In recent years the city has become progressively, cosmopolitan given the amount of expats now living here, and that has upped the ante for enjoying the life - that the night has to offer. Not only that, but there are so many unique old, new and recently gentrified locations/districts which provide for a great amount of atmosphere in which to enjoy a great time out. That being said, we’ve divided up the nightlife into districts instead of categories - followed by the top nightclub spots.
OLD TOWN/CENTRAL TALLINN
Almost everything in Tallinn begins and ends with Old Town - nightlife is no exception as there are loads of bars, pubs, lounges, and a decent amount of clubs here also. It’s not to say that it’s the be-all-and-end-all of the city’s nightlife scene, but certainly a good place to start. If you aren’t incredibly picky, and are just looking for a good time out, there are many spots that fit the bill.
Beer House has kind of become an institution, they brew their own signature beers onsite, have a lively ‘beer hall’ vibe and a load of primarily Bavarian-inspired menu items such as sauerkraut, roasted pork knuckles, and naturally the German national food ‘pizza’ as well. With the karaoke machine blasting, the lederhosen and dirndl-clad staff flying about, it’s like Oktoberfest everyday.
There are also a few Irish pubs that dot Tallinn, and probably the number one pick would have to be Mad Murphy’s. It’s located right on Town Hall Square, features loads of Irish and international brews and serves up all the pub-grub classics one would expect. Live music on weekends and naturally the best St Paddy’s Day in the city can be found here.
If you’re looking for a more Yankee experience you can head over to Route 33, they even serve up a great Thanksgiving turkey dinner to celebrate that holiday and hold probably the best Superbowl party in Estonia.
Alternatively you could check out Texas Cantina for one of the better Tex-Mex experiences in this small Nordic country - popular with locals and expats alike, it’s a pretty chill and laid back night out and an easy place to hook up with new friends.
For something a little more refined, head over to Frank Underground, which provides a truly Soho, NY experience. The cocktail list is stunning and the atmosphere is quite something. ‘Old Blue Eyes’ would approve.
After that, head over to Sessel, for something quite special. This nightspot mixes it up a bit and is a trendy/artsy underground lounge, with a plethora of quirky retro fittings, a smattering of gaudy, lush furniture, and just enough bling - yet not at all pretentious. It has the vibe of a second living room and a great view out onto the bustling Viru Street. Truly tasty, vintage and signature drinks are served up here with ease and there are loads of special events to boot.
Another great little cocktail locale is Botaanik, where they mix up signature drinks based on botanicals and herbal essences. They truly take their cocktails seriously here, but the vibe is all about good times.
If wine is more your thing, one of Tallinn’s best kept - not so secret, is the delightful Pan Y Vino trattoria. Started by a longtime Peruvian expat who speaks more languages than we can count, they have a delightful wine list, some excellent cocktail recipes, a truly chill vibe and a great selection of Spanish appetisers as well.
Thought by many to be the Baltics’ most dazzling wine bar, Vixen Vinoteek indeed dazzles with its unmatched selection of wines and its casual chic atmosphere.
Just at the edge of Old Town, Butterfly Lounge is worth checking out. The pink-shirted serving staff, overall butterfly motif, and more frou-frou, cock...tails than you can shake a stick at, make this a place for beautiful people. Top-notch service, great DJ-spun ‘chunes’ and truly tasty ‘appies’ - are all good reasons to ‘fly’ over to Butterfly.
Wanna rock? Barbar is a rock haven that has received nothing but rave reviews from its growing, loyal fanbase. Live shows gigs and events are commonplace, and they even have a great terrace - perfect for any season.
ROTERMANNI QUARTER AND PORT AREA
The modern Rotermann Quarter and the fast developing port area have a lot going on also in nightlife scene.
In Rotermann you can enjoy a pint at the BrewDog pub. The world-renowned, Scottish brewery of the same name produces some serious brews for serious beer lovers. It’s not a huge locale, but the atmosphere is super - sadly they don’t have a kitchen, but, in case you get the munchies - they have an arrangement with the neighbouring Flamm and you can order their delicious flatbreads from the menu.
Chicago is another great bar in the area. They’ve got a huge drinks selection, a very good menu and a truly exhaustive programme of live acts perform here as well. The atmosphere is also quite right and harkens back to the speakeasy/prohibition era of - you guessed it, Chicago, when Al Capone was in charge of things.
Literally a few ‘hopscotch’ skips away is the also quite stylish Urban Bar located at the base of the Metropol Hotel. It’s truly a classy spot, and they host a great deal of live acts to keep quests entertained until they cut the power. If you happen to be a smoker, cigar enthusiast or vaper, they’ve got a great smoking lounge, where you can enjoy your bad habit in comfort.
in port area, near Terminal D awaits Happy Cigars Shop & Lounge offering a wide range of cigars that you can familiarise yourself with in a spacious walk-in humidor or enjoy with a nice glass of rum in the smoking lounge.
KALAMAJA
One of Tallinn’s most happening areas in the last few years is the former blue collar and industrial zones of the Kalamaja district. Once home to sailors, fishermen, dock workers and the more heavy lifting members of society, as well as their employers - it’s now been gentrified, and is once again thriving, albeit with an entirely different kind of nightlife to days gone-by.
