When we were planning our trip to the Baltics and learning about Tallinn, Estonia, I kept hearing it was a foodie’s paradise. Well, I am an extreme foodie, and I love being in cities where delicious food is one of their top priorities. We did not have a dedicated food tour day, but over the course of 2.5 days we intentionally tried a variety of amazing food and drinks.
Check out my Tallinn saved places on Google Maps for easy navigation.
Table of Contents
Snacks
Kooker Raekoja plats
I heard we had to try these mini pancakes in the Old Town Square at Kooker Raekoja plats. I cannot actually say where I heard this or why exactly, I just knew it was supposed to be a must. So after stepping off the boat from Finland and checking into our hotel, we headed straight over there.
They were freshly made to order and perfectly fluffy and light. I mean, how can you go wrong with a mini pancake? We got them with raspberry jam and powdered sugar because I am a fruit, sweet treat, and jam lover, but they also had Nutella as an option.
I think this was a fun little snack, but I do not think it is an absolute must. I do not even think Estonia is known for pancakes, although I could be completely wrong. Overall: 4/5, because they were delicious but did not blow my mind, and you do not need to go out of your way for them.
Drinks
Pudel Bar
After visiting Peatus, we were in the Balti Jaama Turg market food area and did not want the night to end. Since we had missed Põhjala Brewery because it closed early, we decided to go to Pudel Bar instead.
Pudel had about 10 beers on tap and a great selection of cans to choose from. We love bars like this with plenty of taps to pick from. We enjoyed the night talking and relaxing.
They do not serve food, but with the big food court all around, you can grab something to eat and bring it in because outside food is welcome. Overall: 4.5/5, based on atmosphere and prices since it is not their own beer.
Põhjala Brewery & Tap Room
Just a note, we actually did not go to Põhjala Brewery & Tap Room. We planned to, but they closed earlier than we expected on Sunday, so we missed them. We were sad to miss it, but Põhjala Brewery is so popular in Tallinn that we actually had it many times. The craft beer scene is impressive in Estonia, so if you are a craft beer lover, you will have a great time exploring.
Even though I cannot speak about the restaurant, food, or atmosphere, we really enjoyed the beer and recommend keeping an eye out for it when you are in Tallinn. It is hard to miss because it seemed to be one of, if not the, top breweries in Tallinn and Estonia.
Breakfast/Bakery
RØST Bakery
I wanted to go to RØST Bakery so bad for a couple of days. We just had to wait until they were open, which was the day we left, so we unfortunately didn’t get to sit down and enjoy it like we wanted to. But we did enjoy it right before getting on our bus to Riga.
I got the cardamom bun. I am the biggest cardamom fan in baked goods, but just because someone puts it in something does not mean I automatically like it. This cardamom bun, however, was a cardamom lover’s paradise! It was potent with cardamom and they were not messing around. That is exactly how I like it. Why get a cardamom bun with just a touch of cardamom? The dough was perfectly fluffy with a harder crust on the top, just like a classic bun.
I also got a custard tart with a raspberry in it, which was delicious, but I think I would have liked it more if I had not tried Wyatt’s tart. He got a prosciutto, honey, topped with thyme and cheese tart. Oh my goodness, get this! Do not waste your time with another tart. It was breathtakingly amazing, if not my favorite little tart on this trip. He also got a cinnamon version of the same shaped bun as mine. He really enjoyed it, and again, it was beautifully baked. It depends on your taste buds because I loved mine and he loved his. We thought each other’s was okay, but enjoyed our own the most.
We also got a sandwich to go for our bus ride, and this may have been one of the best sandwiches I have ever tried because of the ingredients. It started with thick sourdough bread that was perfectly soft on the inside and slightly tough on the crust, freshly roasted red peppers (when you see those on a sandwich, it is about to be amazing), a big thick layer of soft goat cheese, shredded white cheddar, and olive tapenade, which tied the sandwich together. The only thing I did not care for was the type of lettuce they used. I would have preferred sprouts. I want to recreate this sandwich so badly.
Overall I would give this bakery a 4.9/5.
Meals
The Kurze
I saw this restaurant one way or another online. Wow, I am so, so happy I did. We were in heaven. It is a nice walk west of the Old Town, but nothing crazy. We were actually able to see Balti Jaama Turg market and explore more of the local side of Tallinn because of the location of The Kurze.
It has a very large indoor and outdoor area, placed next to a field, which makes it very calming. The staff was incredibly kind and went over the whole menu with us since this was our first time having Estonian food.
