Rest assured, this post is not another one of those be vegan, it's healthy, or vegan is the only way to eat and everything else is wrong. This post is more about exploring vegan places in Tallinn and discovering new meals to make at home or why not at the dorms (eventually).
With that said, being vegan in a new city is always a hustle and needs some homework before visiting a place. Hopefully, this post will give some insight into what are the options for vegans and non-vegans (as everyone is welcome to try something new).
Vegan Restoran V
Vegan Restaurant V opened back in 2014 and is known as the classic vegan place in Tallinn Old Town. It is a small and cozy place with friendly service. All food there is 100% vegan, and that is their main selling point. Examples of their dishes include tofu-filled pasta shells, tempeh salad, and my personal favorite: potato casserole with seitan. Their diverse cake selection, which is always a surprise on the spot, is to die for. During February, they sell the best vegan semla (in Estonian vastlakukkel) in town!
For more information, you can visit their website: https://www.veganrestoran.ee/en.
Location: Rataskaevu 12, Tallinn.
Photo from: Vegan restoran V official website. https://www.veganrestoran.ee/en.
Vegan Inspiratsioon
This place has bohemian vibes all over and offers great music on the side. The menu is huge and satisfies every vegan. If you are interested in trying Estonian cuisine, there is an option to try the vegan version of the traditional potato salad. Also, if you are a raw vegan, there are options for you, too!! For the sweet tooths out there, another Estonian staple is the Estonian cake “spotted dog”.
For more information: https://veganinspiratsioon.ee/en/#menu
Location: Pagari 1/Lai 44, Tallinn
Toormoor
This is an amazing vegan cafe where you can get soups and light meals for a reasonable price. I consider this place the best vegan cake place in town. For example, they have raw vegan snickers and red velvet cakes that are delicious. A fun fact is that they recently changed locations and are now located in the Old Town premise, which is amazing considering that it's now much more accessible.
For more information: https://toormoor.ee. Unfortunately, right now, their page is only available in Estonian, but you can still admire their cake options!!
Location: Sulevimägi 1, Tallinn.
Veg machine
This place has a more street food vibe and is known for its burgers, hot dogs, and sandwiches. Their meatless burger is said to be the best in the city.
They don't have an official website up and running, but they are on Wolt, so you can still see what they are offering: https://wolt.com/en/est/tallinn/restaurant/veg-machine
Location: Kopli 1
Photo from:
Kitchen Pelgupaik
The Restaurant has been open for a little over a year and offers Asian-style foods like pad thai, Singapore noodles, green curry, and kimchi. It's another tiny and artsy place to visit. Reviews online also confirm that this place is well worth a visit. A bonus fact is that they are now on Wolt and Bolt, so on rainy days, you can order from home.
More information: https://restoranpelgupaik.ee/the-vegan-noodle-place-eng/
Location: Telliskivi 24, Tallinn
The last place, of course, is going to be Tallinn University Astra building vegan area on the ground floor – cafe Oaas. This is a new addition that has been around for a couple of years. The food is delightful and has student-friendly prices. The menu changes weekly and can be found on their official Facebook page every Monday: @KohvikOaas.
These are just a few places in Tallinn where you can eat vegan-friendly foods. Like many other countries, it is common to find vegan foods in non-vegan places. So do not hesitate to ask, you could find something amazing.
Finally, for the coffee addicts - you don't have to drink your coffee black if this is not your preferred option. Most coffee shops have the option to use vegan milk if asked, and the wide variety of those is breathtaking.
Written by Laura Martina Vilu