Helsinki seems really casual about doing martinis well. What a city. The lighting in this venue felt reminiscent of Manhattan dive bars, which was very cool but also means that my photos are pretty terrible. I apologise.

I entered Grotesk bar on a cold rainy Friday looking to see what the nightlife was about.

Sip ‘n Dine or Die

The staff were trendy but relaxed, sexy, competent and just generally cool.

The music and party goers make it a noisier martini venue than most, but it also felt like a beautiful space to just exist as an introvert and enjoy my martini alone.

I got a seat at the bar, which is always the best. Within seconds of resting my bones I was wordlessly handed a glass and a bottle of water with a smile, in beautiful glassware no less, which all felt to encapsulate the Finnish attitude to service.

The Drink

The menu has a solid array of in-house cocktails but the staff didn’t bat an eyelid when I asked if they could make a martini.

I was asked all the reassuring questions. Gin or vodka? Lemon or olive? Dry or dirty?

The bar tender then mixed me one up using French gin Citadel, which I have not had before, plus the timeless French classic vermouth Noilly Prat.

The drink was shaken with ice and the lemon peel was extensively squeezed into the glass. The finished product had a beautiful citrus aroma as a result.

It was served in a sherry glass, which is a shame when everything else was so cool, but it did resemble all the trendiest bars in London which do the same. As ever, I would always pay more for a proper sized martini in a V-shaped glass but let’s be honest, this drink wasn’t even on the menu so who am I to complain?

At 16 euros it was a fair price for a cold, lemony martini in a very cool Helsinki venue.

Kippis!