There are so many great restaurants in Tallinn that you don’t want to miss out on.
Whether you are looking for a traditional Estonian meal, something with a modern twist, or you want to dine on international dishes while you’re here, you can find tons of great restaurants in Tallinn for whatever you’re craving.
Traditional Foods from Estonia
If you have spent some time enjoying restaurants in Vilnius or places to eat in Riga, you will find many similar dishes in Estonia. However, there are a few dishes that are a little bit closer to Finnish cuisine than the Baltics. Here’s what not to miss.
- Rosolje: A salad made with boiled potatoes, beetroot, herring, pickle, egg, and a dressing of sour cream, mayonnaise, and mustard.
- Mulgikapsad: A common dish made of cabbage and barley usually with some pork mixed through.
- Mulgipuder: This Estonian porridge is usually made with barley, mashed potatoes, and any type of meat.
- Kiluvõileib: An open-faced sandwich made with rye bread and topped with slices of hard-boiled egg, onions, fresh greens, and sprat fillet (a type of fish found in the Baltic Sea).
- Frikadellisupp: Meatball soup made with hearty vegetables in a rich broth and filled with meatballs.
- Verivorst: Estonia’s national dish, this is a pork blood sausage best served with a compote made from cranberries or lingonberries.
The perfect balance – a sandwich, coffee, and a pastry to finish the meal!
Take a Tallinn Food Tour
Want to get under the skin of the Tallinn food scene and learn about the history and culture behind the dishes listed above and more? Consider taking a food tour around Old Tallinn.
This food tour takes you to six different locations where you will sample food and drink that are big parts of Estonia’s food culture both from the past and into the present.
The best part of a food tour is that you get the chance to ask questions to a knowledgeable guide and get to know a bit more about the city. You can then ask your guide for a few more recommendations for great local restaurants in Tallinn! Book that food tour here.
Map of the Best Restaurants in Tallinn
Best Restaurants in Tallinn
There is something for every budget and taste in Tallinn when you get hungry.
1. Lendav Taldrik Resto
If you want to try some seriously delicious Indian food while you’re in Tallinn, this is the place to do it.
This is an ideal option for vegetarians and vegans because the menu is packed with flavorful meat and dairy-free options. But it’s really a great restaurant in Tallinn for anyone who loves delicious food.
I recommend starting your night across the road at Põhja Konn where they are brewing their own beers. Then after you’ve whetted your appetite, head over to Lendav Taldrik for dinner.
They have lamb, venison, chicken, paneer, and seafood dishes cooked in traditional tandoori style. This is one of the few places I found in Tallinn that really knew how to kick the spice level up. Not only was everything packed with flavor but it was also nice and spicy.
Reserve a table at least a day in advance (more if you want to come on a Friday or Saturday) by calling +372 621 4222 or emailing info@lendavtaldrik.com.
Enjoy a seriously delicious curry at Lendav Taldrik Resto.
2. F-Hoone
Located in the hipster Telliviski Creative Park, this is one of the most popular restaurants in Tallinn. So be sure to make a booking for a table, especially if you want to come on the weekends or a Friday night.
F-Hoone has a little bit of something for everyone at every time of day. I love coming here for brunch for their delicious rye bread topped with salted salmon, eggs, and fresh salad. They also have waffles, fried breakfast options, and lots of healthy options.
In the evenings, you’ll find more traditional dishes of this region with dishes like meat dumplings, lamb neck, and salmon with dill oil. However, they also have tons of vegetarian and vegan options and some fun fusion dishes like pumpkin falafel and nasi goreng (Indonesian fried rice).
You can see their full menu here and email or call them to make a booking in advance.
You get a great view of Lendav Taldrik from the bar across the road.
3. Pelmen Käsitöö Kohvik
This is perhaps my favorite place to eat in Tallinn. This is a simple stand inside the Balti Jaama Turg. Head into the main area of the indoor part of the market and to the right of the door you will spot this little dumpling stand.
The menu is small, but that’s because each of the few items is made to absolute perfection.
The selection of dumplings includes simple beef and pork, duck and thyme, lamb and garlic, chicken and shrimp, salmon and shrimp, potatoes and onions, and cheese curd. There are also a few side salads and a deliciously rich borscht all made from scratch.
