Description: Turku hs some rather special and unique pubs but this is surely the best of them all. The name translates as 'New Pharmacy' and the building did indeed previously house a pharmacy. In fact the old shelves and cupboards have been left in which make this a very striking interior.
All the 'pigoen holes' behind the bar have been used to store glasses, bottles and other items and the rows and rows of shelves around the seating area hold empty beer bottles from around the world. It's great fun to walk round the pub looking at the bottles, spotting ones you may have drunk on your travels and perhaps new ones you'd like to try. Some of the bottles are unsual shapes with really interesting and colourful labels.
On one wall there's a collection of quirky clocks that look like faces made from old mechanical parts and CDs and the long wall in the corridor that runs along towards the toilets is a giant noticeboard for all kinds of events going on in Turku and the archipelago.
The pub is jointly owned by six friends who also staff it. We met two of them. It's a real regulars pub but they were just as friendly to us tourists too. We asked about the liquorice spirit we had heard of and the barman poured one each for us and even told us how to make it ourselves (we did when we got home - so thanks for that!).
There are abou twenty beers on draught which is quite a number but what a choice! Czech beers dominate but there is a good mixture of lagers, white beers and darker brews. There are some Finnish beers and some good ones made by some microbreweries. There's also quite a selection of malt whiskies.
The staff are beer experts and can recommend something based on what you like. We probably stayed too long and sampled too many of the beers based on more and more recommendations!
The customers are a mixed crowd; late twenties upwards on the whole, some office workers coming out for a post-work Friday evening drink, and a lot of regulars who looked like they choose their own working hours. No music is played in the pub and this was quite nice. The pub was by no means quiet and there was a good hum of conversation all afternoon and evening.
This is definitely a must-visit place in Turku and one which is very memorable. If you only have time to visit one pub in Turku you should certainly make it this one
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