Relaxed Bar Restaurant in Helsinki?

Coming over to Helsinki with the BBC for the Women%26#39;s Football final against Germany and looking for a good informal pub/bar with good food. Of course we are on %26#39;limited%26#39; expenses so the cost has to be %26#39;reasonable%26#39;

Any thoughts most welcome.

Soundsuper

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Pub food in the British sense doesn%26#39;t really exist here, but many restaurants resemble pubs, so in another sense it does. I hope that sentence makes sense.

The Iguana chain of mild Tex-Mex restaurants might answer your needs. They%26#39;re all over the city centre, which is a small area. The clientèle is young and studenty (i.e., not too much money to spend). If you don%26#39;t fancy underspiced Tex-Mex, there are plenty of alternatives of all kinds. Keep away from restaurants on Esplanadi and the Kauppatori market area as they are mostly touristy and overpriced.

Wherever you go, you will find good offers at lunchtime. Dinner prices are higher.

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Thanks for your advice. Any particular streets/area we should head for? I think we are beeked in at The Hilton.

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If that%26#39;s the Hilton Strand (Hilton has several hotels in Greater Helsinki), you%26#39;re a 20-minute stroll or short tram ride from the centre. There are places close to you around Hakaniemi Square or across the Long Bridge (the shortest bridge in Helsinki), many of them ethnic.

The Iguana restaurants are all smack in the centre and might be a better place to start on a night out. There are four of them to chose from. http://www.iguana.fi/en_kellari.html

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Iguana is quite unimaginative chain restaurant.

For more real local flavor I recommend restaurant Tori on Fredrikinkatu, try their meatballs http://www.ravintolatori.fi/ or Bar 9 on Uudenmaankatu bar9.net/ruokalistat%202009/Menu-summer-09.p…

Tapasta on Uudenmaankatu could also meet your needs http://www.marcante.fi/tapasta/

Use www.maps.google.com to locate these restaurants.

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Many thanks Tuuli.

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Iguana isn%26#39;t to my taste either, but the food is passable and the beer%26#39;s cheap.