Sunday Opening – restaurants in Harjumaa
The glamorous lifestyle is rather unfamiliar to Estonia. Those who can't live without glamour look for it elsewhere, for example in Monaco. But there is one place in Tallinn that bears a strong comparison with Monaco. This restaurant is Puri in Kakumäe Marina Haven. Start with champagne and caviar, move on to sole or halibut and finish with a dessert called Malibu Club. Tallinn is just big enough for a well-run, classy restaurant to thrive, especially as the glamour is authentic and not a carbon copy from somewhere else.
The restaurant combines French hedonism with Nordic minimalism and marks the beginning of a new chapter in Estonian gastronomy. With its unique cuisine, it is radically different from the rest, especially at a challenging time when most restaurants seem to be looking for a middle ground.
NOA Restaurant is the little brother of the famous NOA Chef's Hall and is located next door in the same building. The casual dining here is not far from the fine dining experience offered by NOA Chef's Hall. The view of Tallinn Bay and the Tallinn skyline is just a little more impressive. The cuisine reflects the latest trends.
Rudolf is an elegant restaurant. The interior has strong Nordic influences, but the ambience is truly French. A glass of champagne is always the perfect drink, and the hearty onion soup is one of the most requested dishes. There are several French restaurants in Tallinn, but they can't quite compete with Rudolf's elegant service. Rudolf is like a French Academy of Etiquette in Tallinn.
Cru is chef Mark Keerd's culinary oasis. After working in several renowned restaurants, he now has his own restaurant. Mark offers personalised modern cuisine with a Slavic twist in every dish. In summer, the best tables in the restaurant are in the sun-drenched historic courtyard.
Located in a small wooden building next to the large Kadriorg Park, the restaurant is designed to represent the Mediterranean spirit of Estonian life. The competent and always young and cheerful service will advise each guest on the most suitable dish and drink. However, the tasting menu is the restaurant's best experience.
To a first-time visitor, Peet Ruut looks more like a private club than a restaurant. This impression is not entirely wrong. Ecologically pure food is the restaurant's passion, and its guests are usually the ones who appreciate it. The drinks are selected according to the same principles.
In Estonia, Moon is synonymous with simply good food and drink. The interior has remained virtually unchanged over the years. Even the dishes from the restaurant's early years are still on the menu, with occasional minor updates. New diners discover it and those who know it return. Classics never go out of fashion.
There are only a handful of cellar restaurants left in Tallinn. The Stenhus Restaurant at Hotel Schlössle is in a class of its own. In a cosy atmosphere that is not typical of a cellar restaurant, it serves dishes that are carefully prepared with the highest quality of raw ingredients, together with an exemplary selection of drinks.
Life literally follows the sun at Lore, a bistro on the pier of Noblessner's harbour. As soon as the sun comes out from behind the clouds, the bistro is filled with people wanting to eat, drink and socialise. But don't underestimate Lore on a gloomy day. If you run out of things to talk about, the food will make up for it. Eclectically prepared from local ingredients, it boldly incorporates flavours from all over the world and is paired with drinks from an extensive menu.
During the Soviet era, Tuljak was built in the Flower Pavilion so that the whole complex could be seen as an example of the success of socialism. In the early years of Estonia's regained independence, the Carina restaurant on this site was like a bright dream of what life would be like in the future. Now the dream has come true. Tuljak is one of the most stylish restaurants in Estonia, both inside and out, and the food and drinks are equally impressive.
Kogu Restaurant is open all day. In the mornings, it serves breakfasts worth travelling across town for and original pastries straight from the oven. For lunch and dinner, Kogu Restaurant is a stylish rival to some of the city's finest restaurants.
When you enter Radio, you will find yourself in a wine shop. The restaurant is in the next room behind the shop. The menu here is short, easily fitting on one page, while the drinks list is many pages longer. This makes sense as the sommeliers suggest several wines to go with each dish. If you are interested, you can try them all and then choose your favourite.
Jahu Sushi is an ambitious restaurant. It explores and pushes the boundaries of sushi, with lightly cooked beef or foie gras being common ingredients. The tiny restaurant, with just three tables, is kept busy with a steady stream of takeaway orders. Those who choose to dine in can see what pushing the boundaries looks like and sometimes try a dish that has not yet made it onto the menu.
ISSEI is the only restaurant in Estonia serving Nikkei or Japanese-Peruvian fusion cuisine, which is currently making waves around the world. Located on the top floor of the Radisson Collection Hotel, guests can enjoy exotic flavours and stunning views of Tallinn's Old Town and the ocean. The restaurant's bar serves cocktails that pair well with the food.
The unpretentious pizza and sandwich restaurant of Orm Oja, probably the most famous chef in Estonia at present. Cutlery is unheard of here. It can be a messy business, but nobody cares, because the taste and the experience are worth it. The service is of an "inappropriately" high standard, comparable to that of the chef's main restaurant, La Cucina di Orm Oja, across the street.
Nõmme is the most sought-after district in Tallinn. Paju Villa is a prime example of the neighbourhood's elegance. Stylish, with a large shady garden where it is pleasant to sit in the summer months. In winter, Paju offers all the privacy of a private residence with a variety of dining rooms. The well-groomed service team adds to the overall experience. The food is well presented and of excellent taste.
Mon Repos is a restaurant located in an impressive villa. The menu offers some traditional recipes as well as more exclusive contemporary delicacies. The dishes are prepared using the most delicious and exquisite ingredients. From time to time, glamorous events are held on the Chef's Floor, where guests gather as was customary when the villa was built in the 19th century.
Põhjala Brewery has been named one of the top 100 breweries in the world. If you want to see how world-class beer is made, take a look at the brewery through the windows of the dining room. Põhjala beer has played a major role in making Estonian beer culture richer and more diverse. The Tap Room's Texas-style dishes are now doing the same for food culture.
The Kurze is a Dagestani restaurant. The number of restaurants from this part of the world is dwindling. This alone makes it worthwhile to find out what makes The Kurze different. The chef is particularly skilled in the preparation of lamb dishes. The eclectic décor adds to the dining experience.