Estonia is the first Baltic country whose restaurants can be found in The Michelin Guide. In total, The Michelin Guide inspectors highlighted 31 restaurants in Estonia, of which two in Tallinn – NOA Chef's Hall and 180 ° by Matthias Diether – received one Michelin star each.
Noa Chef's Hall – the stylish NOA Chef’s Hall is located in the same strikingly modern building as the restaurant NOA. A romantic salon awaits guests, from where a magnificent view of Tallinn Bay can be seen. The heart of the restaurant is an open kitchen where chefs work over an open flame. The best ingredients from all over the world, be it scallops from Norway or lobster from Canada, are made a priority on the menu, but local produce also plays a role. The creative seven-course menu of chefs Roman Sidorov and Tõnis Siigur keeps customers excited from start to finish, offering complex and personal dishes full of complementary flavors and different textures. Even the arrival of food is a special experience, because the chefs personally introduce each dish.
The second restaurant to receive a Michelin star is
180 ° by Matthias Diether, a few kilometres from the heart of the city in the Noblessner harbour area, named after the 180-degree view of the U-shaped open kitchen. After drinks and snacks in the restaurant’s futuristic bar, guests can choose between a four-course tasting menu “Flavours of 180 Degrees” or a six-course tasting menu “Matthias’ Inspiration”. Ambitious and effective dishes characterise the experienced German chef Matthias Diether. His modern creations show both taste and texture contrasts, with great attention given to detail. The service is warm and inviting and helps to create a relaxing atmosphere.
Bib Gourmand – excellent value for money
Five Estonian restaurants received the Bib Gourmand award, which highlights restaurants where good cooking is combined with reasonable prices. Four of them are located in Tallinn:
NOA – the heart of this restaurant is exceptionally fresh fish and it offers wonderful views of the city and the sea. The room is cosy and decorated with natural materials and its full-length windows provide plenty of natural light. The seasonal modern menus offer a wide range.
Härg is a crowded and lively all-day brasserie with stone walls, exposed pipes and striking copper chandeliers. The reasonably priced modern menu is focused on charcoal grilling, with steaks at the centre; beef marble steak "Coal Steak" is prepared directly on the charcoal. The courtyard is the most popular place to sit.
Lore Bistroo is located in a large warehouse overlooking Port Noblessner’s harbour. Steel beams, lifting equipment and concrete columns make up the background and the open kitchen makes the place sizzle. Certain foods are meant to be shared and are inspired by the owners' travels.
Mantel ja Korsten can be found in a wood-panelled house that looks like it’s right out of a postcard. The room decor is bright and bold and features a fireplace with green tiles. The Mediterranean-inspired dishes are accompanied by well-selected organic and biodynamic wines.
Michelin Green Star
Two Estonian restaurants received the Michelin Green Star award for their commitment to sustainable gastronomy. One of them –
Fotografiska – is based in Tallinn and impresses with its efforts to reduce the restaurant's ecological footprint and recycle food waste.
Good restaurants recommended by The Michelin Guide
22 more Estonian restaurants were added to The Michelin Guide, of which 15 are located in Tallinn.
The Michelin Guide is the world's oldest and most famous restaurant recognition system that Estonia has been waiting years for. Michelin inspectors have reached nearly 40 countries on four continents and the guide recommends more than 15,000 recognised restaurants, of which about a fifth are starred restaurants.