The Best Restaurants to Try in Tallinn

Tuljak occupies a great location that has undergone a dramatic renovation in recent years. The interiors have a deliberately retro feel and the orange hues you find here are almost purposely chosen to show off the dramatic sunsets you get on clear evenings. The food certainly matches the setting, with lamb dumplings and showcase desserts standing out on the classy menu. Make sure you book a table in advance if you want to get a view of the Baltic Sea to go with your dinner.

Dining at Chedi is like plunging into the diverse and fascinating realm of Asian cuisine. Run in cooperation with Alan Yau, one of the most renowned restaurateurs in London, Chedi won the best restaurant of Tallinn award a decade ago. Just like other cultural restaurants in Estonia, this one has a deep-rooted philosophy underlying its menu. Each element of the image and menu has been meticulously crafted as a result of several years of travel and research into modern Asian cuisine. Duck, venison, seafood and a vast array of exotic spices are just some of the many scrumptious highlights, which add to the enticing and sophisticated atmosphere.

This name is no coincidence: the stylish Horisont, a five-star restaurant and bar, sits on the top floor of the Tallinn Swissotel, inviting its guests to savour a spectacular panoramic view of Tallinn Old Town and the Baltic Sea. And Horisont offers a menu to match the visual thrills: beef fillet served with edamame and truffles and buttered gnocchi spiced up with apricot and red wine jam are good examples of the kitchen’s inventive style. In fact, all the recipes are based on regional specialties and prepared using locally sourced produce, but given a sky-high twist to match international appetites.

Sitting on top of a photographic exhibition space, this zero-waste, sustainable restaurant has been developed by Swedish chef Paul Svensson. The food (and drink) is carefully selected to be as good for the environment as it is for the diner. You’ll find plenty to do in the surrounding Telliskivi creative hub when you finish, so it’s worth making a stop here on your trip to Tallinn.

This restaurant/brasserie is as much a part of the Estonian History Museum as it is a standalone space. Usually the food you get in attractions like this is simple and overpriced, but this is no ordinary restaurant. Operating since the 1930s, the Riviera Palais offers some of the best French food in Estonia; it also has a great view across Tallinn Bay.

The Rotermann Quarter, once a factory district that has been converted into a modern shopping district, is the perfect setting for this snazzy café, run by the well-known cookbook author Angeelika Kang. This is one of the best spots in Tallinn for a hearty breakfast and you have to try the energising smoothies if you end up here. A great option if you plan on doing some last-minute shopping as it serves delicious food throughout the day.

As the name suggests, this exclusive fine-dining establishment embodies a mix of French finesse and Russian passion. Tchaikovsky’s chefs make a special effort to reproduce the recipes of acclaimed masters while giving them a unique touch of Estonian character. The restaurant is situated in the Telegraaf hotel and you’ll be wowed by the setting almost as much as you are by the sumptuous food.

Inspired by the historic atmosphere of Tallinn Old Town, Cru is yet another treasure to be discovered in the Estonian capital, tucked away in a building with two main rooms that have been renovated according to the original plans of the 15th-century construction. On the menu, however, patrons will find a harmonious mixture of traditional and contemporary cuisine: Baltic herring, marinated according to the oldest recipe in Tallinn, served with smoked eel from the coastal city of Pärnu and pan-fried black bread.