The Perfect Food and Drink Day in Tallinn

One night in Tallinn, and you want to get it right. We’ve strung together our favourite HDF-approved spots into a single route that runs from a sunny afternoon through sunset on the water to dinner and a cellar speakeasy nightcap. Every stop here has been vetted by people who know the city — this is the order to hit them in.

The route runs west to east: start out in Kalamaja and Kopli, catch the sunset in Noblessner, then finish in the Old Town. That keeps the transfers short and lets the mood build as the night goes on. Every stop also comes with a swap, in case you want to tune the night to your own crowd.

15:00 · A Sunny Start – The Kurze

Kalamaja · Kopli 23

@thekurze

Start easy at the go-to spot for a sunny afternoon. Nuriya’s hospitality has a way of making you lose track of time, so build in more time than you think you need — this is the day’s warm, unhurried opener before the pace picks up.

Order: The lamb tartare — it’s excellent — with the house lemonade, which is exactly as crisp as it needs to be.

Swap: With a group? Head to Sadu (Kopli 68a) instead — Korean fried chicken to share and a Seoul Tom Collins, off a cocktail menu built by Andres Siem.

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17:30 · Sunset Aperitivo – Lessner Bar

Noblessner · Waterfront

@lessnerbartallinn

Head down to the waterfront in Noblessner. The long terrace, the sea view, and the sun going down make this the best-looking hour of the day. Order your first cocktail and let the evening shift gears — it’s easy to stay for one more here.

Order: The house cocktail on the terrace, facing the sun. Time your arrival for sunset.

Swap: Rain instead? Head to Mnemonic (Rotermann) — the city’s most inventive cocktail list, indoors.

20:00 · Dinner – Lee Brasserie

Old Town · Uus 31

@leebrasserie

Move into the Old Town for dinner. Lee does classic, elegant food and a wine list full of carefully sourced finds. Let the house sommelier steer the pairings — this is the point in the night where that’s worth doing. Michelin-listed but not stiff, so it works equally well for a date or a good group.

Order: The seasonal white asparagus with prosciutto, and a glass of Pfaffl Grüner Veltliner Vom Haus or a dry rosé cava.

Swap: Want art with dinner? Fotografiska (Telliskivi) — plant-based food and Old Town views. For something homier, try Vesta (Kalamaja), or the more laid-back F-hoone (Telliskivi).

22:00 · Cocktails – Botaanik

Old Town

@botaanikbar

After dinner, it’s time for the most inventive glass of the night. Botaanik’s small, intimate room slows things down to exactly the right pace — order this one properly, don’t rush it to get to the next stop. More on that here: Tallinn’s 3 best cocktails.

Order: The Tokyo Tomatini — tomato, sake and unagi, in a combination that sounds strange on paper and works perfectly in the glass.

Swap: An Old Town classic: Gambetta (Vene 12a), seasonal ingredients in the glass. Something photogenic: Sigmund Freud. Mediterranean warmth: Mr. Ouzo. A wine-first start: Veino (Rataskaevu 6).

23:30 · Nightcap – Whisper Sister

Old Town · Cellar

@whisper_sister

End the night with a bit of secrecy. Behind an unmarked door and a doorbell is a speakeasy that pulls straight from 1920s New York — one of the most atmospheric bars in Tallinn. The right call if your nightcap needs to be more than just the last drink of the night.

Order: The Gin & Tea — gin, matcha and citrus. As elegant and mysterious as the bar itself.

Swap: Want something looser to close out on? Frank — rough around the edges, warm, full of character. Order the Buffalo Trace Whiskey Sour and settle in for a while.

House Rules for the Night

• Book Lee ahead — dinner is the one reservation you actually need for the night. Worth booking a table at Whisper Sister on weekends too.
• Getting around: Kalamaja to Noblessner is short, Noblessner to the Old Town is roughly a 10–15 minute taxi ride. Once you’re in the Old Town, every stop for the rest of the night is walkable.
• Pace yourself: five stops is a lot. Drink water between rounds and treat the signature drinks as the highlights of the night, not something you order twice at every stop.
• On a date? Skip the group-oriented Sadu and stick to The Kurze → Lee → Whisper Sister. For a group of friends, Sadu and Frank are the better calls.

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HDF Media guide

Story Details

This guide’s route
The Kurze ↗︎
Lessner Bar ↗︎
Lee Brasserie ↗︎
Botaanik ↗︎
Whisper Sister ↗︎

Alcoholic beverages mentioned in this article
Pfaffl Grüner Veltliner Vom Haus, a dry rosé cava, and Buffalo Trace

Please check current opening hours and reservation policies on each venue’s website. None of the mentions in this article are sponsored.