Discover what’s new before everyone else:

Get our free on-the-go Nordic hotspot map!

The Nordic Nomad

Tallinn, Estonia

48 hours in Tallinn, Estonia

The Nordics • Insider guides • 48 hours in Tallinn, Estonia

Bespoke partnership with Bombay

Where to stay, eat, shop and play in Tallinn

Just a skip from the Nordics, Estonia’s capital Tallinn packs 800 years into one impeccably paced weekend. With a new boutique hotel stealing the limelight and a surge of hot restaurant openings rewriting the culinary rulebook, the city’s hospitality scene hums with restless energy. But the city’s muscle also comes from its contrasts: medieval merchants’ quarters give way to ateliers spinning Baltic leather into timeless carry-alls, while Baroque terraces segue into white-washed galleries channelling tomorrow’s vision. In 48 hours, you’ll move at Tallinn’s tempo: part historian, part insider, always one step ahead of the curve.

Day 01

15.00

It’s check-in time

Upon your arrival in Tallinn, head to The Burman Hotel, an Art Deco crown jewel in Old Town just steps from Town Hall Square. The former 15th-century merchant’s mansion first opened as a hotel in the 1850s – reimagined by its namesake Karl Friedrich Burman, an Estonian architect, in 1933 and re-opened in 2025 – instantly reclaiming its status as Estonia’s most storied address. Seventeen bespoke rooms include nine Deluxe chambers overlooking the cobbles of Dunkri and Rataskaevu, three Junior suites with marble-clad rain-showers and three lofty Signature suites where heritage parquet meets sky-high ceilings. The Piangl Suite flaunts a 1933 St Petersburg-style fireplace, while the Kellalac Suite’s corner perch frames red-tile panoramas. Each room is crowned with a handmade Treca Vienne–Venise mattress, once reserved for Orient Express carriages. Four distinct dining venues on site complete the picture of refined, in-house living.

The Burman Hotel
Rataskaevu tn 7
Tallinn
Estonia

Affiliate link (what is it?)

Photography courtesy of The Burman Hotel

15.30

Reboot mind and body

To kickstart your Tallinn adventure, slip below street level into the Burman Spa’s amber-lit enclave. Honey-hued mosaics arc around a steam sauna, jacuzzi and hammam bath before you enter one of two treatment rooms. Create your own signature treatment by combining a Biologique Recherche facial, using bespoke serums from the Paris-based beauty house tailored to your skin type, with a 60-minute massage designed to knead away travel fatigue. Two serene treatment rooms, draped in soft light and the hum of bubbling water, offer private calm as expert therapists apply precision techniques. You’ll emerge clear-headed and skin renewed – and with a flute of chilled champagne in hand, poised to tackle Tallinn’s cobbled streets with fresh energy.

Burman Spa
Rataskaevu tn 7
Tallinn
Estonia

Photography courtesy of The Burman Hotel

18.00

Savour the omakase

Tucked behind a sliding paper screen, Koyo seats just eleven bright-red upholstered chairs around an L-shaped counter, where Chef Kazuto Hokari – fresh from Japan – guides two nightly sittings through a 14-course omakase (chef’s curated tasting). Sushi reigns supreme: eel and akami tuna emerge as standout favourites of both chef and regulars, each piece carved and served with the precision of omotenashi (the Japanese art of hospitality). Seasonal sashimi and charcoal-kissed fish follow a daily rhythm dictated by nature’s bounty, while a concise selection of wines, champagnes and curated sakes underscores every bite. A rare tea menu – think silky Uji gyokuro or toasted Hwangcha – adds a final flourish. Koyo is Tallinn’s only Michelin-listed omakase spot.

Koyo
Dunkri tn 8
Tallinn
Estonia

Photography courtesy of Koyo

20.00

Sip beneath red rooftops

Next, head upstairs to The Peacock Lounge, an opulent 40-seat cocktail bar on Bombay Club’s highest floor. Velvet banquettes and marble tabletops sit beneath low amber light while seductive jazz rhythms pulse through the air. Panoramic windows frame Tallinn’s red-tile rooftops as refined melodies mingle with meticulously crafted drinks. Begin with the Spicy Road – Opihr gin meets Muhu rhubarb wine and white Penja pepper for a pepper-driven kick. Follow with the Herb Fizz – Beluga cucumber vodka, yuzu Dry Curaçao and herbal tonic for a crisp, citric counterpoint. Classics such as martini, Vesper and Espresso twist round out the concise lineup.

The Peacock Lounge
Rataskaevu tn 5
Tallinn
Estonia

Photography courtesy of The Peacock Lounge

21.00

Try your luck

Slip through a discreet door in Old Town and descend into Bombay Club, Tallinn’s boutique casino tailored for a select few. Eleven yellow‐felt tables stage Roulette, Blackjack, Baccarat and Poker beneath low‐beamed ceilings and gallery‐style sconces. In the Golden Hall, marble columns punctuate each deal; in the Ruby Salon, velvet drapes cocoon two tables for the most private Baccarat or Roulette you’ll find anywhere. Croupiers move with confidence, explaining rules to newcomers and sizing up veterans without a word. When play pauses, raise a Byculla – gin infused with bergamot and saffron – or explore an exclusive James Bond wine list featuring a dozen vintages reserved for VIPs. Here, stakes and discretion are equal currency.

