Olde Hansa Restaurant in Tallinn Old Town – Medieval Dining Experience

Olde Hansa is located in Tallinn Old Town, just steps from the Town Hall Square, at Vana turg 1. Anyone who has strolled through the Old Town has likely noticed this grand historic building — and the charming medieval-style cart outside, offering delicious roasted nuts!

Olde Hansa has just updated its menu, and of course, I had to stop by to see what new delights they now offer to their guests 🙂
The menu itself is grand and impressive — so much so that you might find yourself browsing it for quite a while. It’s more than just a list of dishes; it includes fascinating stories, unique dish names, and beautifully written descriptions. Truly worthy of praise!

Olde Hansa restaurant has been operating since 1998, which is a truly impressive and respectable achievement for any dining establishment. Within walls that are over 700 years old, the spirit of the 15th century is brought to life — as authentically as possible.

The staff are fully immersed in their Hanseatic-era roles, and during a medieval dinner experience, you may forget the modern world altogether. The way they speak, move, and serve is something you won’t find anywhere else in Tallinn — or even in all of Estonia.

For many years, the restaurant’s head chef Emmanuel Wille has been at the helm, creating extraordinary dishes. It seems Emmanuel knows the secret to crafting mouthwatering flavors. Every dish is slow-cooked at a low temperature, preserving the tenderness, juiciness, and vibrant color of meat and vegetables — while deepening the taste.

This unique restaurant in Tallinn Old Town welcomes guests across three candlelit floors with seating for up to 300 people, all radiating the warm and inviting atmosphere of the Middle Ages.

Large loaves of warm bread and rolls were brought to the table. As was customary in medieval times, everyone tore off a piece for themselves 🙂
The bread was rich and savory — almost meaty and perfectly salty — while the rolls had a delicious nutty flavor.

As starters, we were served juniper cheese, a selection of hummuses, salt-cured salmon, crab claws, and spiced pickles.
Everything was absolutely delicious!

Even the tableware at Olde Hansa is worth admiring 🙂 The size of the goblets is truly impressive 🤩

For the main course, I chose the Bürgermeister’s Game Filet (€39), which featured three different meats — venison, elk, and wild boar — accompanied by an array of flavorful sides.
My favorite was the tender venison, beautifully seasoned with pepper; next came the elk, and finally the wild boar. The wild boar ranked last for me only because I don’t usually eat pork — but this time I made an exception, and I’m glad I did! It was tender and didn’t have that typical “porky” flavor I usually notice 🙂

The mushroom sauce on the side was absolutely delicious, and the smoky sauerkraut is something I doubt you’ll find anywhere else but here.
Each dish comes with a perfectly paired drink, carefully chosen by the house — and listed next to the meal on the menu.

One of the main courses my dinner companion ordered definitely didn’t leave me indifferent 🙂
It’s something I’d love to try myself next time – “A Harmonious Blend of the World’s Oceans” (€39), featuring salmon fillet, fish roe, parsnip purée, and a variety of other delicious elements.
It looked absolutely amazing!

Among the vegetarian dishes, the most spectacular was definitely “Flaming Delight” (€26.5) — it was briefly set on fire in front of all the guests and then elegantly extinguished.
According to my dinner companion, it was absolutely delicious 🙂

To finish off the evening, we were served Olde Hansa’s classic dessert: The Noble’s Velvet Delight — a rose pudding(€8).
It had a distinct floral, rose-like flavor 🙂 but when paired with the right drink, it became a truly pleasant combination.
Ice wine and rose pudding complement each other perfectly!

Every evening, except Mondays, Olde Hansa’s musicians fill the house with enchanting medieval melodies, played on authentic historical instruments.
The minstrels perform one by one in all of Olde Hansa’s dining chambers, adding a truly magical atmosphere to the experience.

Fun fact: The words “Olde” and “Hansa” come from Old German and together refer to an ancient tribe or guild.
At Olde Hansa, the use of spices plays a central role. Cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, black pepper, saffron, nutmeg, and cloves – these are the heart and soul of every dish served here.

📖 Visit the Olde Hansa website for more information and book your table via vabalaud.ee.