TALLInn - In Your Pocket

42 restaurants
Trendy restaurants
Deja Vu C-3, Vana-Viru 8, tel. (+372) 56 88 44 55, info@
dejavu.ee, www.dejavu.ee. Wait - haven't we been here
before? Actually, no we haven't. This reincarnation of a local favourite
nightspot serves up plenty of tasty and trendy treats,
the service is great and the atmosphere is stylish. We tried
the shrimp and the Caesar salad and were quite impressed.
Turns into a full-on party during the weekend nights and the
kitchen stays open late too. QOpen 12:00 - 06:00, Mon, Tue
12:00 - 23:00. Closed Sun. (€10). JEXW
Park Lounge H-4, Kreutzwaldi 23, Reval Park Hotel, tel.
(+372) 630 53 49, sales@parkhotel.ee, www.parkhotel.
ee. More of an evening spot than anything else, the plush,
cream-coloured chairs and stainless-steel floors make Park
Lounge a stylish place to loaf. Somewhat hidden beneath the
lobby of the Reval Park Hotel, the secluded spot has its own
menu, as well as a separate area for full-fledged dining. The
fare on offer includes Mediterranean and Estonian cuisines.
QOpen 12:00 - 22:00, Sun 12:00 - 21:00. (€15). TULW
Platz B-4, Roseni 7, tel. (+372) 664 50 86, info@platz.
ee, www.platz.ee. Everything old is new again - or at least in
the Rotermanni Quarter it is. It's there you'll find this stylish yet
elegant eatery nestled into an old, industrial limestone building.
The artfully prepared cuisine, is an innovative and fresh
fusion of European flavours using local ingredients whenever
possible. The service is equally crisp but not too starchy. We
quite enjoyed the tempura and the decadent desserts. QOpen
11:00 - 22:00, Fri, Sat 11:00 - 23:00. (€12). J6LES
Ribe C-3, Vene 7, tel. (+372) 631 30 84, info@ribe.ee, www.
ribe.ee. This Nordic-style eatery is a good representation of a
current trend in Tallinn and the food and overall experience were
excellent the last time we ate there. The intriguing menu items are
all artistically presented and the interior design is just pretty as
punch. We found the portions a little on the slim side, nonetheless
the ambience, friendly service, fantastic wine list made a trip here
worthwhile. QOpen 12:00 - 23:00. Closed Sun. (€13). TJ6
Teatri Puhvet D-4, Teatri väljak 3, tel. (+372) 699 05 90,
info@puhvet.ee, www.puhvet.ee. Designed with theatrical
inspiration, this restaurant, attached to a café of the same name,
serves up fresh and creative dishes. Unlike most others in its
class, the portions found here won't leave you hungry and the
prices won't break you either. Occasional live music on weekends.
QOpen 10:00 - 24:00, Sun 10:00 - 22:00. (€7.70). UEW
Zebra Café G-3, Narva mnt. 7, tel. (+372) 610 92 30,
info@zebracafe.ee, www.zebracafe.ee. Zebra offers à la
carte dining with the option of a slightly cheaper cafeteria setup,
complete with freshly-baked pastries, desserts and a salad
bar, all in one very slick, cool room. The service is excellent,
and prices, while they might be a bit higher than elsewhere,
are more than justified by the wonderful cooking. Dj's lay-down
some hot tracks Friday and Saturday nights. QOpen 11:00 -
24:00, Mon, Tue, Sun 11:00 - 23:00. (€14). VSW
Upscale
Bordoo A/B-3, Pikk 71/Tolli 2, tel. (+372) 630
63 55, bordoo@threesistershotel.com, www.threesistershotel.com.
Estonian for Bordeaux, the Three
Sisters restaurant is in a class unto itself. The stylish
interior combines a new world elegance with hints of
its old world surroundings. Headed up by award-winning
chef Tõnis Siigur and his energetic team, the focus
here is on fresh local ingredients brought to life with
creativity and flavourful ideas. To top it all off, they
also create their very own artisan breads, scrumptious
marmalades and to-die-for desserts. QOpen 12:00 -
23:00. (€22.35). J
Egoist B-3, Vene 33, tel. (+372) 646 40 52, egoist@
egoist.ee, www.egoist.ee. Take all trappings of an oldfashioned,
high-class restaurant - the chandeliers, the
antiques, the tie-clad diners - multiply the decadence by
three, and you'll get some idea of what the award-winning
Egoist is all about. The sister restaurant to Gloria, this
exclusive establishment has an equally impressive menu,
offering choices like lobster carpaccio, pan-fried foie gras
and elk fillet noisettes. Book ahead, dress to impress
and ring the bell to enter. QOpen 12:00 - 23:00. Closed
Sun. (€25.55). J
Gloria D-2, Müürivahe 2, tel. (+372) 640 68 00,
gloria@gloria.ee, www.gloria.ee. Gloria has been synonymous
with class and style since it opened in 1937,
and once you get a look at the intricate, pre-war interior,
you'll understand why this was the restaurant of choice for
the Pope and several visiting heads of state. In case you
need more convincing, Condé Nast named Gloria one of
the world's 100 best. We found our meal here a relaxing,
well-orchistrated experience. QOpen 12:00 - 23:30, Sun
17:00 - 23:30. (€26). JS
Horisont Restaurant & Bar H-3, Tornimäe 3,
(Swissotel,30th floor), tel. (+372) 624 30 00, horisont.tallinn@swissotel.com,
www.horisont-restoran.
