Tallinn, the capital city of Estonia, presents itself as a conveniently accessible travel destination from Finland, a fact that has been somewhat underrepresented in my blog until recently. The advent of the coronavirus pandemic, surprisingly, marked a positive shift in this regard. This resurgence of interest is partly attributed to my visit to Tallinn during the summer of 2020, an expedition I detailed in my previous video post from July. At that time, Tallinn emerged as one of the few viable international travel options for Finnish residents.
In today’s video post, I will delve into the charming café culture of Tallinn as it stood in 2020. I have reserved a delightful treat for the concluding scene of the video – a revelation of the most exquisite fudge cake I encountered during my visit. The allure of this cake is so compelling that it merits a dedicated trip from Helsinki to Tallinn, if only to savor a slice alongside a cup of tea in the café where it was discovered.
Watch the music video below and indulge in the fresh atmosphere of Tallinn –
Exploring Tallinn’s Cafés
- Portside Café: My journey begins at a café that is a familiar stop for many cruise passengers, conveniently located at the Tallinn port. This establishment boasts a beautifully flower-adorned terrace, while its interior, predominantly white, offers a serene ambience. A notable aspect of this café is its rotating exhibitions featuring works by both amateur and professional artists. An additional highlight is the inclusion of organic products in their menu, notably an organic lemonade.
2. Tallinn’s Oldest Café: Established in 1864, this historic café captivates with its window display, adorned with an eclectic mix of coffee and tea cups, flowers, mascots, and a striking floral arrangement on a model steam locomotive. The interior, while modest, features a ceiling embellished with golden ornaments. The café is also considerate of dietary preferences, offering lactose-free and gluten-free options, along with decaffeinated fruit and berry teas.
3. Forografiska Museum Café: Located on the ground floor of the relatively new Fotografiska Museum, this café impresses with its spacious and tastefully decorated interior. It offers a diverse selection of both savory and sweet delicacies, including gluten-free cake options. The café’s orange smoothie and sweet potato fries with mayonnaise are particularly noteworthy.
A word of caution for all the sensitive viewers: the celebrated fudge cake featured at the end of the video in the bookshop café does not cater to gluten-free diets, as it comes from the only café in the series without gluten-free options – a point that, regrettably, cannot be considered commendable.
Stay tuned for this visually and gastronomically enriching journey through Tallinn’s café scene, and don’t miss the delightful conclusion where the much-anticipated fudge cake makes its appearance.
You might also be interested in the posts Best Café of the Past Decade in South Goa as well as the Best Hidden Cafés in Riga, Latvia.
You can read this post also in Finnish.
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