The crisp frost tightens my cheeks as I walk through the center of Saariselkä, admiring the landscape surrounding me. The cold makes itself known through the crunch of snow under my feet, a sound that carries far with every step. On the other side of the road, a sign reading “Local Pub Panimo” stops me in my tracks, and my toes seem to turn on their own toward the low wooden building. Now I need something to warm me up!
Two tourists are standing in front of me, peeking through the pub’s windows. My freezing toes already start to panic that the place might be closed, so I mutter and sigh about it quietly behind their backs. It’s Friday around noon, but luckily Panimo has just opened its doors. The warmth of the local pub welcomes us in as we step through the entrance. But what kind of atmosphere might there be in Saariselkä’s small village pub at this time on a weekday?
There is already a lot of work going on at Panimo, and it’s impossible not to notice. Restaurant manager Rebekka Lampi is full of positive energy, even though her shift has only just begun. Incredible, I think to myself as I sit down at the nearest table, which has a clear view of the bar counter.
Everything seems to flow effortlessly for Rebekka, who has accumulated forty years of experience in the restaurant industry. Originally from Imatra, she ended up in Saariselkä because of work. In 2023, she worked at Kuukkeli. “I had been there for a year and then went back home to Imatra. At that point I thought I really need more responsibility. My mind needs work. I noticed this job was open, got the position here, and packed my bags.”
Rebekka enjoys the challenges and responsibility that come with being a restaurant manager. She sends her thanks to Panimo’s entrepreneur couple, Jouko and Mari Lappalainen, who have allowed her to carry out her own vision for the pub. “Thank you for listening,” Rebekka says with a smile. The whole restaurant seems to fill with a feeling of gratitude, and we sit quietly enjoying the moment—until the front door bangs open again. New customers are in need of service. Rebekka jumps back behind the counter, and I stay seated, observing the atmosphere while reflecting on the story of Saariselkä’s Panimo.
Saariselkä’s Panimo came under the ownership of Jouko and Mari Lappalainen in January 2025, when the entrepreneur couple purchased Saariselän Tunturipalvelut Satupa Oy. The deal also included the current Wilderness Hotel Kieppi, where a B&B-style Saariselkä Holiday Inn had previously operated. I had the chance to talk about Panimo’s story with Essi Lappalainen, the oldest child of the entrepreneur couple, while she also shared with me the secret behind the success of the Wilderness Hotels. “Saariselkä Panimo was an interesting and fun addition to this whole venture. We were all really excited,” Essi said.
Following the change of ownership, Panimo underwent some light renovations, but the aim was to preserve the original look as much as possible. In my opinion, this was exactly the right choice. Sitting on a long bench and looking around, I get a genuine après-ski feeling straight from Central Europe. Wooden surfaces create a natural atmosphere, and the space is decorated with warmly toned string lights. The ambience created by the interior invites visitors to stay in the pub just a little longer.
The pub menu invites guests to linger as well, offering delicious-sounding finger foods and burgers, including a reindeer burger fitting for Lapland. I remember Essi’s comment about the kitchen: “The biggest change was the kitchen, meaning that nowadays you can actually buy something to eat at Panimo.”
When making the renovations, the goal for Panimo has been clear: everything revolves around creating a great atmosphere. Panimo is a local living room in Saariselkä where everyone is welcome — whether you arrive in ski gear or a little black dress.
To keep the atmosphere lively and ensure there’s never a dull moment, the pub has also invested in entertainment and activities. If the freezing weather has chilled your toes too much, you can warm them up in the newly renovated sauna. The restaurant also hosts plenty of live performers, and a couple of times a week there’s a pub quiz and bingo. “The bingo is organized together with the Saariselkä volunteer fire department. All the proceeds from bingo go to support their activities,” Essi told me earlier.
Rebekka is just returning to chat with me when the front door opens again. A man calls out from the doorway asking if he can come in to watch the day’s ice hockey game. Speaking of entertainment and things to do, the topic couldn’t fit the moment better. Panimo has several TV screens where you can watch sports whenever bingo or karaoke isn’t underway.
