Kalamaja
Tallinn, Estonia
A charming former fishermen's quarter of colourful wooden houses, now the city's hipster heart, with street art, cafés and the Telliskivi creative city. T…
Places in Kalamaja
- F-Hoone A big, relaxed industrial-chic bistro in the Telliskivi creative city, loved by locals for good, affordable all-day food. The heart of hipster Tallinn.
- RØST Bakery A superb Kalamaja bakery-café for sourdough, cinnamon buns and coffee. Come early for the pastries.
- Renard Coffee Shop A leading specialty-coffee bar in the creative quarter, small and serious. The city's coffee people gather here.
- Frank Underground / Telliskivi bars The bars of the Telliskivi creative city buzz after dark with a young, local crowd. The centre of hipster nightlife.
Practical notes for Tallinn
- Best time to visit
- June to August for long, bright days and terrace life; the white nights are magical. December's old-town Christmas market is among Europe's prettiest; winters are cold and snowy.
- Getting around
- The old town is walkable; trams and buses cover the rest, and public transport is free for registered residents. Ride-hailing (Bolt, founded here) is cheap. Ferries to Helsinki take two hours.
- Currency
- Euro (€)
- Language
- Estonian. English and Russian are widely spoken.
- Timezone
- EET (UTC+2, UTC+3 in summer)
- Current trends
- A New Nordic-Baltic dining scene reviving foraging and Estonian tradition; the creative rise of Kalamaja and the Telliskivi and Noblessner districts; a strong craft-beer and cocktail culture; and Michelin's recent arrival raising the whole game.
Other neighborhoods in Tallinn
- Old Town (Vanalinn) — The UNESCO-listed medieval core of city walls, merchant houses and the hilltop Toompea, remarkably intact and unusually uncrowded. The heart of any visit.
- Noblessner — A former submarine shipyard on the sea reborn as a design-and-dining seafront, home to some of the city's best restaurants and the PROTO invention museum. Sleek and waterside.
- Kadriorg — An elegant, tree-lined district of stately homes around a baroque palace and park, home to the art museums and the presidency. The city's genteel side.
- Rotermann Quarter — A former industrial district between the old town and port, redeveloped into bold contemporary architecture, shops and restaurants. The modern city at its most striking.
Read the full Tallinn guide