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.
Boheem
A little local place
Mart Virkus /
Many who visit Tallinn never leave the Old Town, and we can't understand why. Walk out of the ...
Chocolaterie Pierre
Chocolatey sin
Kalev Külaase /
I certainly love my chocolate and Pierre is a perfect place to do some shopping and ...
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 ...
Kehrwieder Saiakang
Where coffee meets excellence
Mart Virkus /
Kehrwieder is well known among the locals. They operate several cafes, each ...
Komeet
Top-floor top-pastry
Kalev Külaase /
The place is famous for it's cakes and the view from the top floor, especially from the ...
Lounge 24
Up in the air
Mart Virkus /
Lounge 24 has arguably the best view in the city. In fact, we're thinking the only reason they ...
Anneli Viik Handmade Chocolate
#1 for chocolate lovers
Jaak Ennuste /
Anneli Viik, once an investment banker, chose to do what she truly loved – making chocolate ...
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 ...
Bonaparte Cafe
French cuisine & cafe
Mart Virkus /
Started by two (actual!) French chefs, you know you'll be getting the right stuff. It makes sense ...
Cafe Josephine
Chocolaterie a la Paris
Mart Virkus /
Sometimes a chocolate bar, no matter how decorated or tasty, just doesn't cut it. Enter Cafe ...
Deja Vu
Red carpet extravaganza
Mart Virkus /
Deja Vu definitely attracts the most gorgeous crowd in Tallinn, and it's no wonder, given its ...
Gourmet Coffee
For real coffee lovers
Mart Virkus /
One word: coffee. Absolutely amazing coffee, from freshly ground beans from all around the ...
Klaus
Design paradise from the 60s
Ülane Vilumets /
This cafe is a design paradise from the 60s where the interior changes once in a while just ...
Kohalik
Milieu valuable local cafe
Laura Randmaa /
This little homely cafe has been designed in the previous club house of local ...
Kohvicum
Hidden coffeeshop, crouching poets
Mart Virkus /
Kohvicum is a cafe with a twist. We should say right off the bat that the hot drinks in this ...
Kompott
Estonian grandma's house
Ülane Vilumets /
Sourcing raw produce from small Estonian producers, this little cafe revisits childhood ...
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 ...
Matilda
Your daily cake and coffee
Mart Virkus /
If you find yourself in Tallinn, and in the Old Town in particular, chances are that at some ...
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 ...
NOP Cafe and Shop
Neighbourhood, Organic, Practical
Ülane Vilumets /
This homely cafe and eco-shop is a popular meeting point for Kadriorg's eco-friendly folk ...
Reval Cafe & Restaurant
A perfect cafe experience
Mart Virkus /
It's a well known brand among locals and there are several locations around the city. The ...
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 ...
Sinilind
Away from the mainstream
Ülane Vilumets /
A new place inside an old cinema, Sinilind transforms from a cosy restaurant/cafe during ...
Vertigo Gourmet Deli
Seasonal freshness
Ülane Vilumets /
One of the most recognised chefs in Estonia, Imre Kose, has opened an unpretentious little ...