Bombay Club
Rataskaevu tn 5
Tallinn
Estonia

Photography courtesy of Bombay Club

Day 02

9.00

Breakfast for champions

Day two kicks off at Écrin, The Burman Hotel’s light-filled restaurant just off the lobby. Here, the lobster omelette steals the show, fluffy eggs wrapped around chunks of tender Atlantic lobster, served with chives and crème fraîche. For a more celebratory start, opt for the champagne breakfast: flutes of bubbly arrive alongside house-made pastries, seasonal fruit and smoked salmon blinis. Décor is artful with white linen, polished wood and soaring windows, keeping your focus on the tasty dishes and attentive service.

Écrin
Rataskaevu tn 7
Tallinn
Estonia

Photography courtesy of Écrin

10.00

Wander through cobbled histories

If there’s one thing you must not miss in Tallinn, it’s stepping onto Old Town’s 13th-century cobbles. Start at Raeapteek pharmacy, one of Europe’s oldest, its shelves once lined with snake oil and volcanic ash – remedies for everything from headaches to plague. A short stroll brings you to Neitsi Torn, the former Great Coastal Gate tower now a snug museum showcasing cannonballs and siege lore from the 14th century. Then climb to Kohtuotsa viewing platform, where church spires and terracotta rooftops converge beneath your feet. For a deeper dive, let The Burman Hotel’s concierge arrange a bespoke tour focused on Karl Friedrich Burman’s 1930s architectural flourishes woven through the medieval maze.

Raeapteek
Raekoja plats 11
Tallinn
Estonia

Neitsi Torn
Lühike jalg 9A
Tallinn
Estonia

11.00

Discover the city’s contemporary frames

Tallinn may trade on medieval towers and cobbled streets, but a new breed of galleries forces a fresh gaze. At Koos Gallery – ‘together’ in Estonian – fluid glass sculptures by Eili Soon mingle with paintings and Art Allmägi’s award-winning installations in a 17th-century townhouse, each piece probing the relationship between art and space. The gallery doubles as an art-investment hub, championing serious collectors who share its passion for thought-provoking expression. Not far away, PoCo stands as the city’s pop-art embassy, showcasing icons from Warhol, Lichtenstein and Haring to Banksy, Koons, Basquiat, Kusama and Newton. Here, pop’s bold colours and graphic punch collide in immersive exhibitions. Together, these venues prove that beneath Tallinn’s ancient veneer, a restless avant-garde is staking its claim.

Koos Gallery
Teatri v 1
Tallinn
Estonia

PoCo
Rotermanni tn 2
Tallinn
Estonia

Photography courtesy of PoCo

13.00

Break for a Belgian-French lunch

By midday, Maison François in Old Town is a backstage pass to boulangerie mastery. Opt for either the Soupe à l’Oignon Gratinée, where sweet caramelised onions steep in a house-made broth topped with bubbling Gruyère and crisp croutons, or the Salade Niçoise with peppered greens, olives and capers draped under seared fresh tuna and a sharp Dijon vinaigrette. Don’t bypass the bread counter, though: stone-oven loaves, flaky croissants and buttery brioche emerge hourly from baker François Arnould’s hands. Paired with café au lait or a glass of chilled rosé, it’s an unapologetically indulgent pause before you tackle Tallinn’s retail explorations.

Maison François
Dunkri tn 8
Tallinn
Estonia

Photography courtesy of Maison François

14.00

Browse local fashion and global labels

Tallinn’s style scene spreads from Old Town’s cobbles onto Maakri street, marrying homegrown ingenuity with global names. At Guild, a ’sartorial streetwear’ atelier born in 2012, Sten Karik and Joan Hint fuse traditional crafts with contemporary leisurewear– think storytelling denim under one roof alongside Guild Hattery’s bespoke millinery, all cut from certified fabrics with zero waste. Nearby, Amanjeda by Katrin Kuldma channels her Tallinn, New York and Milan pedigree into luxury clothing for men and women (and even an interior line), building on her 1993 couture roots and 2006 Golden Needle award. For international fashions, Nude and Nude Men flank the junction of Suur-Karja and Pärnu maantee with Saint Laurent, Celine and Fendi. Under Old Town’s pitched roofs, Fashion House carries Brunello Cucinelli and Kiton, while Maximalist showcases Jil Sander, Jacquemus and Totême.