The dumplings from Pelmen Käsitöö Kohvik are absolutely not to be missed. It was one of the best meals I had in Tallinn.
4. Restoran Olde Hansa
A night at Restoran Olde Hansa is more than just a meal, it’s an experience and one of the best things to do in Tallinn. The restaurant has a medieval feel without being kitschy.
From Wednesday to Sunday from 6pm to 9pm there is a live band to enjoy alongside your medieval meal. This is, of course, the most popular time to dine here. So be sure to make a reservation through their website so you don’t miss out.
The reason to come here isn’t just for the experience, which is fantastic. It is also to enjoy recipes that are more than 700 years old. You can enjoy things like oven-baked juniper cheese, slow-cooked beef cheek in a green peppercorn sauce, and game sausage that is made of bear, elk, and wild boar to name just a few.
You can see the full menu on their website here.
Olde Hansa is always putting on fun medieval-themed events throughout the year.
5. III Draakon
Perhaps the most famous restaurant in Tallinn, it is also one of the cheapest restaurants in Tallinn.
III Draakon is located right in the Town Hall square. While not every item menu is in the single digits, most of the dishes are. In fact, the majority of the menu items are under €5. ,
The main thing to try on the menu here is the elk meat soup. It’s hearty and warming on those cold Baltic evenings (which exist even in summer!). In addition to the soup, you can also try their savory pies which are pastries filled with either different types of meat or there are also vegetarian options. See the full menu here.
You can’t make a reservation, which is why coming at lunch is a great option since it’s not quite as busy. However, if you do want to come for dinner, just be prepared that you may have to wait a few minutes for a table. On busy holiday weekends there can sometimes even be a line out the door.
6. Cafe Maiasmokk
Cafe Maiasmokk is a historical spot in the old town of Tallinn. It has been operating as a cafe since 1864, making it the oldest cafe in the city.
The cafe is a fully functioning restaurant for breakfast and lunch. They have a wonderful selection of housemade breads and their lunch options are healthy and filling. I particular love their leek and potato soup with a side of their homemade bread.
You can also come here just for coffee and some of their seriously delicious cakes. But the main draw of this cafe for tourists is their marzipan. They are artisans and indeed artists when it comes to the beauty of their designs and sculptres with marzipan. If you want to get involved yourself, you can head to the workshop and paint your own marzipan to take home with you.
Stop into different cafes and small restaurants in Tallinn old town to discover a few off-the-beaten-path spots on your travels.
7. Hell Hunt
A true pub experience in the center of Tallinn. Hell Hunt has a fantastic atmosphere, a huge selection of beers, and a nice food menu to enjoy alongside your drinks.
If you are looking for a cheap place to eat in Tallinn, this is a fantastic option for lunch. From Monday to Friday, they have lunch specials which change each day of the week and most cost only €6.
The bar menu is a mixture of traditional Estonian bar snacks like pig’s tongue and dumplings. But they also have an eclectic mix of main meal options like salmon soup, salted herring, burgers, and fish and chips. See their full menu here.
8. Lee Restoran
For a fine dining experience in Tallinn, be sure to make a reservation at Lee Restoran. Lee is an old Estonian word referring to the ancient communal fireplace where people would gather for meals and community.
You can expect to find seasonal, local ingredients on the menu here with Estonian recipes and international flare. There is a particular Asian influence that you will find in their dishes like the smoked oyster mushrooms with Thai curry risotto or the pork with kimchi. There is a full vegetarian menu as well which makes this a fantastic option for both meat lovers and vegetarians alike.
There is no shortage of delicious dumplings to be found around Tallinn.
9. Restaurant Moon
Restaurant Moon classes itself as modern Slavic food made with passion. The owners are also the day-to-day operators of the restaurant, so you can expect fantastic service and care with your meal.
They have everything from delicious bowls of borscht to buckwheat blinis. There are plates of duck and fish dumplings. The food is beautifully presented and the taste is even more divine. The restaurant has even been listed in the most recent Michelin guide, so be sure to make a reservation if you want to snag a table at this popular local spot.
10. Boheem
Another great spot that always makes the list for cheapest restaurants in Tallinn. Most items on the menu at Boheem are under €10 and portion sizes are enough for even the hungriest traveler.
