Best Places to Eat in Tallinn | Our Favourite Local Bites and Hidden Gems 🇪🇪

We didn’t come to Tallinn planning to eat our way through the city — but somewhere between the cardamom buns and the schnitzel, that’s precisely what happened. Every corner seemed to hide a cosy café, a creative kitchen, or a pub serving comfort food with personality. These are the dishes and dining spots that made Tallinn one of our most memorable food stops in Europe.

Põhjala Brewery & Tap Room

Tucked along the Noblessner waterfront, Põhjala Brewery & Tap Room is where Tallinn’s craft beer scene really flexes its muscles. The space is big, bright, and effortlessly cool — all steel beams, and the smell of hops in the air.

We came meaning to have one beer, you know, just to try it, and somehow ended up staying for three. With 24 beers on tap, pouring everything from crisp lagers to rich, hoppy IPAs, it’s the kind of place that convinces you you’re just doing “research.”

The menu leans Texan — smoky, saucy, and hearty — but it was the spicy cauliflower bites that stole the show for us. Golden, crunchy, and packing just the right amount of heat, they vanished faster than we’d like to admit. The pulled pork sandwich also held its own, but those cauliflower bites? Worth the trip alone. Sitting there with a cold beer in hand, the sea breeze drifting in from the harbour, and the conversations from the packed hall echoing off the metal beams made us feel like we were back home in Australia, not halfway around the world.

RØST Bakery

Hidden in a laneway of the Rotermann Quarter is a Scandinavian style bakery that serves the most delicious cardamom buns we've ever tasted. RØST smells like heaven before you even open the door. You're greeted with smiles and trays of golden pastries lined up behind the counter. This place is about starting your day right — with coffee and a pastry.

Their coffee is decent (one of the better ones we had in Tallinn), but look, we’re Australian, so our coffee standards are high. Nevertheless, the cardamom buns are why this place is on our list.  And for good reason: soft, buttery spirals laced with warm spice, still slightly warm, and sticky from the glaze. You know the kind? The one that makes you forget the diet you promised you'd absolutely follow this time around.

Pelmen Kohvik

There’s comfort food, and then there’s Pelmen Kohvik comfort food. A small, unpretentious spot tucked away in the Old Town that serves up steaming plates of homemade pelmeni (dumplings) — the very definition of deliciousness.

We tried both sweet and savoury options, but by far the winner was the cherry and cottage cheese dumplings — slightly sweet, silky smooth, and topped with more sour cream than any one person needs. Honestly, it was one of those “should we order another round?” moments.

Pelmen serves up honest food without the frills, just warmth and so much flavour.

Sessel Speakeasy

Finding Sessel Speakeasy felt like uncovering a secret. Hidden up a flight of stairs within a souvenir shop on Viru Street, it’s part bar, part people-watching venue. 

Inside, it’s dimly lit with cool tunes, bartenders who actually seem to enjoy their job, shelves lined with bottles that promise trouble, and oozes a vintage boho vibe that makes you instantly relaxed.

We came for a cocktail and perched ourselves on a chair in front of one of the windows overlooking the main tourist street below. Before we knew it, our one cocktail turned into a cocktail, a beer, a wine, and a couple of rounds of Vana Tallinn — did we get carried away? Yes. Do we regret it? No.

Pierre Chocolaterie

If Tallinn had a fairytale café, Pierre Chocolaterie would be it. Hidden in the Masters’ Courtyard behind an old wooden door, it’s part café, part time machine. Inside, it's all velvet chairs, rich cocoa aromas, and display cases full of handmade truffles and pralines.

We stopped in to take a break from museum hopping and ordered a hot chocolate — thick, rich, and decadent enough to count as a meal. The cakes and truffles lined up on the counter looked too enticing not to try, so naturally, we grabbed a few. 

Even if you’re not a chocolate lover (how dare you!), these truffles might just convert you.

Vana Villemi Pubi

When you’re craving a hearty meal and a proper pint, Vana Villemi Pubi delivers. It’s warm, wood-panelled, and exactly the kind of pub you hope to stumble upon after a long day of exploring.

It was a hard choice because of the endless, delicious-sounding options. In the end, we opted for the schnitzel to share (yes, we are that couple, but in our defence, it's only so we can fit in dessert afterwards), which, as it turns out, was a good move because the schnitzel was huge — crisp, juicy, and pure indulgence on a plate. 

Washed down with a local beer, a meal here is the perfect end to a full day of exploration.

Hop & Hen 

For days when you want something quick and easy, Hop & Hen hits the spot. A local favourite in the food hall of Kaubamaja shopping mall, it serves up burgers and craft beers in a relaxed, no-fuss setting. 

We walked past this spot a couple of times and eyed off the crispy chicken burger each time, until we couldn't resist stopping to try it. Spoiler: it didn't disappoint. 

Their chicken burger deserves a standing ovation — juicy, perfectly seasoned, and piled high with crisp lettuce. Pair it with one of their craft beers and you’ve got yourself an unbeatable casual lunch or dinner.

We're not going to lie — we also ordered a side of wings and fries, both deserve just as much love as the burger.

Our Thoughts

Every one of these spots had its own flavour — not just in food, but in feeling. Tallinn’s dining scene is full of creativity and soul, from the breweries and bakeries to the pubs and fast food joints. We may have come to Tallinn for the sights, but we left talking about the food.