We ordered a mix of Kurze (dumplings), Chuttu (traditional lamb and beef flatbread), Lakk Lamb Soup, and we each got a drink. I had Prosecco, because why not, and Wyatt had a beer.
The dumplings were absolutely amazing. All the positive and phenomenal food words combined would describe them perfectly. If you only go to this restaurant for the dumplings, you will not be disappointed. The dough was beautifully braided and had the perfect amount of thickness to them. Our favorite was by far the two cheese and herbs. Our server actually told us it was his favorite and to eat it first so the cheese would still be melted and warm. All of them were amazing, and the quality was outstanding. They brought out a cream with herbs and a tomato paste to dip them in. It was fun to try the dips with different flavors and see which paired best with the tomato and which with the cream. Honestly, they did not need the dips because the dumplings were incredible on their own. We loved that they gave us two of each, so we did not have to split them to try everything.
The lamb in the soup was perfectly tender and extremely high quality. It reminded me of lamb I got from a local ranch in Colorado. The soup was paired with tomato paste, which gave it a nice acidic complexity. The flatbread was buttery and tender, and the meat was well-spiced and tender. The quality of the meat really shined through and made every meat dish amazing.
I did not realize how much quality meat could elevate a dish until I started getting ranch beef and lamb in Colorado. Nothing compares when it is small-ranch quality, especially lamb. You do not need many ingredients to make a dish fantastic if the meat quality is there.
Safe to say, this lamb-loving woman was in heaven. I would go back to Tallinn just for this restaurant. Easily a 10/5. If you go to Tallinn, you have to go here.
Peatus
We went back to the Balti Jaama Turg food area for dinner on our second day and visited Peatus. I got the chicken sandwich (technically called a chicken burger on the menu, but I cannot bring myself to say chicken burger), Wyatt got the burger, and we split the fries.
Honestly, Wyatt’s burger was just good, not amazing. The fries were perfectly salted and crunchy, and the pickled onion and pickle secret sauce was very good. I absolutely loved my chicken sandwich. It had an array of complex flavors, spicy but more on the spiced side. The breading was very good and perfectly crispy.
Overall, I would give Peatus a solid 3.8/5. Wyatt’s burger was just okay, but we loved my chicken sandwich and the fries. I am a little hesitant about the rest of the menu because of Wyatt’s classic burger, but I would definitely go back. It is not a bad rating, just better than good.
Rado
For dinner on our first night, we had a reservation at Rado. I found this restaurant from watching someone’s YouTube video, and I was immediately intrigued. I later learned they switch their menu daily and use locally sourced products. I had to try it.
It was only when we got there that I found out Rado recently received a Michelin star in 2025. I did not find it hard to get a reservation, but we visited in September, which is generally a low tourism month. The staff was incredibly kind and very knowledgeable about food and wine recommendations. Since the menu changes daily, what you get depends on when you go.
We ordered the beef tartare with pickles and capers, which gave it a wonderful acidic bite. It was accompanied by a homemade web of crackers that were beautifully light and a perfect vessel for the tartare. They also brought us complimentary focaccia that was perfectly airy and risen. The butter was nothing special, but the presentation was fun.
For my main, I had the kidney and heart ragu. This may be off-putting to some, but I personally do not get grossed out by a lot. I knew heart and kidney are very flavorful and healthy, so it felt like the perfect moment to have it. I usually do not go for pasta on menus. If I see pasta on a menu there is like a one in one hundred chance I am getting it, but the choice of protein really intrigued me. The pasta was made from scratch. I would have preferred it a little softer, but I like my pasta on the soft side. The ragu was tender and juicy and topped with a nice serving of burrata, which is a love language in itself. The more I mixed in the burrata, the more the sauce became perfectly creamy, rich, and basically a love letter in my mouth.
Wyatt got the halibut, which was perfectly buttery and soft, accompanied by a velvety tomato sauce. The potato on the side matched the velvet of the sauce, and the cabbage added a nice texture contrast.
For dessert, we had an apricot tarte tatin. Since it was apricot season, the fruit could not have been fresher. The apricots were bursting with flavor and juicy. The crust was perfectly buttery, and when Wyatt cut into it we heard that perfect crunch. It was topped with vanilla bean ice cream to seal the deal.
I highly recommend Rado if you are ever in Tallinn. I was blown away. This was one of the two best meals of our year abroad so far, and the other one was also in Tallinn. It was very well priced for a Michelin star restaurant, especially in the Old Town, where most casual food seems expensive. Our bill was actually under $100, including a drink each. Easily 5 out of 5.
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