com. This first-rate restaurant may have a great view, but
we think the cuisine and top-notch service are even more
spectacular. The folks at Horisont treat everyone like a
VIP no matter who they are, every staffer's move is like a
beautiful waltz and every morsel of food a flavourful work
of art. We're pretty sure that if you dine here once, it won't
be your last visit. QOpen 18:00 - 22:00. Closed Mon, Sun.
Bar open: 17:00 - 01:00. (€24.80). UXW
M.C Grill C-3, Pühavaimu 13/15, tel. (+372) 699 77
80, maksim@schlossle-hotels.com, www.schloesslehotel.com.
The Schlössle hotel's venerated cellar restaurant
is an elegant refuge decorated with colourful swaths of
cloth that bring to mind a fairytale castle. Everything on the
menu is exquisitely prepared by a team of award-winning
chefs, making it well worth the price. QOpen 12:00 - 24:00.
(€19). J6IXSW
Tchaikovsky C-3, Vene 9, Hotel Telegraaf, tel. (+372)
600 06 10, tchaikovsky@telegraafhotel.com, www.
telegraafhotel.com. Located in the beautifully renovated
Telegraaf and much more opulent than most hotel restaurants,
the Tchaikovsky is a luxury Russian-French-fusion
affair dedicated to preparing culinary delights reminiscent
of fine cuisines from a whole other era. Here you'll find
flaky pastry crusts, succulent shrimps and fine wines fit
for the Tsar, and if you're lucky he'll offer to pay as well.
QOpen 12:00 - 23:00, Sat, Sun 13:00 - 23:00. (€17).
JUILEW
Classic cafés
The staple formula of a bunch of little, round tables and a
pastry counter has served Tallinn well for years. It's not that
these places don't have ambience - they do, but they're
more for grabbing a bite on the run than for settling in.
Anneli Viik Handmade Chocolates Café B-3, Pikk
30, tel. (+372) 644 45 30, anneli@anneliviik.ee, www.
anneliviik.ee. Chocoholics beware! This little, Old Town café
features Anneli Viik's handmade chocolates, made on the spot
and sold either by the box for take-away, or in smaller portions to
accompany your coffee (or light food or cognac, etc). There's even
a glass wall that lets you watch the chocolatiers do their stuff.
QOpen 11:00 - 19:00, Fri, Sat 11:00 - 21:00. J6USW
Café Boulevard H-3, Liivalaia 33, Radisson Blu Hotel
Olümpia, tel. (+372) 631 58 60, olympia.pastry@radissonblu.com,
www.cafeboulevard.ee. Wrapped sandwiches,
pastries, fresh-squeezed juices and other healthy choices are
served up at the Radisson Blu Hotel Olümpia's busy ground
floor café. It's often a bustling environment, but there are some
soft, circular sofas for those who want to take things slow. QOpen
07:00 - 23:00, Fri, Sat 07:00 - 24:00. (€8). TULSW
Kohvik Julius D-2, Harju 40a, tel. (+372) 55 51 57 36,
kohvik@gloria.ee, www.gloria.ee. With its perfect views
onto the park and bustling Harju street, this little café serves
up some great Viennese coffee, pastries and some excellent
people watching possibilities - both in summer and winter,
thanks to being right next to the ice rink. QOpen 10:00 -
22:00. (€7). JW
Kohvituba B-2, Lai 26, tel. (+372) 508 60 68, info@
kohvituba.eu, www.kohvituba.eu. The things that make
this tiny café special are its minute proportions, its fresh
cakes and ultra quaint and romantic atmosphere. It's the kind
of place you'd want to bring Grandma after church or a friend
you haven't seen in a while. The prices are quite reasonable
and the sheer size of the coffee list is commendable. QOpen
10:00 - 18:00. JS
Kuku Kohvik D-2, Vabaduse väljak 8, tel. (+372) 644 59
26. This tiny café sandwiched between galleries is somewhat
predictably a popular hangout for artists and artsy types. No
baret required, but be prepared to discuss post-modernism.
