Eating in Tallinn: Splurge

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• Aed (Embassy of Pure Food), 8 Rataskaevu., ☎ 626 9088. 12-22. Excellent organic/biodynamic/Demeter food. Beautiful interior, very charming and romantic, wonderful service. Lower-than-tourist prices.
• Bar Fish and Wine, Sakala 20, ☎ +372 6623013, www.fw.ee. The name pretty much says it. This is a modern cocktail bar and restaurant serving vodka and caviar, fish dishes and a wide range of wines. Mon-Fri 8AM-11PM, Sat 11AM-11PM.
• Bocca, Olevimägi 9, ☎ + 372 611 7290, www.bocca.ee. 12-24. . This is one of the trendiest restaurants in tallinn features Italian cuisine by Nicola Tanda. It also has a nice bar to enjoy cocktails and snacks. This is one of the busiest restaurants in Tallinn. Reservations are highly recommended. 20€.
• Chedi (chedi), Olevimägi 11 (next to restaurant Bocca, in old town), ☎ +3726461676, www.chedi.ee. 12-24. Modern Asian kitchen supervised by Alan Yau from Hakasan, London. The modern and warm interior make you feel like you're in Singapore. Reservations recommended. 20€.
• Korsaar, Dunkri 5, ☎ +372 666 8064, www.korsaar.ee. The name means "Pirate" in Estonian. The place is a Pirate themed restaurant where the interior design feels like stepping back in time or onto a Pirate ship. Gourmet food, and great fun and costumed staff. Mon-Fri 6PM-12AM, Sat 12PM-12AM.
• Kultus, Vabaduse Väljak, www.kultus.ee/English Restaurant Kultus has opened at the place where Cafe Moskva used to be. During Estonia's first independence before WWII, a restaurant called Kultus used to exist at this very spot. The current version tries to recreate the glamor of the former. Upmarket and rather expensive. Has a large terrace with views to the Independence Monument.

• Kuldse Notsu Kõrts, Dunkri 8, ☎ +37 2'' 6286567, www.notsu.ee. M-Su noon-midnight. Good traditional Estonian restaurant close to the main square. Try the house beer or vodka and fresh buckthorn and honey apertif with your blood sausage or the famous pork knuckle with extra spicy mustard. The traditional desserts are also worth a try. From Sept to May on Fri and Sat nights live traditional music. €20-30 including drinks and desert.

• Olde Hansa, www.oldehansa.ee. The ruling king among Tallinn's restaurants with some of them trying to copy its style. The place is simply medieval, not just in terms of food but also in the sense of performance - no electricity, no music except live and authentic, no modern inventions. The house special is bear meat "marinated in rare spices and cooked over a fire in honour of Waldemar II, the brave King of Denmark" costing no less than €40. Try one of the extraordinary beers, such as the honey beer.
• Ö (restaurant o), mere pst. 6E (close to old town, near harbour), ☎ +3726616150, www.restoran.o.ee. 12-24. . This was voted the Best Restaurant in Estonia in 2007. Award winning Chef Roman Zastserinski has made a seasonal menu using only Estonian ingrdients. Good view of old town. 20€.
• Vanaema Juures, Rataskaevu 10/12, ☎ 626 90 80. Translates as "Grandma's Place", which gives you an idea of the warm welcome you can expect here. Friendly and attentive staff are happy to explain the traditional dishes. Excellent value for money. It's a tiny place, so reservations are essential in the high season. Try the meatballs or the pork with sauerkraut and don't miss the kama porridge for dessert.
• Musi, Niguliste 6, ☎ 6443100, www.musi.ee. 17-24. This is primarily a wine bar, but it has light meals as well. From the outside it looks like a cosy oasis, and you might think the place is one little rustic room on display but there is more tables behind the wine bar. Welcoming staff and a good selection of wine by the glass. Glass of wine ca. 60 EEK. Small dishes from 80 EEK. A good place for a relaxed meal, or with your friends before or after dinner.
• TEXAS Honky Tonk & Cantina (TEXAS), 43, Pikk Str, ☎ +3726311755, www.texas.ee. 12-24. No-one does Americana quite so well in Tallinn. The menu is mostly Tex-Mex (the burritos are superb), and the atmosphere lively and yippee-ayo-ta-yay fun.