Nearly eighty restaurants in the Helsinki metropolitan area have sought and obtained permits from the State Provincial Office of Southern Finland to maintain a winter terrace licensed to serve alcohol. Helsingin Sanomat listed the restaurants last in mid-November, when the total was only around 50.
Since then permits have been granted to Hotel Torni, restaurants at the Stockmann department store, and Restaurant Kämp at the Kämp Hotel among others.
The full list of restaurants with permission to keep a beer terrace open all year round can be found (in Finnish) from the links below.
Restaurants throughout Finland went smokeless in all indoor premises from the beginning of June.
Some local establishments sought and received a two-year transition period from the City of Helsinki Environment Centre, or for a permit to construct a designated smoking booth.
The rather dank and rainy autumn meant there were few takers for outdoor drinking, but it is thought that a crisp winter's day and a warming glass of mulled wine might prove a popular idea, particularly if restaurants install space heaters in their outdoor premises.
