BasBas Kulma

The Bar and the Bottle: Helsinki's Casual Wine Counter Culture

BasBas Kulma sits at Tehtaankatu 27–29, Telakkakadun kulma, in Helsinki. It takes the warm bistro atmosphere, simple flavours and artisan wines of neighbouring Baskeri & Basso (BasBas) and adds a charcoal grill of its own. Kulma is owned together by BasBas and the staff, and it is built for sharing: wines from the classic to the experimental, and food meant to be eaten together.

The bar is the easy way in. You can come to the bar whenever the room is open, sit, drink, and eat alongside it. Tables run on a separate track: parties of one to seven can book in the online calendar up to 30 days ahead, with same-week requests by phone Tuesday–Friday 11–15 and during opening hours. Groups larger than seven enquire by phone in that weekday window or at kulma@basbas.fi, and are served a pre-ordered day’s menu. Kitchen service stops one hour before closing.

A Wine List Beside the Grill

The cupboard runs from classically elegant bottles to more experimental pours, which sits naturally with open-fire grill dishes, sauces and fresh sides. Star Wine List placed BasBas Kulma among its recognised Helsinki selections every year from 2022 through 2023, reaching its top-ranked position in both years. That wine-and-grill room sits among other Helsinki listings on this site, including Palace and Grön.

The Younger Sibling Next Door

What makes the sibling format work is tonal differentiation from neighbouring BasBas: Kulma’s answer is the bar counter and the charcoal grill. Come to the bar and eat grill plates without turning the night into a ceremony. The French zinc bar, the Italian enoteca counter, the Spanish bodega — all organise wine around proximity rather than privacy. Helsinki’s version here is a neighbourhood room with homely bustle and a warm bistro register.

On the fire, the kitchen cooks grill dishes with sauces and fresh accompaniments. Starters stay simple, bread comes oven-fresh, and desserts are meant to raise a smile. That is a drink-and-grill room, not a sequestered tasting ritual.

Where Kulma Sits in the Helsinki Dining Map

Helsinki’s restaurant map has room for many formats. Nearby markers on this site include Palace, Olo, Finnjävel Salonki, and The ROOM by Kozeen Shiwan. BasBas Kulma’s own offer is the neighbourhood wine counter with a charcoal grill, where the bar can be a walk-up and a table can still be booked.

Elsewhere in Finland, Kaskis in Turku, VÅR in Porvoo, and Kajo in Tampere are further dining rooms on this site. Further afield, Le Bernardin in New York City and Alain Ducasse at Louis XV in Monte Carlo sit at a different scale; this informal Helsinki address is the charcoal-grill wine counter next to BasBas.

Planning Your Visit

BasBas Kulma is at Telakkakadun kulma, Tehtaankatu 27–29, 00150 Helsinki. It is open Wednesday–Thursday 16–24, Friday 16–01 and Saturday 14–24. Trams 1 (Perämiehenkatu), 6 (Telakanpuistikko) and 3 (Eiran sairaala), and buses 20 and 30 (Eiran sairaala), stop nearby. Come to the bar whenever those hours apply; book a table if you want one. The Telakka cabinet seats 16 and serves a day’s menu at 59 €, with a 950 € minimum on that booking. Enquiries: kulma@basbas.fi or 044 230 5900 (Tuesday–Friday 11–15). For a broader Helsinki picture, consult the Helsinki experiences guide.