International travel guides and magazines praise my hometown Helsinki as a great destination: vibrant, playful, genuine and stylish. This spirit shines in the new generation of bistros and wine bars, of which BasBas & Staff Wine Bar is a brilliant feel-good spot.
That said, BasBas & Staff Wine Bar (now called BasBas Kulma) has everything you need. Vast and innovative wine selection with a strong emphasis on exciting – both renowned and rising – natural wines. Simple and, above all, tasty little dishes.
Fabulous, atmospheric ambiance. Beautiful light playing in squared windows. Impressive bar counter, of course. And a bunch of friends as staff making you feel like one too.
THE SUCCESS STORY CONTINUES
Opened in September 2016, BasBas & Staff Wine Bar is located in the same building where its parent restaurant Baskeri & Basso Bistro started in November 2015. That said, the bistro has been fully booked since its opening. No wonder as the space and service are magnificent and the food so delicious that I often order cacio e pepe pasta twice!
Interestingly, BasBas & Staff Wine Bar is owned together by its employees and the founders of Baskeri & Basso Bistro, Nicolas Thieulon and Kalle Kiukainen. Everyone who visits BasBas restaurants on a regular basis knows that the team there is like one Big Family, which shines in everything they do.
PASSION IN THE GLASS & ON THE PLATE
For me, the entire vibe of BasBas & Staff Wine Bar incarnates in Sebastian Siimeslahti, a super enthusiastic and knowledgeable young sommelier promoting laid-back wine culture to Finland. Just before this wine bar, Sebu gained valuable working experience from Copenhagen:
“I ended up working at Restaurant Bror in a pretty hilarious way. After our long dinner at Bror in spring 2014, the owner offered me a job.”
Another dynamo behind the BasBas & Staff Wine Bar counter is Daniele Pelati, a roughly charismatic Italian whose work is a pleasure to watch. When I ask why did he leave Rome behind, his reply is prompt:
“Originalmente sono venuto a Helsinki per una donna.”
After all, we customers are glad for his decision. Together with Sebastian, they form a tight duo whose chemistry comes from their different personalities sharing the same passion (wine) and similar approach (relaxed) towards it. From Wednesday to Saturday, Sebu and Daniele surprise us with insightful food & wine pairings.
If you are thirsty and have a buddy to share a bottle with, BasBas & Staff Wine Bar offers loads of great options. Browsing their shelves is always as exciting.
Meanwhile, along with the power duo of Sebu and Daniele, Nadim Nasser is a wizard in conjuring up simple and tasty flavours. His fennel & avocado bruschetta, in particular, instantly hooks you.
Besides, Nadi is stellar with handling and preparing fish. His whitefish in ponzu sauce (see below), for instance, makes you shed a tear of happiness.
MY KINDA LIVING ROOM
Nowadays, living just 500 metres from BasBas & Staff Wine Bar, I have become a regular. What I love most is going to this wine bar on Saturday afternoon, enjoying the languid atmosphere and great music before it gets too crowded.
Having spent plenty of time in Paris (listed some of my favourite addresses here) in recent years, I love cosy walk-in wine bars where you just sit at the counter and order something nice to bite with a glass. Similarly, BasBas & Staff Wine Bar does not take any reservations.
That said, when that mood strikes me, I just walk down the street.
Hotspot for all kinds of people
However, if you thought this bar is a playground for trendy urban youngsters, you are wrong! As the afternoon turns towards the evening, there are still people of different ages at the tables. In fact, the atmosphere at BasBas & Staff Wine Bar is so lovely that next time I shall bring my mother with me.
All in all, I wholeheartedly recommend BasBas & Staff Wine Bar to my foreign friends asking what to do in Helsinki. That said, this bar is cool, of course, but also exceptionally warm-spirited.
The world is my backyard, but sometimes the best things are just around the corner.
Tehtaankatu 27–29. Wed-Thu 16–00, Fri 16–02 and Sat 14–02. Tel: +358 (0)44 230 5900. Tram Line: 1A (Telakkakatu), 3 (Eiran sairaala).
UPDATE: In autumn 2020, BasBas & Staff Wine Bar expanded and got a new name BasBas Kulma. The place is larger than before but still shares the same vibe and passion for natural wine and relaxed dining.
Sanna, kirjoitat sujuvasti, mutta kuvatkin ovat ilahduttavan laadukkaita. Tiedän, että moinen kuvaaminen ei aina ole helppoa, koska tunnelmaa tupataan luomaan sillä, että valoa on vähän.
Voi Ari-Heikki, ISO & vilpitön kiitos!! Ravintolaoloissa kuvaaminen on eittämättä haasteellista, nytkin, vaikka päivänvaloa on jo kosolti enemmän. Vielä jonain päivänä tässä elämässä lähden opiskelemaan valokuvausta… ja kommenttisi kannustaa siihen. Merci.
What a great idea of being taken to this exciting place together with Nina´s ma !
Yes, we invented this idea with Nina a few weeks ago. Will suggest some dates to all of you. 🙂