Note that some customers, as well as at least one seriously
out-of-date city guide, still refer to this place by its 1990s
name, Wiiralt. QOpen 09:00 - 21:00, Sat 09:00 - 18:00, Sun
10:00 - 18:00. (€6.70). J
La Boheme G/H-2, Toompuiestee 23, tel. (+372) 660 07
11, laboheme@uniquestay.com, www.laboheme.ee. Nicely
done up with stone walls and cheerful orange tables, this slick
little café is a great stopping place for big, fresh, inexpensive
pastries. More exotic items like passion fruit milkshakes and
couscous salads are on offer, and the aquarium counter is an
interesting addition. QOpen 12:00 - 22:00. (€10). TUSW
Mademoiselle B-3, Pikk 29 (Meriton Old Town Garden
Hotel), tel. (+372) 664 88 05, hotels@meritonhotels.
com, www.meritonhotels.com. Considered for years to be
one of Tallinn's best places to get a delectable dessert, this
classic café still lives up to its reputation. Along with the many
calorie-laden treats on offer, you can also find a few decent
savoury meals and a couple of breakfast options at each of
the two locations around town. QOpen 07:00 - 21:00. Also
at: H-2, Meriton Grand Conference & Spa Hotel, Paldiski
mnt. 4, tel. (+372) 628 81 55. Open 07:00 - 22:00. (€6.40).
1TJSW
CafÉs
Maiasmokk C-2, Pikk 16, tel. (+372) 646 40 79, www.
kalev.eu/maiasmokk/kohvik. Tallinn's oldest café, the
Sweet Tooth has been serving marzipan and other treats
since it opened way back in 1864. Drop in for elaborate
cakes, cheap coffee, and an amazing, pre-war interior. QOpen
08:00 - 19:00, Sun 09:30 - 17:00. JS
Pikajala C-1, Pikk jalg 16, tel. (+372) 648 14 28,
aylika1@gmail.com, www.pikajalakohvik.ee. There
aren't too many places to grab a bite or a coffee when you
reach the top of the hill that is Toompea, but this is one of
them. A reincarnation of an old tourist trap of the same name
has actually gotten much better and eating a light bite here
won't break the bank. QOpen 09:00 - 20:00, Fri, Sat 09:00
- 22:00. (€11). JSW
Reval Café Vene C-2/3, Vene 1, tel. (+372) 644 64 73,
info@revalcafe.ee, www.revalcafe.ee. It's the one with the
giant mocha pot. The atmosphere is relaxed and comfortable,
the perfect spot to lounge out with a cup of joe and a friend.
If you'd rather have a read with your coffee, head upstairs
where there's less noise. QOpen 08:00 - 22:00, Fri, Sat
08:00 - 23:00, Sun 08:30 - 21:00. Also at: C-4, Vana-Viru
14. Open Mon - Tue 08:00 - 23:00, Wed - Thy 08:00 - 24:00,
Fri 08:00 - 02:00, Sat 09:00 - 02:00, Sun 09:00 - 21:00.
(€5.10). J6UIESW
Saiakang C-2, Saiakang 3/5, tel. (+372) 644 30 55,
www.saialill.ee. One of the last of Old Town's simple and
cheap cafés. Here you'll find plenty of salads, pastries and
frugal, old folks. QOpen 09:00 - 20:00, Fri, Sat 09:00 - 21:00,
Sun 10:00 - 20:00. (€3.60). JS
Soviet chic
Up for a nostalgia trip? Without really trying, some
cafés have retained the essence of the USSR in all its
tacky glory.
Energia Kohvik D-4, Kaubamaja 4, tel. (+372) 660
47 06. This busy café next to a main trolleybus stop
offers dim lighting, suspicious little sandwiches and a
hideous interior. No wonder the Soviet Union was so
feared. Bus your own tray. QOpen 08:00 - 20:00, Sun
09:00 - 18:00. S
Narva Kohvik G-3, Narva mnt. 10, tel. (+372) 660
17 86, info@kohviknarva.ee, www.kohviknarva.
ee. The heavy and somewhat overdone interior falls
somewhere between cosy and ominous, but this oldtimer’s
continued popularity is probably down to sticking
to the same formula: keeping everything simple and
cheap. Peruse the attached bakery or just slip into the
long, dark salon and brood. QOpen 10:00 - 20:00, Sun
10:00 - 18:00. SW
Tallinn In Your Pocket tallinn.inyourpocket.com tallinn.inyourpocket.com
October - November 2012
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