Pick a Tallinn bar by the kind of evening you want
The best bars in Tallinn are easier to compare by drink and setting than by a single ranking. For a cocktail in a speakeasy-style room, start with Whisper Sister; for changing taps, Pudel; for guided wine tasting pours, Time To Wine; for beer brewed on site and barbecue, Põhjala Tap Room; and for a central pub with food, Hell Hunt. Each recommendation solves a different “where should we go tonight?” question.
1. Whisper Sister: cocktails in the city centre
Whisper Sister describes itself as a speakeasy-style cocktail bar, inspired by classic cocktail bars. It is at Pärnu maantee 12, in a historic building whose previous uses included a post office, bank, hairdresser, and bowling alley. That combination of a hidden-bar format and a specific cocktail focus makes it the pick for a date or a deliberate first drink, rather than a place to drop into for a quick beer. Read the current menu and booking details before you go; the entrance is designed to be less obvious than a street-facing pub.
2. Pudel: craft beer in Telliskivi
Pudel has been in Telliskivi Creative City since 2013 and calls itself Estonia’s first craft beer bar. Its tap list changes weekly, with local and international beers plus cider, wine, and spirits. The venue also lists cask ale, a terrace, dog-friendly seating, and permission to bring food from nearby restaurants. This flexibility is the reason it belongs on a Tallinn craft beer shortlist: you can make it the whole evening or pair one drink with food from the neighborhood. Check the live tap list if you have a particular beer style in mind.
3. Time To Wine: tasting pours in Rotermann
Time To Wine Rotermanni is a wine bar and shop at Rotermanni 2. Its useful difference is the option to taste wines in smaller pours: the venue currently describes 22 wines available in 25 ml, 75 ml, or 120 ml portions. That helps a group compare styles without committing to several bottles. It also serves food, so it works as a pre-dinner stop or an evening built around wine. The selection and opening hours can change; check the venue’s current information and book if you are going with a group.
4. Põhjala Tap Room: beer and barbecue at Noblessner
Põhjala’s Tap Room combines the brewery, a restaurant, and 24 beer taps in a converted submarine factory at Noblessner Harbor. The kitchen focuses on Texas barbecue and slow-smoked meat, while large windows let diners see into the brewery. Choose it when beer is only part of the plan and you want dinner in the same place. It sits outside the Old Town bar cluster, so plan the trip as a Noblessner evening rather than assuming it is a quick hop between central pubs.
5. Hell Hunt: pub food on Pikk Street
Hell Hunt is on Pikk Street in the Old Town. Visit Tallinn lists a broad beer selection and traditional pub dishes, from snacks to full meals. That makes it a practical option when your group wants a familiar pub format and food with its drinks. It is a busier, more casual choice than the cocktail and wine bars above; it suits a flexible evening after sightseeing, especially if everyone wants different things from the menu. The tourism listing notes limited wheelchair access, so check access details in advance if needed.
Quick choice by neighborhood
Stay central for Whisper Sister or Hell Hunt; go to Telliskivi for Pudel; make Rotermann the plan for a wine flight; choose Noblessner for Põhjala’s brewery-and-barbecue combination. For more of the city’s personality beyond the Old Town, pair one of these with our guide to seeing Tallinn beyond the checklist.
Opening hours, bookings, menus, and tap lists change. Confirm the venue’s own page on the day, and reserve for small or popular cocktail rooms rather than relying on walk-in space.
For a dance-floor plan after drinks, compare the music and current event calendars in our Tallinn clubs guide.