Travel Guide: Tallinn
Summary
Tallinn's Christmas market is considered one of the best Christmas markets in Europe. In 2021, it was voted the best in all of Europe. We visited Tallinn to explore their legendary Old Town and see their Christmas Market. Talliinn did not disappoint. At the end, we took a ferry from Tallinn, Estonia across the Gulf of Finland to Helsinki, FInland. Overall, this trip was an incredible memory that we'd like to relive! The city of Tallinn is incredible too with tons of activities, restaurants, bars and shops!
Food & Drink
Top Restaurants
- Lee Restoran • Lee is one of my favourite restaurants anywhere. Here how they describe themselves: "Lee: a word describing the ancient Estonian communal fireplace around which life would vividly simmer and crackle; a place to prepare and share delicious meals together. Today’s Lee is inspired by this same primeval joy for familiar life, connecting around tables, sharing food and stories. We are guided by our love of local produce, combined with international skill and playful curiosity. The centrepiece of our menu is always local, sourced from artisan producers and our friends from farms and forests, which we enrich with our own experience from abroad. As we Estonians are ever evolving, our menu also changes accordingly, characterised as ‘local, seasonal and contemporary".
- Restoran Olde Hansa • "Olde Hansa is an internationally renowned medieval experience restaurant that is located in the heart of the Old Town of Tallinn. The authentic medieval experience is created through a combination of dishes cooked according to 700-year-old recipes."
- Restaurant Rataskaevu 16 • An incredible restaurant in the heart of Tallinn's old town. Rataskaevu 16 has a renowned reputation with 3.6k reviews and a 4.8/5 star or 96% rating! Rataskaevu 16 is a favourite spot for locals as well as visitors. With an outdoor terrace, it's a good restaurant for outdoor dining. It also has a beautiful interior. Food options include dishes such as pumpkin soup, baked salmon and blue cheese.
Top Bars
- Whisper Sister • Speakeasy with a 1920s New York atmosphere. Whisper Sister has a few rooms with different atmsopheres and a bar room with a classy and upscale bar. We seriously enjoyed this place.
- Botaanik • The owner had once been a bartender at the Savoy Hotel in London. The Savoy is a historic place with it's own cocktail book and could be one of the main institutions to establish cocktails as a trend in society. The owner had brought back some learnings and made excellent drinks in Tallinn. A unique thing was that all the glassware was from vintage shops, garage sales and similar environments so it was unusual and one-of-a-kind. This bar is described online as "Owner Andres Siem serves handcrafted drinks in vintage glasses."
- Noku • A 'members only' bar for years, Noku is now public. The establishment was originally opened as catering solution for Tallinn’s cultural enterprises, with many theaters, studios and art centers nearby. The bar is a speak easy and hard to find. Look for door number five on Pikk street and head upstairs. There are no signs but once inside you are bound to find something good.
Other Food & Drink
Other Drink • Sigmund Freud Bar, BarKarjase Sai (a "hyped up bakery" with bar), Junimperium Distillery (gin bar) Hell Hunt (best pub), III Draakon (medieval experience), Frank, Pudel Bar (classy beer), NoKu Klubi (secret/speak easy?), Põhjala (best brewery and tap room in Estonia)
Activities & Attractions
Top Activities
- Old Town & Christmas Market • If it's around Christmas time, be sure to check out their Christmas Market (voted the best in Europe). If visiting during another time of year, the Old Town is just as magical and has lots to do.
- Rent a Private Sauna for a few hours • It's a little costly, but renting a private sauna right on the water is an excellent activity for an afternoon, especially in winter.
- Ferry to Helsinki • Do a weekend trip to Helsinki by ferrying across the Gulf of Finland. The trip takes two hours and the ferry ride is pleasant with great food options (we upgraded to Business Class and had an amazing breakfast buffet).