mix of trams, pedestrians and traffic on Mannerheimintie, one of the best places to watch everyday Helsinki go by.

Tips for your visit

• Plan for an hour or so for a drink and a listen, longer if there is a band on. Check current opening hours and the event schedule before you go.
• Evenings suit it best, especially on gig nights, but the terrace is pleasant on a bright afternoon too.
• It is a working pub, so you visit as a customer. Come for a drink rather than a quick look inside.
• You are in the heart of the city here, so Kiasma and Helsinki Central Station are a short walk away and easy to combine with this stop.

See it on a quest

The quest Helsinki Highlights: Gold Heist passes Henry's Pub as one stop on a longer route through the city centre. You walk there on foot, the app tells you about the place as you arrive, and you solve a puzzle based on what is in front of you. It is a paid quest, and one ticket covers the whole group. You can start whenever you like, with no guide and no set group to join.