Note to self. Make a reservation.

Just like many cities around the world, Tallinn’s cocktail bars are popping up, left and right. The menus are creative, the drinks are dangerously delicious. It’s clear that Estonian bar owners looked at what’s been happening around the world, then decided to emulate similar speakeasies and artisanal mixology in Estonia’s capital. Their addition to the city allows traveling to Tallinn become a far more crafted experience. One sip at a time.

Whisper Sister

Pärnu mnt. 12, 10148 Tallinn, Estonia

It is one of the hottest bars in Tallinn, but looking for its main entrance is not an easy task. Walk around the block a few times, and you’ll be accompanied down red velvet stairs to a lively Prohibition-era speakeasy. Named after women who managed these hushed establishments, Whisper Sister is romantically lit, making it a bit difficult to read its quirky menu. Lazy Tiger, Bucket List Flip, Beijing Old Fashioned are just a few inventive drinks that are equally delicious. Despite being one of the bigger cocktail lounges in the city, it fills ups fast, so make sure to make a reservation ahead of time.

The Babylon Bar

Viru tänav 1, 10133 Tallinn, Estonia

The Babylon Bar is a classic speakeasy also with a hidden door, but push through a bookshelf and you’ll enter a vibrant bar, full of tasty whiskeys and craft cocktails. Located near the Estonian Maritime Museum, Babylon might be known for its ultra-friendly service. But its bar culture is already beautifully printed on its menu, aptly named “The Golden Rule: Treat Others The Way You Want To Be Treated.” Babylon’s twists on classics are just as tasty as its newer inventions, like: Newton’s Old Fashioned, inspired from Newton’s law of universal gravitation (brown buttered Bourbon, different types of apples, caramelized maple syrup and numerous bitter.)

Sigmund Freud Bar

Sauna 8, 10140 Tallinn, Estonia

Cynic Bar in Riga has a sister bar in Tallinn, and it happens to be the Sigmund Freud Bar. The concept obviously derives from that Freudian issues leads to more drinking, which is reflected on the bar’s main artwork which features the famous neurologist’s silhouette. The menu is inspired by comic book artwork, and the names of cocktails evidently stem from psychoanalysis. For a fun bar to kickstart your night, Sigmund Freud is the perfect option.

Sigmund Freud Bar Tallinn. PHOTO WENDY HUNG

Botaanik

Suurtüki 2, 10133 Tallinn, Estonia

Botaanik is a tiny artisan bar in Old Town with limited tables, so reservation is a must. The idea behind the intimate establishment is “tasting plants,” which is implied through its plethora of cocktails that can range from fruity, floral to herbal. Each is made 100% organically, through the best that nature offers, including handmade syrups created by botanist Andres Siem. From moss to rosemary, your favorite classics just shifted a little greener and it’s fabulous.

Botaanik Bar Tallinn. INSTAGRAM @malapesce

Telliskivi Creative City

Telliskivi 60a, 10412 Tallinn, Estonia

Telliskivi Creative City is a newly artistic center near the Balti Jaama Turg market, and at the former Baltic Railway factory. The entire area covers over 10 buildings and celebrates Tallin’s art world displayed through art galleries, theaters, restaurants as well as more than 30 shops. There are wine shops, distilleries, and different bars where Tallinn’s young creatives prefer to grab a drink over the bars in Old Town.

Levist Väljas

Olevimägi 12, 10123 Tallinn, Estonia

The diviest dive bar also has its charm! Translated to English, Levist Väljas means “no reception” which rings true since the bar is in a medieval wine cellar on the basement floor. This is the last stop of the night, come here when everything else in the city is shut down for that one dernier, cheap drink. Expect to see a mixture of students, expats, artists. Levist Väljas is where things get a little messy, a little blurry but a whole lotta fun.