Revived: August 28, 2026 (Published: March 12, 2017)
International travel guides and magazines praise my hometown Helsinki as a vibrant, genuine and cool destination. This spirit shines in the new generation of bistros and wine bars, such as brilliant feel-good spot BasBas & Staff Wine Bar.
BasBas & Staff Wine Bar (now BasBas Kulma) has everything you need. Vast and innovative wine list with a strong emphasis on exciting – both renowned and rising – natural wines. Simple, tasty dishes. Atmospheric ambiance. Beautiful light playing in squared windows. Impressive bar counter, of course. And a great bunch of friends behind the counter.
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 (BasBas) started in November 2015. That said, the bistro has been fully booked since its opening. No wonder as the space is perfectly lit, the service is top-notch and the food so delicious that I often order cacio e pepe pasta twice!
Interestingly – as the name says – this wine bar is owned by its employees and the founders of BasBas Bistro, Nicolas Thieulon and Kalle Kiukainen. Everyone who visits BasBas restaurants on a regular basis knows that their team is like one Big Family, which shines in everything they do.
PASSION IN THE GLASS & ON THE PLATE
For me, the vibe and concept 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 as guests at Bror in spring 2014, the owner offered me a job. Soon me & my wife moved to Copenhagen to work there.”
Another dynamo of BasBas & Staff Wine Bar counter is Daniele Pelati, a ruggedly charismatic Italian whose work is a pleasure to watch. When I asked why he left Rome behind, his reply was prompt:
“Originalmente sono venuto qua per una donna.”
After all, we customers are glad that love brought him to Helsinki. As I see it, together with Sebastian they form a power duo whose chemistry arises from their different characters sharing the same passion (wine) and similar approach (relaxed) towards it.
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 exciting.
Meanwhile, 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, brings a tear of happiness to your eye.
MY KINDA LIVING ROOM
Nowadays, living 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 way too crowded for my liking.
Having spent plenty of time in Paris (check some of my favourite addresses here) in recent years, I love cosy walk-in 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. So 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 recommend BasBas & Staff Wine Bar to my foreign friends asking where to go in Helsinki. This “cool” bar is exceptionally warm-spirited.
The world is my backyard, but sometimes the best things are just around the corner.
BasBas & Staff Wine Bar
Tehtaankatu 27–29
Wed-Thu 16–00, Fri 16–01 and Sat 14–00
Tel: +358 (0)44 230 5900
Tram: Telakkakatu (Line 1A), Eiran sairaala (line 3)
UPDATE (2026): In autumn 2020, BasBas & Staff Wine Bar expanded and got a new name, BasBas Kulma. Having taken over the premises of former Maannos restaurant, the wine bar is much larger but still has the same vibe and passion for relaxed dining. Sebastian hasn’t worked there for years, and Nadi is nowadays in charge of the kitchen at Shii. The BasBas restaurant group, in turn, has grown over the years: BasBas Studio was opened in autumn 2023, and in September 2026, new BasBas Sirkus will see the daylight. The success story continues!
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. 🙂
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.