The epicentre of the whole Kalamaja frenzy, including the nightlife scene, is headquartered in and around the old Telliskivi factory and warehouse complex - Telliskivi Loomelinnak (Telliskivi Creative City). The space has a wonderful community feel to it, with plenty of events and festivals happening throughout the year. This is probably your best place to start when visiting the district and it’s easily reachable, just 10-minute walk from the train station at the edge of the Old Town.
Experience great drinks, friendly folks and non-stop tunes at the Terminal Records & Bar. The first of its kind in Estonia, they have the largest collection of vinyl in the city, as well as serving up great cocktails, wine and all the other night time favs.
If it’s a view and cocktails you’re after, the Fotografiska’s Rooftop Bar in the Telliskivi Creative City serves up great cocktails, excellent appetizers and a stunning 360 view of the city.
Fono is a great retro themed place that kind of reminds one of a totally decked out Soviet-era apartment, the only difference is that nothing is in ‘deficit’ here - with it’s speakeasy vibes, fantastic artisanal cocktails and ‘strong musical DNA’, it’s a great setting for good times. Another hot pick here is Sveta Baar, and it just might be one of the chillest bars we’ve ever been to in Tallinn. New, fresh music, swag parties and a ‘Pandora’s Box’ of culture await you - top that off with super cool, friendly staff and you’ve got yourself a great bar for an even better night out!
Tops, which is actually one the first night spots to open in the area - it’s just a short hop, skip and a jump from Tellisikivi and located in what we believe used to be a convenient store. They’ve got some really great parties happening here, excellent DJs, special events, and the drinks prices are also rather reasonable.
If it’s less the type of crowd and more the type of drink you’re after, there are many different locales that specialise in wine, gin, beer, rum and various other alcohol-based beverages.
The self-service wine bar, Time to Wine has 22 different wines to choose from, which you can drink as much or as little of, as you like.
Likewise, the nearby Tiks bar with friendly and knowledgeable staff, along with reasonable prices makes a good stop for a glass of wine - or two - and certainly helps to build an exceptional evening out.
A truly effervescent spot for interesting, locally produced wines and bubbly is the Nudist Winery & Bar, which combines a winery during working hours, a shop throughout the day, and a bar at night and on weekends.
Perhaps gin might be more of your thing, and you can always let your ‘gin-ny’ out of the bottle at the Metsis Drinkery, run by the award-winning, Estonian gin producer Distillierium. Gin has seen a big resurgence in popularity recently and another great spot for getting your fix would be to head to the Juniperium Distillery Gin Bar, which features great gin-based cocktails and that eclectic Telliskivi vibe.
For some, rum is the spirit of choice, and Mojitobaar’s colorful, full-flavored mojito varieties, mixed with top quality sugarcane distilled Plantation rum are certainly inviting.
However, if you find cocktails a little blasse, and beer or hopped up beverages are more to your liking, a great spot is the Põhjala Tap Room just a short hop away in the Noblessner Port area. It’s situated in a former warehouse/factory, with the award-winning brewery onsite as well as a great kitchen serving up their take on gastro-pub fare. Another alternative for brewed beverage lovers, is the Purtse Telliskivi Tap Room, offering Estonian craft beer from the small yet tasty Purtse brewery.
For a little bit of everything, craft beers, cocktails, quiz nights, bingo and live performances - all with a great second living room vibe, Tartu’s newly opened second location of Möku just might become your favorite new hangout. It may even be too cosy and you might not want to leave - unless of course you end up making some new friends to bring over to your own living room.
CLUBBING
Tallinn has a pretty decent clubbing scene, although in recent years it’s become a little more spread out and less concentrated, which has seen the smaller clubs taking a bit more of the action. That being said, there’s nothing quite like a large space, wicked sound system and a throng of sweaty, beautiful bods writhing to some sick beats - and if you didn’t quite understand that last statement, you’ll probably want to stick with the lounges and more chill nightlife spots.
Club Hollywood is always happening. Located in a historical theatre in Old Town, this melting-pot for tourists, and Tallinn's young and young-at-heart party crowd, usually ends up being a full-house. They regularly feature loads of funky events as well as some great local and international DJs on the decks, it really gets hoppin’. Their VIP experience is excellent and Wednesday night is ladies night, i.e. free entrance for the fairer sex, which pretty - hint, hint gents.
Another one of the long-time Tallinn clubbing fixtures is Venus Club. With its über-kitsch decor, this place is really all about having a great time and the vibe here isn't as serious as some of the 'elite' clubs in town (and not to say it isn’t a hot spot) - which is in our opinion a good thing. It's also one of the few spots in town where you can often find people dancing before midnight.
If you are more into a latin groove, a more intimate space, and ‘the dirty dancing’ Baila, in the heart of Old Town, is always a great time. It’s got a calienté tropical vibe, tropical menu and island-inspired menu as well. A huge selection of ‘vacation-vibe’ cocktails, super latin jams and rather friendly clientele make for a wild time.
At the heart of the underground nightclub scene in Tallinn is 9/11. The name of the club probably wouldn’t go over too well in NY City, however - the phat beats and rhythm of deep progressive house & techno shake the walls and writhing bodies here. You’ll experience ‘chunes’ from the best local and international DJs, and its location in an old factory building in the Kristiine district sets the perfect backdrop for an amazing night out, which often turns into the break of dawn.
And the last gem is club Hall. Just a little outside of the centre, this underground club is a ‘Mecca’ for those into hardcore techno. Located in the old Noblessner factory building, Hall features electronic music and visual arts, introducing Eastern European underdogs to the world. The crowd here really depends on the programme.
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