At the first nightclub I visited in Helsinki, I was standing alone at the bar ordering a Koff beer. A somewhat short and mostly drunk guy overheard me speaking in English, so he came over to introduce himself and spark up a conversation. His name was Janne, and he had learned English during a few years spent in Ireland. If he hadn't said that he was a Finn, I would have assumed he was Irish based on his heavy brogue. Since I get bored easily, I was considering the conversation as my entertainment until the club got lively. Minutes passed and things remained dull.
Janne finally got tired of talking to me, and he asked if I had seen two hot girls. He was looking for his friends. Suddenly, Janne seemed much more interesting. He eventually located his female companions, and they wanted to go across the street to the Helsinki Club. Janne came over to say goodbye, and the two women with him invited me to come along. That's when I realized Janne wasn't a Finn with an Irish accent; he was a Scandinavian leprechaun that could magically produce hot friends.
After paying a hefty cover to enter the place, you are required to stop for the mandatory coat check (hate that!), which costs an additional 2€. Finland is quite chilly, even in the summer, so good luck trying to go anywhere without a coat or jacket in tow. The Helsinki Club is divided into three distinct areas - a large wooden bar, a plush lounge, and split-level dance floor. I took a tour of the entire club, but I spent the majority of time in the lounge and on the dance floor. The music being pumped out of the speakers is largely dependent on the night's featured DJ, but for the Saturday evening that I was there, it was an '80s and pop rotation.
According to the Mercer Human Resource Consulting 2004 Cost-of-Living Survey, Helsinki is ranked as the 23rd most expensive city in the world. I thought it would appear much higher on the list based on the amount I spent in this club; I hemorrhaged money in both paper and plastic form. Typically, for me, personal financial damage directly correlates with the level of fun experienced. The next day, as I checked my credit card receipts and remaining cash, I realized I must have really enjoyed myself ! The Helsinki Club was definitely one of the highlights of my time in Finland, and I would highly recommend the establishment to anyone planning a visit.