Eastern and Central Europe (Eyewitness Travel Guides)

114 NORTH EASTERN EUROPE

Shopping & Entertainment

Traditional handicrafts and souvenirs can be found all

over Estonia. There are plenty of stores and market
stalls that specialize in art, antiques, jewellery and
knick-knacks, and Tallinn’s Old Town is one of the
best places in the capital for gift shopping and souvenir
hunting. The country also has an eclectic entertainment
scene. The larger towns and cities such as Tartu and
Pärnu have a crowded cultural calendar as well as a
splendid nightlife. Tallinn’s many classical music and
opera performances are a major draw.

MARKETS

Just about every Estonian town
has a turg (market), although
they often sell only fruit, veg-
etables, house hold goods and
everyday items. Tallinn’s main
market, the open-air Central
Market, offers a glimpse into
the everyday life of the city’s
inhabitants. The market selling
knitwear at the corner of Viru
and Müürivahe Streets covers
a stretch of the Old Town
wall and is a great place to
find a gift. Uus Käsitööturg, a
popu lar stall in this market, has
a good selec tion of traditional
handicrafts and souvenirs. The
Christmas Market in Town Hall
Square (see pp100–1), which
runs through December, fea-
tures everything from knitwear
to marzipan.

OPENING HOURS

Most shops are generally
open from 10am to 6 or 7pm
on weekdays, from 10am to
4pm on Saturdays, and are
closed on Sundays. Shopping
centres usually open from
10am to 8 or 9pm daily. In
small towns and villages,
open ing hours are more erra tic
at weekends, with many
shops staying closed or
only open ing for half a day.
Grocery stores nor mally keep
longer hours. However, there
are several 24-hour conve-
nience stores in Tallinn.

NIGHTLIFE

Tallinn’s Old Town is packed

with bars and pubs of every

size and description. There

are several popular Irish and

English-style pubs, including

Molly Malone’s and Scotland

Ya rd, as well as stylish lounge

bars such as Déjà Vu and the

extravagant Lounge 24. There

are also a number of quieter,

cosier pubs scattered around

the Old Town. Hell Hunt,

contrary to its name, is a relax-

ing spot for a chat and a drink.

Most of the good clubs are

situated in or within walking

distance of the Old Town.

Many, such as Bonnie and

Clyde, are equally popular

with locals and visitors. Club

Privé and BonBon are the

most exclu sive hangouts,

while serious clubbers can try

the port-side Oscar.

Elsewhere, Tartu has an

impressive range of lively

places. One of the best-

known nightclubs is Atlantis,

while the most exclusive is

Illusion. Another favourite is

the Maailm. Occasional live

performances take place at

the Genialistide Klubi.

Pärnu also has an active

nightlife. Lime Lounge is a

stylish place for a drink, while

Postipoiss is a restaurant-cum-

pub with frequent live music.

ART AND ANTIQUES

Tallinn’s contemporary art

scene offers plenty of galleries

and small shops that stock a

variety of attractive oil paint-

ings, graphic art, sculpture,

textiles and off-beat ceram ics.

Navitrolla Galerii sells both

originals and prints. The city

also has many antique stores,

sell ing everything from Soviet-

era paraphernalia to exorbi-

tantly priced Russian icons.

Special permission is needed

to take some objects out of

the coun try, so check with the

shop’s manager before buy ing.

With stunning bronze items,

silver ware and crystal ware,

Reval Antiik and Shifara Art &

Antiques, are among Tallinn’s

best antique stores.

HANDICRAFTS

Towns and villages are good
places to find local specialities,
including textiles, ceramics and
ornaments. Marble is used to
make carved ashtrays, and
pestles and mortars. The use
of dolo mite, a translucent

FOOD AND DRINK

Estonian food products can be

bought in any supermarket.

Rye bread is a local staple, as

are sprats, smoked fish and

mineral, is unique to Saaremaa

Island (see pp106–107). Pärnu

(see pp108–109) is known for

its handwoven linen.

Tallinn abounds with a

variety of hand i crafts. Wooden

toys and utensils are common,

as are traditionally woven

rugs with beautiful and elab-

orate pat terns and a wide

range of ceramics. Bogapott,

an exclusive ceram ics studio,

and Galerii Kaks, with its wide

range of textiles, are worthy

of a visit. Nukupood stocks

hand made toys as well as dolls

in tradi tional folk cos tumes. In

Katariina Gild, craftsmen can

be seen at work on handi-

crafts, jewellery and ceramics.

A-Galerii has a great selec tion

of local handmade jewellery.

cheese. Try Kaubamaja and

Stockmann, two of the

country’s largest department

stores, for variety. Chocolate-

lovers should try the brand

Kalev, Estonia’s oldest confec-

tionary producer and, in

Tallinn, the handmade delica-

cies at Anneli Viik. There are

also numerous bakeries selling

delicious pastries and cakes.

Estonia’s national drink is a

sweet brown liqueur called

Vana Tallinn, but in terms of

consumption, beer is the most

popular tipple. Saku Original,

Tartu Alexander and A Le Coq

are all popular brands. Locally

made as well as quality

imported vodka is cheaper

here than in other European

countries. Saare Dzinn, a gin

flavoured with berries from

the Estonian islands, is good

too. Liviko, one of Estonia’s

leading alco hol producers,

has stores all over Tallinn.