Sports, karaoke – and with them the sound system and the lighting on the dance floor – were also new additions to the Panimo's renovation. These upgrades were carried out by Feelment. Saariselkä Panimo is a great example of all of Feelment's services can be used in one place: whether it is sports, karaoke, background music or advertisements on TV screens, everything can be managed through the Feelment app.
Karaoke is an important part of Panimo's restaurant entertainment, and the renovated stage and karaoke setup have received a lot of praise from customers. According to Essi, the atmosphere at Panimo is meant to stay traditional, which is why karaoke is run by a host: "Rebekka is hosting the karaoke. She's a really great person."
After chatting with Rebekka for a moment, I can’t help but agree. Laughter fills the room and the atmosphere is so relaxed that I can almost feel my hurry and stress melting away from the soles of my feet onto the restaurant’s wooden floor — and staying there. I watch with interest as Rebekka introduces Finnish drink options to tourists. A bottle of salmiakki liqueur flashes across the bar counter while I hum along to a song by Erika Vikman playing through the speakers.
When Rebekka has a moment free from the counter, I ask if she enjoys hosting karaoke. The answer is a quick and firm yes. But Rebekka still turns to the table next to us and asks them what their experience of her karaoke hosting is like. "A spectacle" comes the reply in a cheerful voice. The karaoke hosted by Rebekka begins an hour before the live band and continues again after the band finishes, starting around midnight. Rebekka explains that she warms up the band and “then the band warms me up.”
Besides karaoke, music has played an important role in Rebekka’s life: “Music is my strength. Through that I ended up with karaoke, using Feelment, and working with technology as well.” Rebekka has experience managing meetings, which often involve a strong technical component. In addition to Feelment’s basic services, Panimo also received a new sound system and lighting installation. The upgrade was one of Rebekka’s own visions: “The goal was to update the PA system for the 2020s. Even if someone isn’t the best karaoke singer, they can still sound good.”
Patrik from Feelment was responsible for the design and installation of the sound system and lighting for the dance floor. He was also assisted by our CEO Kalervo. When I ask Rebekka what the best thing about Feelment is, she energetically shouts “Patrik!” and then laughs playfully: “There’s nothing wrong with Kalervo either.” I promise to pass the greetings along.
The sound and lighting can be conveniently controlled from behind the mixing desk, where Rebekka hosts the karaoke. She encourages other entrepreneurs to invest in sound quality, because word about a great sound system spreads quickly and brings new singers with it. Mixing also plays an important role. “It’s nice for the singer when someone is there mixing the sound,” Rebekka explains.
Updating the sound system and lighting has had a positive impact on the customer experience at Panimo. “We constantly get good feedback about the sound system. It’s a great experience when the music comes from all directions. The TVs are also a nice addition because they bring visitors in during the daytime too,” Essi summarized earlier when I asked about it. The new lighting also makes it possible to adjust the mood exactly as desired. Rebekka says she especially likes using red lighting.
Rebekka says the best part of her job is the feedback from her clients. Whether it's negative or positive. One moment from her career stands out in particular. She was hosting karaoke on one side of a bar while Meiju Suvas was performing a concert on the other side. One customer had left the concert to come to the karaoke area and told Rebekka: “The karaoke host sang Meiju’s song Tahdon sinut better than Meiju Suvas herself.”
Rebekka’s enjoyment of her work is easy to see. “This is the best workplace, and I’ve always said that. If I can’t say I have the best workplace, then I might as well leave,” Rebekka calls out as she heads back behind the bar to serve customers. I watch her work with admiration and hope that I could keep the same attitude myself.
I stay at Panimo for a while longer, enjoying the atmosphere around me. As everyone chats and laughter fills the room, it feels like the world is a slightly better place again. Under the roof of Saariselkä Panimo, we are all part of the same family, even though we come from different parts of the world. In today's chaotic world situation, that's exactly what we need: a sense of belonging and confidence in a better future. And believe it or not, there is still a place that the world's rush and stress have not reached. That place is Panimo. It's where stories are born, made to be shared – first with the person next to you, and later with friends back home.