This cozy spot in the cool Kalamaja district of Tallinn is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Although they have some delicious soups which were my favorite lunch option, they also have a full pizza and pasta menu which is very popular with the locals. The baked pasta looked especially scrumptious.
The seafood available in Tallinn is absolutely fantastic.
11. Humalakoda Pub
If you love local craft beer and delicious pub food, Humalakoda is the place for you. Brewed on-site, the beer here was some of my favorite in Tallinn, which is saying a lot because there are tons of great craft beer bars in Tallinn.
This brewpub isn’t just doing your average bar food, though. Alongside their burgers and mixed nuts to snack on, they also have grilled seabream, beef risotto, and duck breast with truffle potatoes.
It is essential to make a booking if you want to come here on a weekend evening. Make a reservation through their website here.
12. Samsa
Located inside the Balti Jaama Turg right near the entrance is a little wooden one-room house. It is home to the Samsa Uzbek restaurant that I fell in love with while I was visiting Tallinn.
If you want to sample some food from a different region of the world that is absolutely packed with flavor and spice, get yourself to Samsa. If you come here you cannot leave without having the lamb dumplings, which are called Manty. Hold them from the thick base and take a nibble. Then suck out all of the outrageously delicious broth. Then you are left with juicy lamb and perfectly steamed dumpling dough.
The other dish I loved here was the plov or pilau rice. It’s cooked with the tenderest lamb I have ever had in my life and is so packed with spices. Served with some spicy pickles, this dish woke up my tastebuds and made me want to book a trip to Uzbekistan.
If you are on a budget, they have some great cheburek, which are fried pastries stuffed with things like spinach, cheese, or beef. They cost €6 or less depending on the filling you choose.
You can always find savory pies around Tallinn if you are looking for a good meal on a budget.
13. Nikolay Bar-Bufeé
Known best for its sweet pies, this is a fantastic place to come for a sweet treat. However, it is also one of the best restaurants in Tallinn for savory food, too. Especially if you love savory pies and pancakes.
Choose from things like beef pie, salmon and spinach pie, or duck and apple. They also have vegetarian options like zucchini or potatoes and mushrooms. Once you’ve had your fill of delicious savory pie, be sure to grab one of their sweet pies to take home and enjoy later in the evening. See all of their pie options on their website.
Don’t miss out on trying some locally smoked salmon when you see it on the menu in Tallinn.
14. Røst Bakery
For the best bakery in Tallinn, make a stop at Røst Bakery. Just don’t save it until the last day of your trip because you will want to return a few more times while you’re in the city.
The cinnamon rolls are what sell out first at this popular spot, so if you see one available, be sure to order one. They also have savory pastries with eggs and bacon for a hearty (although perhaps not heart-healthy) breakfast. For something more substantial, their sandwiches which are made on homemade sourdough bread are also a fantastic option.
I also found Røst to be one of the best places in Tallinn for a cup of coffee. They are getting locally roasted beans and the baristas really know what they’re doing here.
Røst is one of those places that makes your mouth water as soon as you walk in and take a single breath.
15. Gourmet Coffee Kadriorg
If you want a good cup of coffee and a sweet snack while you’re visiting Kadriorg Park and its fantastic museums, this is the place to stop. It’s located right next to the tram stop where you will get off and enter the park, so it’s easy at the start or end of your trip around the park.
In addition to great coffee, you can also sit in for a delicious and healthy lunch. They have a full menu with options like mussels in white wine, cured trout, and goat cheese salad. They have several vegetarian and vegan options on the menu as well. See the full menu here.
16. Restaurant Rataskaevu 16
Open for lunch and dinner, Rataskaevu 16 is one of the best restaurants in Tallinn. This is where to come for a relaxed and laid-back atmosphere that serves up some of the best food in the city. Expect the menu to be packed with local, seasonal ingredients cooked in a way that focuses on the produce.
There are a lot of Estonian-inspired dishes on the menu like braised elk, locally caught flounder, and mushroom soup made with chanterelles, oyster, and king trumpet mushrooms. There are also several vegan and vegetarian options available. Save room for dessert because the selection of Estonian cheeses was something that I will not soon forget.