Pontus

The story

Crafted with passion, served with love

A Bistro With a Personality

Ravintola Pontus describes itself simply as a neighbourhood bistro and wine bar, and that straightforwardness is exactly the point. Situated on Kapteeninkatu 26, right beside KOM-theatre — one of Finland's oldest theatre companies — Pontus is the kind of place where a good glass of wine and a proper meal feel like the natural end to an evening. The restaurant carries the fingerprints of Antto Melasniemi, a figure well known across Helsinki's restaurant scene, perhaps most recognisably through Putte's, where his pizzas built a devoted following.

The Pizzas Are the Thing

Those celebrated pizzas made the move to Pontus, and they remain a centrepiece of the menu. The range runs from a straightforward Margherita to more characterful options: Lord Ben Hur The II pairs anchovy with chili and Mojo sauce; Hotter Than Hell stacks chorizo picante, jalapeño and chili oil; and Kylmäsavustettu Hauki brings cold-smoked Finnish northern pike together with horseradish sour cream and baby spinach. The kitchen leans on Finnish produce where it counts — pike perch, fillet of beef and smoked pike all appear with a Finnish origin note on the menu.

Beyond the Pizza

The wider menu holds its own. Starters range from Nocellara olives and burrata to Manchego croquetas and a white fish crudo with rhubarb. Among the mains, crispy deep-fried pike perch arrives with spring cabbage slaw and citrus mayonnaise, while a smoked pike carbonara and a classic lasagne Bolognese sit comfortably alongside a pepper steak with Finnish beef fillet. The kitchen takes vegan cooking seriously too: a dedicated vegan menu mirrors much of the main card, with plant-based alternatives standing in for cheese and a Copacabana Split — pineapple, coconut sorbet and rum-flavoured whipped oat cream — as a dessert worth ordering on its own terms.

The Atmosphere

White Guide recognised Pontus at Fine level in its 2026 edition, noting the lively, unpretentious character of the place — the kind of restaurant where the beer glasses carry a yellow smiley face and the approach to food is simple and fun rather than showy. It works equally well as a lunch spot and as an evening destination, whether or not a play at KOM is on the agenda. The bistro format means the menu is broad enough to satisfy a table with different appetites, without ever feeling unfocused.