Guild
Lai 36
Tallinn
Estonia

Amanjeda
Maakri tn 19
Tallinn
Estonia

Photography courtesy of Guild and Unsplash

16.00

Uncover Telliskivi’s creative pulse

Telliskivi still hums with railway echoes, its brick warehouses splashed in street art and reclaimed as studios, cafés and indie shops. At the heart of this reinvention sits Fotografiska Tallinn, the first outpost of Sweden’s 2010-born photography museum, which opened here in June 2019 and quickly became a magnet for image obsessives. Inside the red-brick Punane Maja, rotating exhibitions – everything from Baltic landscapes to global photojournalism – unspool beneath industrial beams, while open-late hours and the option to sip a drink amid the galleries blur the line between museum and social lab. Beyond the main halls, Telliskivi’s repurposed yards pulse with creative starts: pop-up markets, graffiti alleyways and design collectives that prove Tallinn’s future is set to be vivid.

Fotografiska
Telliskivi tn 60a-8
Tallinn
Estonia

Photography courtesy of Kaupo Kalda

19.00

Dine on a royal feast

Shang Shi translates as ‘Royal Feast’, a name that promises banquet-level Cantonese dining beneath a 15th-century hand-painted ceiling. Chef Chee Hwee Tong of Hakkasan fame engineers each dish in a sixty-seat dining room and ten-seat VIP salon. The Legendary Peking Duck (24-hour notice) unfolds in three acts: crackling skin, tender meat with pancakes, then minced duck in lettuce cups – ideally crowned with Beluga caviar. A flight of eight steamed dim sum flavours turns tasting into a playful ritual, while honey-glazed char siu pork and garlicky pak choi honour time-tested technique. The serene interior, by Macau based Westar Architects, is complemented by Monika Tsang’s bespoke chopsticks, dim sum holders and bespoke tableware, and a menu stamped by the Michelin Guide seals the sumptuous experience.

Shang Shi
Rataskaevu tn 5
Tallinn
Estonia

Photography courtesy of Shang Shi

21.00

A clandestine spot for wine, cocktails and cigars

Start by asking for the Sneaky Fox, Fox Den’s much-whispered off-menu signature that marks you as in the know. Settle into what was once the 15th-century Rebaseurg cellar – now three intimate chambers beneath vaulted brick arches and original oak beams: a 12-seat cigar salon, a 10-seat wine vault and a 20-seat whiskey bar. Plush leather armchairs cluster around low tables set with ashtrays for cigars rolled on the spot. A sommelier moves between guests, offering flights from legendary Bordeaux to under-the-radar labels, while regular masterclasses decode smoke, oak and tannin and themed wine and whiskey poker evenings up the ante.

Fox Den
Rataskaevu tn 5
Tallinn
Estonia

Photography courtesy of Fox Den

22.00

Ascend to velvet nights

Venture to Velvet, Bombay Club’s top-floor venue where heavy drapes give way to a runway-stage for unconventional performances. Past acts have included Jazz Meets Burlesque with Iain MacKenzie trio & Jolie Papillon Show (both regulars in Mayfair, London), a Frank Sinatra tribute by James Hudson Trio and dancers (another Mayfair fixture), Queens of Velvet Burlesque, Carlton J. Smith’s homage to James Brown and Velvet Salon Night pairing Sander Mölder with Con Fusion quartet. Once the final bow is taken, a DJ spins on the compact dance floor, coaxing you into one last set before Tallinn’s night wraps around you.

Velvet
Rataskaevu tn 5
Tallinn
Estonia

Photography courtesy of Velvet

Day 03

10.00

A morning at the park

Day three pivots from Old Town’s medieval pulse to Kadriorg Park, Peter the Great’s 1718 Baroque statement for Catherine I. Broad gravel promenades flank manicured azalea beds and a tucked-away Japanese garden before the pastel-pink palace comes into view, now a trophy room for Dutch masters and Italian Renaissance portraits. A short walk leads to Kumu, its concrete-and-glass shell cutting through rococo excess with a punch of contemporary art. Don’t skip the Mikkel Museum’s silver collection and the Peter the Great House Museum by the lily-dotted pond, where imperial ambition resides in a modest wood cabin. In three hours, you’ll traverse three centuries of power and creativity.

Kadriorg Palace
A. Weizenbergi tn 37
Tallinn
Estonia

Kumu
Valge tn 1
Tallinn
Estonia

Peter the Great House Museum
Mäekalda tn 2
Tallinn
Estonia

Photography courtesy of Silver Gutmann and Kumu

13.00

A last treat

The sweetest farewell to Tallinn arrives at Écrin’s Afternoon Tea. A silver and porcelain tower delivers scones still steaming, their crusts shattering to reveal pillowy interiors – tear one open, smear it with thick clotted cream and tart lingonberry jam. The next tier lines up paper-thin cucumber with dill, smoky salmon crowned in chive mayo and egg-mayonnaise on butter-bright brioche. On top, pistachio macarons snap like a punch, lemon tarts pucker the tongue and fruit danishes flake in riotous spirals. A pot of single-origin Darjeeling or pine-needle herbal infusion arrives in fine china. It’s one last, sweet irreverent taste of the city.