The Beginning
Where It All
Started
Petiscaria Jazz was born from the passion for jazz of Pekka Mesimäki, one of the owners of restaurant Petiscaria. In 2017, at Petiscaria nestled inside the historic Hietalahden Kauppahalli, his vision brought together Portuguese petiscos and the timeless elegance of live jazz.
Those intimate evenings quickly became one of the city's most cherished musical traditions. The warm wooden interior of the market hall, the wicker pendant lamps casting amber pools of light, the clinking of wine glasses — everything conspired to create a setting of rare intimacy between artists and audience.
Each evening was carefully curated, featuring top Finnish and international jazz musicians who brought their own voice to the classics and beyond. For a few precious hours, time slowed down.
Jazz
Since
2017
"The best jazz is not just heard — it is felt in the warmth of the room, the clink of glasses, and the shared silence between notes."— Petiscaria Jazz
The Journey
Years of Music
The First Note
Petiscaria Jazz holds its very first evening at restaurant Petiscaria inside Hietalahden Kauppahalli. A small gathering, a grand idea — Pekka Mesimäki's vision of combining Portuguese hospitality with live jazz finds its first audience. The response is immediate and warm.
A Beloved Tradition
Word spreads. The monthly jazz evenings become a fixture in Helsinki's cultural calendar. Finnish jazz luminaries and international guest artists take turns on the intimate stage, each bringing a unique voice to the Petiscaria atmosphere.
Resilience & Return
Like all live music, Petiscaria Jazz navigates the challenges of a changed world. The community that had formed around these evenings proves its depth — when the music returns, so does the audience, more devoted than ever.
New Voices, Same Soul
The programme expands. New artists, new formats, new conversations between musicians and guests. The essence remains unchanged: an intimate space, exceptional music, and the best Portuguese petiscos in Helsinki.
A New Chapter Begins
Petiscaria Jazz moves to a new home — Café & Bar Odessa in the Konepaja district. A venue celebrated for its own intimate character and devotion to good music, Odessa becomes the perfect stage for the next act of this ongoing story.
Moments in Time
The Memories
New Home
Café & Bar Odessa
The story in 2026 continues at Café & Bar Odessa in Konepaja. New space, same soul.
The wicker lamps still cast their amber glow. The music still fills every corner. And the petiscos are still the best in Helsinki.
Find Us
Traverssikuja 3, Helsinki
Tram 9 stops in front of the door
(stop: Pasilan konepaja)
