HuuHaa Astro Bar & Bistro, which opened in 2024 at Teurastamo and attracts visitors not only with its astrology-themed offerings but also with a variety of events, has already built up a loyal customer base.
The 34-year-old Helsinki-based restaurant entrepreneur behind the restaurant-bar Anne Penttonensays that the idea HuuHaa Astro Bar & Bistro has been brewing since she was young. The idea for an astrology-themed café or restaurant really took shape during the pandemic, when the world came to a standstill and he sought a new direction for his life in the restaurant industry.
“I’ve been interested in astrology and drawn to other mystical subjects since I was a child, partly because of their visual appeal,” she says. As these topics gained more and more prominence on social media starting in 2018, they also became a more timely, tangible area of exploration.
“The first time I saw the space, I knew right away that HuuHaa would be a perfect fit for Teurastamo.”
— Anne Penttonen, founder of HuuHaa Astro Bar & Bistro
A Home for HuuHaa in the Teurastamo Area
Penttonen began searching for a location for her restaurant in early 2023, but couldn’t find a suitable space. In early 2024, she finally found a space being vacated by B-Smokery, which she fell in love with immediately. “Teurastamo fascinated me as a location because of its history, urban atmosphere, and unique businesses. I knew right away, the first time I saw the space, that HuuHaa would be a perfect fit for Teurastamo,” she describes.
The restaurant offers astrology-themed cocktails and mocktails—which have already become popular—as well as food and a selection of related products, such as tarot decks, incense, and books.
Penttonen says the restaurant has been very well received and believes it will also bring even more recognition to both Teurastamo and the developing Kalasatama area. “So far, the majority of our customer base has consisted mainly of young adults who have come here drawn by our horoscope drinks, which have become something of a phenomenon,” she says.
The new and unique concept, a plant-based menu, and the fact that the restaurant is open in the evening at Teurastamo have also attracted residents from the surrounding areas, as well as other experience seekers and foodies.
Astrology and tarot readings, as well as lunch, are on the agenda for spring
In the spring of 2025, visitors to HuuHaa can book an astrological birth chart reading on Wednesdays. In addition, the restaurant will host tarot readings and themed workshops. Another new feature is a lunch menu, which will launch on weekdays starting January 15, 2025.
Penttonen emphasizes that HuuHaa is a relaxed space for everyone, and visiting doesn’t require an interest in astrology or tarot. “We want to offer visitors an experience centered around food and drink, but also a welcoming place where they can explore ‘HuuHaa-themed’ topics without being labeled a crackpot,” he says.
HuuHaa Astro Bar & Bistro is located at Työpajankatu 2 R 1C. You can follow HuuHaa’s events on the restaurant’s website as well as on social media under the handle @astrobarhuuhaa. Lunch is served Tuesday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., and the restaurant is normally open Wednesdays and Thursdays from 3:00 PM to 10:00 PM, Fridays from 3:00 PM to 1:00 AM, and Saturdays from 2:00 PM to 1:00 AM, with the kitchen open until 10:00 PM.