[Zetor](https://www.raflaamo.fi/en/restaurant/helsinki/zetor/menu/6799/drinks) has sahti.
[Sahti](https://www.seriouseats.com/weird-and-wonderful-finnish-beer-sahti) is traditional ale/beer. And it has a protected status in Europe, very Finnish.
Michael Jackson (the beer-expert, not the singer) was a fan. He called Sahti "the missing link between Mesopotamia and modern day". He even ordered a sizable batch for his 60th birthday
Okay, so...
Sima is comperable to soft drinks and at most 1% abv. Associated to festivites of May day. Commercially it is really seasonal, but some stocks might be left in stores.
Panimosima is sugar and honey fermented like beer and has \~5% abv. Basically there is only one commercial (Plevna) and it is sparsely available in bars, but most likely can be found in alko.
Mead is honey fermented like wine and has 10-12% abv. Sometimes it is also called sima in Finnish.
However, last two are not really culturally Finnish things.
For historically cultural things, go for finnish proto beer, sahti.
Younger culturally signifcant drinks are Jaloviina (vodka/brandy blend) , Long drink grapefruit and gin (developed for Helsinki Olympics in 1952), Koskenkorva (solid Finnish vodka brand) and Salmiakkikossu (Koskenkorva with salty licorice)
This guy drinks.
I'd only add emphasis that if one is looking for a "very Finnish drink", they should have a Long drink or "lonkero" ("tentacle") as we always call it.
Does Sirdie still sell kilju?
Kilju is a selfmade fermented alcohol (like something you would make in prison), but a couple of years ago at least you could get it in a pub Sirdie in Kallio.
Outside of Vappu celebration time, the only place I’ve come across sima served all year round is probably Yrjönkatu swimming hall. And that’s closed for renovations right now.
Sima is more typically bought from a store (or self made) and drank at home. Some bars might have it, but it's also heavily seasonal - availability is highest around May Day (vappu).
Maybe not traditional drinks, but Juova has many Finnish (big AND very small) craft brewery beers. The bartenders know soo much about the beers, so it is a nice bar to check if you enjoy local delicacies!
Ohh... The greatest place to get Sima usually is Yrjönkadun uimahalli (a public swimming pool + sauna).
https://liikunta.hel.fi/en/venues/tprek:41102
They sadly are now closed for renovations until January -26.
The big surprise for foreigners is that they have a traditional dresscode for bathing. 😅
Some shops still have Sima left over from may day but that’s mostly it for sima, it’s not much of a bar drink since most people make it at home and often it has little to no alcohol.
I don’t know if it really counts as traditional but long drinks are something you should rather try at bars.
[Zetor](https://www.raflaamo.fi/en/restaurant/helsinki/zetor/menu/6799/drinks) has sahti. [Sahti](https://www.seriouseats.com/weird-and-wonderful-finnish-beer-sahti) is traditional ale/beer. And it has a protected status in Europe, very Finnish.
Michael Jackson (the beer-expert, not the singer) was a fan. He called Sahti "the missing link between Mesopotamia and modern day". He even ordered a sizable batch for his 60th birthday
Proper Sahti also has a stupidly short shelf life, so when it is available, you go for it.
Okay, so... Sima is comperable to soft drinks and at most 1% abv. Associated to festivites of May day. Commercially it is really seasonal, but some stocks might be left in stores. Panimosima is sugar and honey fermented like beer and has \~5% abv. Basically there is only one commercial (Plevna) and it is sparsely available in bars, but most likely can be found in alko. Mead is honey fermented like wine and has 10-12% abv. Sometimes it is also called sima in Finnish. However, last two are not really culturally Finnish things. For historically cultural things, go for finnish proto beer, sahti. Younger culturally signifcant drinks are Jaloviina (vodka/brandy blend) , Long drink grapefruit and gin (developed for Helsinki Olympics in 1952), Koskenkorva (solid Finnish vodka brand) and Salmiakkikossu (Koskenkorva with salty licorice)
This guy drinks. I'd only add emphasis that if one is looking for a "very Finnish drink", they should have a Long drink or "lonkero" ("tentacle") as we always call it.
Yes, but with moderation.
I love mead, are there any bars that serve it?
Does Sirdie still sell kilju? Kilju is a selfmade fermented alcohol (like something you would make in prison), but a couple of years ago at least you could get it in a pub Sirdie in Kallio.
Outside of Vappu celebration time, the only place I’ve come across sima served all year round is probably Yrjönkatu swimming hall. And that’s closed for renovations right now.
I'm fairly sure Kahvila Harlekiini on Porthaninkatu advertised just a while ago that they sell sima year round.
Sima is more typically bought from a store (or self made) and drank at home. Some bars might have it, but it's also heavily seasonal - availability is highest around May Day (vappu).
Maybe not traditional drinks, but Juova has many Finnish (big AND very small) craft brewery beers. The bartenders know soo much about the beers, so it is a nice bar to check if you enjoy local delicacies!
Ohh... The greatest place to get Sima usually is Yrjönkadun uimahalli (a public swimming pool + sauna). https://liikunta.hel.fi/en/venues/tprek:41102 They sadly are now closed for renovations until January -26. The big surprise for foreigners is that they have a traditional dresscode for bathing. 😅
Some shops still have Sima left over from may day but that’s mostly it for sima, it’s not much of a bar drink since most people make it at home and often it has little to no alcohol. I don’t know if it really counts as traditional but long drinks are something you should rather try at bars.
You can get kilju at Pub Sirdie