Restoran Olde Hansa

Medieval Culinary Heritage

Nestled in a 700-year-old building on Vana turg, Restoran Olde Hansa recreates the home of a wealthy Hanseatic merchant from 1483. Every element draws from 15th-century customs: menus derived from documented texts, dishes balanced with sweet, salty, sour, bitter, and umami flavors using cinnamon, saffron, ginger, and cloves transported via ancient trade routes. Grand Chef Emmanuel Wille, with Michelin-starred experience, oversees recipes excluding New World ingredients like potatoes or tomatoes.

Signature Dishes and Feasts

The menu highlights game meats—elk tenderloin in truffle sauce, bear stewed in wild berry sauce, wild boar sausages—alongside fish platters like Neptune’s Divine Feast with Andalusian salmon, herring, and quail eggs. Starters include oven-baked herb cheese, forest mushroom soup, and duck liver pâté. Feasts for two or more, such as the Grand Chef’s Feast at 68€ per guest, offer unlimited platters of 20 dishes: game sausages, flamed salmon, rose pudding, and saffron spelt. Vegetarian options like Vegetarium Gloriam and lentil dishes ensure variety.

Immersive Atmosphere

Candlelight illuminates murals, antique silverware, and handmade Estonian plates across 300 seats on three floors. Staff in period costumes serve pottery-jugged honey beer, cinnamon ale, and schnapps, speaking in medieval style. Live lute, hurdy-gurdy, and pipe music performs nightly except Mondays, enhancing the sensory journey. Tallinn Card holders receive complimentary roasted almonds.

Sustainable Practices

Eco-conscious operations minimize waste: feasts encourage refills over excess, candlelight reduces energy use, menus remain static to cut printing, and no single-use items appear. Local farmers supply game, forest berries, mushrooms; antique silverware gains new life. This blend of heritage preservation and modern sustainability honors Tallinn’s Old Town legacy.

Dining Experience

Open daily from 11am to midnight, prices reflect the unique immersion—mains 28–85€, drinks affordable. Reservations recommended via website. Ideal for groups sharing feasts or couples seeking romance amid flickering lights and historical tales.