Food · Tallinn · Estonia
What to eat in Tallinn
The dishes, drinks and food experiences that define Tallinn, and where locals actually eat them.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Jorge Franganillo, CC BY 2.0
Quick answer
Start with Black rye bread, Sprat sandwich and Blood sausage. The converted factories and wooden-house streets north of the Old Town have Tallinn's densest cluster of modern Estonian, Asian and natural-wine restaurants at prices below Old Town tourist spots. Weekday lunch menus (päevapraad) in cafés and canteens are the best value, often a soup or main dish for well under dinner prices.
Key facts
- Signature dish
- Black rye bread
- Vegetarian-friendly picks
- 6
- Tipping
- Tipping around 10% for good table service is common in Tallinn restaurants but not…
- Food experiences
- 4
10 foods to try
Bakery · Vegetarian
1.Black rye bread (Rukkileib)
Dense, slightly sweet and sour rye bread is the base of Estonian eating, served with every meal and toasted with garlic as a beer snack (küüslauguleib).
Where: Bakeries, supermarkets and every restaurant bread basket; garlic bread in most pubs.
Snack
2.Sprat sandwich (Kiluvõileib)
Black rye bread with butter, spiced Baltic sprats, slices of boiled egg and chopped herbs: the classic Estonian open sandwich and a traditional accompaniment to vodka.
Where: Cafés, market food stalls and traditional restaurants; tins of spiced sprats are sold in supermarkets.
Dish
3.Blood sausage (Verivorst)
Sausage of pig's blood and barley, roasted and served with sauerkraut, roast potatoes and lingonberry jam. It is the centre of the Estonian Christmas table.
Where: Traditional restaurants and the Open Air Museum's tavern, especially in December.
Dish
4.Potato and barley mash (Mulgipuder)
A thick mash of potatoes and pearl barley from the Mulgimaa region, topped with a sauce of fried pork and onions. Simple, filling and often on daily lunch menus.
Where: Traditional Estonian restaurants and lunch canteens.
Breakfast · Vegetarian
5.Kama
A finely milled mix of roasted barley, rye, oat and pea flour stirred into kefir or buttermilk, sometimes with berries and honey. It also flavours desserts and chocolates.
Where: Supermarket dairy shelves (ready-mixed) and dessert menus in Estonian restaurants.
Snack · Vegetarian
6.Curd snack (Kohuke)
A small bar of sweetened curd cheese coated in chocolate, sold chilled in dozens of flavours and eaten as a quick snack.
Where: The dairy fridge of any supermarket or convenience store.
Street food
7.Estonian pasties (Pirukad)
Small baked or fried pastries filled with minced meat, cabbage, or carrot and rice, sold warm by the piece. A cheap lunch on the move.
Where: Bakery counters, Balti Jaama market and cafés.
Dessert · Vegetarian
8.Marzipan (Martsipan)
Tallinn has a long marzipan tradition, with a local legend tying its origin to the Town Hall Pharmacy. Hand-painted marzipan figures are a classic gift.
Where: The Maiasmokk café on Pikk street, open since 1864, and its marzipan room; confectioners around the Old Town.
Drink · Vegetarian
9.Vana Tallinn
A dark, sweet rum-based liqueur with vanilla, citrus and cinnamon notes, created in 1960. It is drunk neat, in coffee or over ice cream, and in mulled drinks at the Christmas market.
Where: Bars, the Christmas market and every supermarket and airport shop.
Drink · Vegetarian
10.Kali
A lightly fermented, slightly sweet soft drink made from rye bread, similar to kvass. It is refreshing on a summer day and almost alcohol-free.
Where: Supermarkets and some traditional restaurants serve it on tap.
Food experiences
Telliskivi and Kalamaja dinner
The converted factories and wooden-house streets north of the Old Town have Tallinn's densest cluster of modern Estonian, Asian and natural-wine restaurants at prices below Old Town tourist spots.
New Estonian cuisine
Tallinn's tasting-menu restaurants work with Estonian forest, field and Baltic Sea ingredients such as rye, foraged herbs, game and smoked fish; reserve in advance.
Balti Jaama market lunch
Street-food stalls in the market hall serve everything from dumplings to burgers next to counters of smoked fish and pickles, making it an inexpensive lunch near the Old Town.
Brewery taprooms
Estonia's craft-beer scene is strong; brewery taprooms such as Põhjala's at Noblessner pour dozens of beers on tap.
Quick bites and street food
- Black rye bread — Bakeries, supermarkets and every restaurant bread basket; garlic bread in most pubs.
- Sprat sandwich — Cafés, market food stalls and traditional restaurants; tins of spiced sprats are sold in supermarkets.
- Kama — Supermarket dairy shelves (ready-mixed) and dessert menus in Estonian restaurants.
- Curd snack — The dairy fridge of any supermarket or convenience store.
- Estonian pasties — Bakery counters, Balti Jaama market and cafés.
Vegetarian options
Of the 10 foods in this guide, 6 are usually vegetarian: Black rye bread, Kama, Curd snack, Marzipan, Vana Tallinn and Kali. Check preparation with staff, as stocks and fats vary.
Eating out: tips and etiquette
- Weekday lunch menus (päevapraad) in cafés and canteens are the best value, often a soup or main dish for well under dinner prices.
- Restaurants directly on Town Hall Square charge a premium; walk one or two streets away or out to Kalamaja.
- Tap water is safe to drink and can be requested in restaurants.
- Book ahead for popular restaurants in Telliskivi, Kalamaja and Noblessner on Friday and Saturday nights.
- Card payments are accepted almost everywhere, including market stalls.
Tipping
Tipping around 10% for good table service is common in Tallinn restaurants but not mandatory; check the bill, as some add a service charge. Tipping in cafés and bars is optional.
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Tere | Hello |
| Aitäh | Thank you |
| Palun | Please / you're welcome |
| Vabandust | Excuse me / sorry |
| Terviseks | Cheers |
| Head aega | Goodbye |
Questions travellers ask
+What food is Tallinn famous for?
Black rye bread, Sprat sandwich, Blood sausage and Potato and barley mash. Dense, slightly sweet and sour rye bread is the base of Estonian eating, served with every meal and toasted with garlic as a beer snack (küüslauguleib).
+Is Tallinn good for vegetarians?
Several local staples are meat-free, including Black rye bread, Kama and Curd snack.
+Do you tip in restaurants in Tallinn?
Tipping around 10% for good table service is common in Tallinn restaurants but not mandatory; check the bill, as some add a service charge. Tipping in cafés and bars is optional.