Stag-Do City Guides: Tallinn

Tallinn is the oldest capital city in Northern Europe and has a mix of old world medieval charm, a cracking nightlife and loads of outdoor activities. It’s a leader in information technology, but still has cheap beer and cheap flights (two and a half hour flight from the UK). The capital of Estonia once dominated by the Germans, Swedes and Russians, is small in size but big in culture and atmosphere. Most pubs and clubs are in the old town and the town square – once the place for public executions – an apt spot to enjoy last the days of life as you know it.

NIGHT CLUBS

Parlament: Popular mainstream club with three floors. Guys pay 75-100kr. www.clubparlament.com

Terrarium: Big, stylish club attracting crowds of beauties onto two dance floors. www.terrarium.ee +372 661 4721 Admission 50 – 150kr

Club Hollywood: Attracts a mix of tourists and Tallinn’s young party crowd Admission 50 – 100kr. (+372) 627 47 70 www.clubhollywood.ee

Astoria Palace: A theatrical 1930s look and a cigar room aimed at an older, upscale crowd. Admission 150kr. (+372) 642 20 00 www.astoria.ee

Venus: A stag favourite with lots of local girls willing to party (esp. if you buy them drinks.) www.venusclub.ee +372 5519999

DECENT PLACES TO GET A BEER

Café Amigo: A hotel club that has live rock and blues bands almost nightly before the DJs. Admission 75kr – 125kr. www.amigo.ee +372 680 93 80

Molly Mallone’s: A big Irish pub on the Town Hall Square with sun terraces and breakfasts. +372 6313016 www.mollymalones.ee

Karja Kelder: Traditional Estonian quality, earthy pub, which serves cheap beer and good food. +372 644 1008 www.karjakelder.ee

Nimeta Baar: This ‘Pub with No Name’ attracts stag and hen parties, expats and smiley locals. Good meals, music and sports. (+372)6411515 www.nimetabaar.ee

Nimega baar: ‘The Pub With a Name.’ A favourite for drinking sessions and fast snacks. +372 620 92 99

St. Patrick’s: In an old medieval merchant house, with ample space and 2 for 1 local Saku Originaal beers on Sundays. +372 631 4801 www.patricks.ee

Kompressor: This large café-bar with cheap beer, great pancakes and large wooden tables open til 3am on weekends. (+372) 646 42 10

McCool’s: Massive, popular Old Town drinking and eating spot in the same building as the Stock Exchange. (+372) 6 406 548

The Beer House: home to the only microbrewery where 3 different kinds of beer are produced. Good food, live bands and disco. +372 644 2222 www.beerhouse.ee

Depeche Mode: Unique tribute bar to the famous 80s electronica band. It’s an unpretentious venue, serving good beer and great cocktails. +372 644 2350 www.edmfk.ee

STRIP CLUBS

Soho, Kaubamaja 3: Soho is big, busy and plush but buying the dancer a ‘ladies drink’ will cost 400kr. (+372) 681 46 16 www.soho.ee 200 eeki or 15 euros.

X Club: Large, sophisticated club with bellydancing and a medieval-style torture booth.  Admission 75 – 150kr. www.xclub.ee +372 6 310 575

Suite Club: Classy, intimate club where you can sip on some expensive brandy and take a private sauna from 300kr per hour. Admission 100 – 200kr. www.suiteclub.ee (+372) 646 27 70

Can Can Room: Entrance is inside Tallinn’s busiest late-night drinking hole, The Old Club. (+372) 683 52 06 http://www.oldclub.ee/

Börsi: Cheap, alternative, friendly, low-key, basement venue. E ntrance around 165kr. (+372) 641 19 59

DECENT RESTAURANTS

China White: Good Chinese food in the same building as the McCools pub. (+372) 6 406 548

Tanduur: Traditional Indian restaurant located in Tallinn’s old town. +3726313084

Amarillo: Hot spicy Mexican food, burgers and pizzas and two bars on ground floor of the Sokos Viru Hotel.  (+372) 680 92 80

Scotland Yard: Scottish pub/Police Station décor, great range of beer and good pub food. +372 6 535190 www.scotlandyard.ee

Olde Hansa: A medieval themed restaurant in the centre of Tallinn Old Town. +372 627 9020 www.oldehansa.ee

All-night food places:

Burrito Bus: Mexican fast food in Old Town, catering to those who have had enough beer not to care what they are eating.

Kaleva Kartul: Known for its massive baked potatoes over 24/7. (+372) 59 07 89 13

Soogiplats: Greasy all-night “burger window”. (+372) 660 48 47 www.soogiplats.ee

TRAVEL

3 reliable taxi firms

Linnatakso: tel. 644-2442 or 1242. 
Silver Takso: tel.15222 or 627-8850. 
Tulika Takso: tel. 1200 from any phone.

Bicycle Taxis: Velotaxi: Efficient friendly bicycle taxis in the city center operate from March to October in the city centre and cost 35 EEK p/p.+372 50 88 810.

Best airport transfer:

Bus 2: Runs every 20 minutes and costs less than a euro (20 kroons) stopping at the Sokos Hotel Viru, in the city center and right next to the old city.

A taxi to the city center takes about 10 minutes and costs about 150 Estonian kroons.

Tourist Information:

Phone +372 640 4411 www.tourism.tallinn.ee

Police: call free-of-charge call from any phone: 110. Ambulance: 112.

Airport information: tel. 605-8888.

Bus: Ph: 12550

Train: Ph. +372 631 0044 www.gorail.ee

ESSENTIAL VOCAB

Jah – yes,

Ei - no

Vabandage - excuse me (polite)

Palun - please; you’re welcome

Tänan - thank you

Tere - hi, hello

Tervist – hello

Kas te räägite inglise keelt? - do you speak English?

ESSENTIAL TRIVIA

A pint of local brew, Saku Originaal and A. le Coq Premium are the two local favourites and cost around £1 to £1.50

Skype and the world famous model Carmen Kass originated from Estonia. The average height of women is 6 foot.

According to the Estonian folklore surrounding the Black Death, locals at the time thought that the wells had ghosts and threw dead cats into them to get rid of the ghosts. So began the epidemic that caused thousands of deaths across Europe.