Time traveling in Tallinn’s restaurants

17th March 2025

Tallinn’s historic medieval taverns, elegant cafés, and retro restaurants offer diners a chance to step back in time while enjoying a delicious meal.

A trip to Tallinn is the closest you may ever come to time travel.

Thanks to the cobblestone streets and red-topped roofs, the medieval vibe is a given, but your time travel experience doesn’t have to stop in the Middle Ages. These historic Tallinn eateries can transport you back to any point in the last two hundred years.

Read more Time traveling in Tallinn’s restaurants | Visit Estonia

Local Cuisine You Must Try While Visiting Estonia:

  • Eesti Kartulisalat (Estonian Potato Salad) – A well-loved dish featuring potatoes, peas, carrots, cucumbers, sausage, and hard-boiled eggs. A staple at gatherings and celebrations.
  • Mulgikapsad (Sour Cabbage and Barley) – A slow-cooked dish combining tangy cabbage, barley, and pork. Though time-consuming to prepare, it remains a classic in Estonian cuisine.
  • Mulgipuder (Barley and Potato Porridge) – A creamy and filling mix of barley, potatoes, and often bacon. Best enjoyed with rye bread and sour cream.
  • Verivorst (Blood Sausage) – A must-have during the Christmas season, made from pig’s blood, barley, and pork, typically served with cranberry jam, marinated pumpkin, and sour cabbage.
  • Wild Boar – A prized game meat known for its rich and bold flavor, featured in various Estonian dishes.
  • Kiluvõileib (Sprat Sandwich) – A simple yet flavorful rye bread snack topped with egg butter, hard-boiled egg, and sprat fillets. A classic part of Estonian food culture.
  • Pirukas – A savory or sweet pastry filled with ingredients like ham, cheese, cabbage, or apples, perfect as a quick bite or party snack.
  • Kringel – A beautifully braided bread often served at festive occasions. Sweet versions contain raisins or chocolate, while savory ones are filled with ham and cheese.
  • Kirju Koer (Spotted Dog) – A no-bake dessert made from biscuits, marmalade, cocoa, and condensed milk, enjoyed for its rich and chewy texture.
  • Kohuke – A small curd snack coated in chocolate, available in various flavors like vanilla and blueberry. Easily found in grocery stores and widely loved across Estonia.
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