Many tourists converge on the Town Hall Square after finishing their activities and fan out to the surrounding restaurants. This is a mistake, as you'll most likely be overcharged. Instead, try digging a little deeper to get to the real gems. Trust us, you needn't go far.
The twisting streets of the Old Town hold many culinary delights, from fashionable fringe restaurants to traditional Estonian experiences and world cuisines. Even if you're looking for a quick and simple fix you'll be glad to know Tallinn offers excellent and infinitely healthier alternatives to McDonald's, often at a lower cost.
Rewards are for those who seek them, and Tallinn's size makes seeking shamefully easy. Nothing's ever too far in this small city, so don't be afraid to push to and beyond the old walls in search of that perfect meal.
EAT
Dumpling delights for budget travellers
Mart Virkus /
The mainstay of Eat is the dumplings. There are usually four types available. All you need to ...
Energia Cafe
Back in the USSR
Mart Virkus /
Oh my god - are we still in Soviet Estonia? The only thing that's changed in this cafe in the last ...
III Draakon
Medieval food, medieval prices
Mart Virkus /
Right in the middle of the Old Town you'll find the old gothic Town Hall, the only one of its ...
Kalamaja Pagarikoda
Fresh out of the oven
Ülane Vilumets /
This bakery has the neighbourhoody feeling of Kalamaja. It's the corner bakery people just ...
Kompressor
Pancake heaven
Mart Virkus /
Its windows protected by heavy duty metal bars, this place looks less like a restaurant and ...
Must Puudel
New age fun with a Soviet feel
Mart Virkus /
A very popular cafe among the locals, Must Puudel started the trend of combining cool ...
Bogapott
Coffeehouse in a workshop
Mart Virkus /
Look, what's that thing up on the hill? Is it a cafe? Is it a workshop? It's neither, and it's both ...
Gotsu, Kim's Kitchen
Korean food experience
Liina Puusepp / Gotsu is a loved place among locals for enjoying great Korean food. It's is a little bit away ...
Koogel Moogel
Live and breathe theatre
Ülane Vilumets /
This cafe in a theatre might also be a magic land, we suspect. They serve food that’s not made by ...
MoMo pood
Discover Japanese flavors!
Tiiu Leet /
It's small Japanese food store. They have over 200 different products from Japan and they ...
NoKu
A magic door on Pikk street
Ülane Vilumets /
Once a closed club for the local art and culture crowd Club NoKu has recently opened its ...
Papa Joe's falafel & hummus
Vegan take away
Laura Randmaa /
This little takeaway kiosk makes 100% vegan kebabs - falafel and hummus. Hand made at the spot ...
Pizza Grande
Legendary pizzas at legendary prices
Mart Virkus /
Pizza Grande lacks the fast food joint attire usually associated with cheaper places and ...
Popular & Boheem
Hookah lounge
Mart Virkus /
A favourite of locals since 2003 as the most popular hookah place in Tallinn. In 2012 it ...
Sesoon
Extraordinary food for budget prices
Ülane Vilumets /
The quality of the food that you get in this café is unheard of for such little money, even ...
Sõõrikukohvik
Donuts, Estonian style
Ülane Vilumets /
There's just something about greasy oven warm donuts. Anyone grown up in Estonia will ...
Square Kebab
Free coffee with your meal!
Mart Virkus /
Tallinn has its share of fast food joints, the biggest and best known of which are far too ...
Sushi Cat
The playful sushi place
Mart Virkus /
If we had to pick three things that we like about Japan, they'd be robots, sushi and those ...
Sushimon
Japanese planet
Ülane Vilumets /
With its roots in Japanese subcultures and anime Sushimon lives and breathes like sort of ...