Figaro Brings a Taste of Central European Café and Wine Bar Culture to Hämeentie
On August 21, Figaro will open its doors at Antilooppi’s Hämeentie property, bringing a warm and inviting new neighborhood hangout to Helsinki. Inspired by the vibrant café and wine bar culture of Central Europe, Figaro evolves with the rhythm of the day – from a morning café and lunch spot to a cozy gathering place where friends can unwind over a great glass of wine.
The irresistible aroma of freshly brewed coffee. A perfectly toasted bikini sandwich for a savory bite. And a glass of wine with friends as the day winds down.
”Central Europe is full of places that naturally evolve with the rhythm of the day. People stop by for coffee in the morning, something light for lunch and a glass of wine in the evening. With Figaro, we wanted to bring that same relaxed, approachable atmosphere to Kallio,” says Joonas Vanhanen, co-founder of Figaro and Pinocchio Wine Bar.
Open from late morning into the evening, Figaro brings together a specialty café and a neighborhood wine bar under one roof. The selection includes coffee from independent roasters, fresh pastries and grilled bikini sandwiches, alongside a wide range of carefully selected wines and bar snacks. In the evening, music adds to the atmosphere. Figaro is a place to stop by for a coffee, grab a bite and settle in for the evening with friends over a glass of wine.
The Familiar Spirit of Pinocchio in a Unique New Setting
The team behind Figaro includes Joonas Vanhanen, one of the founders of Pinocchio Wine Bar, as well as Tommi Leino and Arttu Salonen, owners of gaming bar Rundi. Leino is also part of the team behind Roots, a yoga studio and vegan café.
While Figaro is a sister bar to Pinocchio, the idea was never to simply replicate it.
“Figaro builds on the same philosophy as Pinocchio but takes it in a different direction. Pinocchio has a stronger Italian influence, while Figaro draws inspiration from Central Europe, particularly Amsterdam, Barcelona, and Berlin. Still, I think people will recognize the same warm and welcoming spirit,” Vanhanen says.
The idea for Figaro had been brewing for quite some time.
“We already had the concept in our back pocket. Then this space came along, and everything just clicked. The people, the space, and the idea all came together at exactly the right time,” Vanhanen recalls.
The bright, spacious premises in a 1920s functionalist building on bustling Hämeentie immediately caught the team’s attention. With its huge windows and distinctive character, it was the space that finally set the plans for Figaro in motion.
“The space at Hämeentie 19 is truly special—full of character and incredibly versatile. The layout can adapt to different uses throughout the day, making it a perfect fit for Figaro’s concept.”
New Wines to Discover with Every Visit
Vanhanen hopes Figaro will become an easy-going, cozy place where people can spend time from late morning until night.
“We want Figaro to be a place that’s easy to walk into and where everyone feels welcome. A place people can return to again and again and always discover something new. Our by-the-glass wines change constantly, so there’s plenty to explore and every visit can offer something different.”
Figaro’s wine list is built around producers and wines that the team themselves are excited about—and want to share with their customers.
”We go by our own tastes and work with producers whose wines we genuinely enjoy.”
The carefully selected wines also take center stage in Figaro’s interior. Bottles line the shelves along the walls, inviting visitors to explore the selection from the moment they walk in.
Bringing More Life to the City
In just a year and a half, Pinocchio has become a favorite local hangout in Punavuori. Now, Vanhanen and his partners want to bring that same lively, approachable experience to Kallio.
“Kallio is a dynamic, vibrant neighborhood, but there aren’t many places quite like this. We want to bring some of the café and wine bar culture we’ve seen work so well elsewhere in Europe to Kallio.”
According to Vanhanen, Figaro is rooted in the team’s desire to bring quality and fresh, new energy to Helsinki’s restaurant scene, and to create an approachable place that adds to the everyday life and character of the neighborhood.
“This is also where we share a common philosophy with the property owner, Antilooppi. In our own ways, we both want to make the city more vibrant and bring interesting, high-quality places and businesses to the neighborhood. That’s why working together has felt so natural,” Vanhanen says.
“It’s very important to us that our buildings are part of a vibrant urban environment, and we want to actively contribute to the vitality of the neighborhoods we operate in. We’re delighted to welcome Figaro to Hämeentie 19. Their high-quality concept adds to the local offering and strengthens exactly the kind of vibrant urban culture Antilooppi wants to foster,” says Juha Mäkelä, the Director of Retail and Services at Antilooppi.
Figaro’s look, feel and interiors were designed by interior architects Miika Ruotsalainen and Karita Asmala, designer Niilo Sihvonen of Studio Donkey, as well as graphic designer Hannu Hirstiö.
Figaro opens its doors at Hämeentie 19 on August 21.
More information:
Juha Mäkelä
050 544 2494
Associate Director, Retail and Services
juha.makela@antilooppi.fi
Figaro
Joonas Vanhanen
040 415 9464