Nightlife · Tallinn · Estonia
Tallinn nightlife
Where the evenings happen in Tallinn, from early drinks to late nights.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Ben Bender, CC BY-SA 3.0
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Quick answer
Tallinn's nightlife ranges from Old Town pubs and cocktail bars to craft-beer bars and clubs in converted factories at Telliskivi. Weekends are busiest, and drinks are noticeably cheaper than in Helsinki. The main areas are Old Town, Telliskivi and Kalamaja, Rotermann Quarter and Noblessner.
Key facts
- Nightlife areas
- 4
- Stay near the action
- Kalamaja and Telliskivi
- Local drink
- Vana Tallinn
Where to go out
Old Town
Pubs, cellar bars and cocktail bars around Viru street and Town Hall Square, busy with visitors and weekend groups.
Telliskivi and Kalamaja
Craft-beer bars, wine bars and club nights in former factory buildings, with a local crowd.
Rotermann Quarter
Smarter restaurants and wine bars between the Old Town and the port.
Noblessner
Brewery taproom and waterfront bars, busiest on summer evenings.
Nightlife tips
- Use ride-hailing apps for late journeys rather than unmarked taxis.
- Avoid bars where touts on the street invite you in; inflated bills have been reported in a few Old Town venues.
- Check the drinks menu prices before ordering in venues aimed at stag parties.
Evening sights
Neighbourhood · Kalamaja
Telliskivi Creative City
Visit late afternoon to browse the shops, then stay for dinner and drinks as the courtyards fill.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Shopping
- Food
- Art
- After dark
What to drink
- 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.
- 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.
Evenings through the year
Sunset and the overnight low decide how long the outdoor part of a night lasts. July has the warmest evenings, with lows around 13°C (55°F).
| Month | Sunset (15th) | Overnight low | Rainy days |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | About 15:56 | -6°C (21°F) | 11 |
| April | About 20:36 | 1°C (34°F) | 7 |
| July | About 22:24 | 13°C (55°F) | 9 |
| October | About 18:14 | 4°C (39°F) | 12 |
Getting home late
- Walking — Most sights in the Old Town, Toompea, Kalamaja and the harbour are within a 20-minute walk, though Old Town cobbles are uneven and Toompea is steep.
- Tram — Buy tickets with a rechargeable Ühiskaart smartcard or a mobile ticket rather than paying the driver.
- Bus — Buses reach Pirita, the TV Tower and the Open Air Museum at Rocca al Mare, mostly from stops around Viru Keskus and the Baltic Station.
- Ride-hailing — Book through an app rather than hailing unmarked taxis at the port or Old Town, where overcharging has been reported.
- Ferry — Ferries to Helsinki and Stockholm leave from the Old City Harbour terminals, about 15 minutes' walk from the Old Town.
Late-night bites
- Sprat sandwich — Cafés, market food stalls and traditional restaurants; tins of spiced sprats are sold in supermarkets.
- Curd snack — The dairy fridge of any supermarket or convenience store.
- Estonian pasties — Bakery counters, Balti Jaama market and cafés.
Staying safe at night
Tallinn is generally low-risk, but pickpocketing occurs in the Old Town on busy summer days and around the port. At night, stay alert around bars frequented by stag groups, and use ride-hailing apps instead of unmarked taxis.
- Emergency number
- 112 (all emergencies)
Where to stay for nightlife
$$ · Best for food lovers, solo travellers, budget and nightlife
Kalamaja and Telliskivi
Just north-west of the Old Town beyond the Baltic Station, Kalamaja is a former fishermen's and workers' district of colourful wooden houses, now popular with young families and creatives. It includes Telliskivi Creative City, a set of former railway factory buildings filled with restaurants, design shops and galleries, as well as the Balti Jaama market and the Seaplane Harbour museum by the sea.
- Good
- Best café and restaurant scene in the city; Walkable to the Old Town; More local character, lower prices
- Watch out
- Mostly apartments and small guesthouses; Uneven pavements and some unrenovated buildings
- Nearby
- Telliskivi Creative City, Balti Jaama market, Seaplane Harbour, Kalamaja Park
Questions travellers ask
+Where is the best nightlife in Tallinn?
Old Town, Telliskivi and Kalamaja and Rotermann Quarter. Pubs, cellar bars and cocktail bars around Viru street and Town Hall Square, busy with visitors and weekend groups.
+Which area of Tallinn is best for nightlife?
Kalamaja and Telliskivi: Wooden houses, converted factories, cafés and the city's creative scene.