When pub crawling in Kallio, Iltakoulu is a place I often end up at. I hadn’t been to the place in six months or so before this Friday night visit. I don’t know if it’s a regular thing, but the bouncer collected a cover charge /coat check fee(pakkonarikka). It wasn’t much, but just unexpected for this neighborhood. Iltakoulu is roomy, so you can usually grab a booth — even when it’s busy if you’re patient. Standard Finnish stuff on tap and a variety of bottles. I took a bottled Yardbird Pale Ale, which was just OK. I was surprised to see they no longer stock bottled Sierra Nevada Pale Ale. The bartender told me it just wasn’t selling. Hard to argue with that, but still a bit disappointing to see the selection dwindling. I’ve always enjoyed the relaxed feeling in Iltakoulu — the noise level is reasonable so you can still hold a conversation, and the prices are good, even by Kallio standards. I’ll be back to sip a brew and chill :)
Juha L.
Place rating: 4 Helsinki, Finland
Iltakoulu is 1 of the my fav places in Kallio area. Cheap beer but bar with soul and nice decoration. Here you can see Finnish former presidents hanging on the wall ;) Must go place if you are planning«Kallio kierros» ;) Price: **** Service: **** Decoration: **** Atmosphere: ****
Cecily P.
Place rating: 4 San Antonio, TX
Iltakoulu is a great little bar right up the street from the Sörnäinen metro station. It’s surprisingly clean for a Kallio pub. Interesting décor, cheap drinks, and a lively yet intimate atmosphere make this place special. If you go for the drink specials, you can get IV strength beer for the same price as III strength — how can you turn that down? It can get a bit crowded so you may have to share a table with some colorful characters, but in general the crowd is pretty laid-back. They also have indoor smoking areas that are fairly well-ventilated. Great spot for a drink after school/work or to start your evening off without spending too much money.