EN 
ET The magical holiday season is upon us, filled with mounds of snow, joy and gifts for all. This is the time for family and friends, for quality time with your loved ones. One way to show your appreciation and gratitude for the people around you is to give them a unique present, something you know they would personally enjoy or need. With all the shops around town offering lots of different Christmas gifts, it can get quite overwhelming trying to figure out where to get the gifts you’re looking for. Sometimes you might have no clue on what to get and will end up mindlessly spending hours just prowling around a shopping center. To ease your holiday shopping this year, we have gathered a list of fun Christmas gift ideas that you can get here in Tallinn. So put on your elf hat, get your reindeers in line and let’s get crackin’!
Tickets to Events
For those who care little about the materialistic, one option is to get them tickets to a show, to offer them an unforgettable experience that you can share together! There’s always loads of events happening here in the capital, but only a few cozy venues host events almost daily.
Our one and only underground jazz club Philly Joe’s is the perfect venue if you love to indulge in live music. From jazz, blues to funk and more, it reminds of a New Orleans old timey jazz club, where the music never stops and the atmosphere is always inviting. With endless pictures and beautiful drawings of all the influential jazz performers on the walls, it pays homage to the stars of the genre. Philly Joe’s hosts multiple events every week, presenting an excuse to dress up in your most glamorous attire and enjoy a Gatsby-esque evening.
Rahvusooper Estonia is a monumental classical opera house in Tallinn, a must-visit at least once. The timeless classicist interiors, gorgeous marble, chic red carpets and high ceilings bring you back to the peak of classical theatre. Their repertoire includes operettas, opera, ballet, musicals and even concerts. The opera house was designed by well-renowned Finnish architects Wivi Lönn and Armas Lindgren, leaving an impactful legacy to the capital of Estonia. Although the tickets can be on the pricier side, it’s undoubtedly worth the investment because of the high production value of the shows and hosting famous guest performers from all over the world. Expand your cultural experience by enjoying some classical theatre!
Heldeke! is a vaudeville-style theatre-bar located in the heart of the hipster region of Tallinn – Kalamaja. Our cozy venue is home to numerous events every week, with genres ranging from standup, cabaret, music, magic to burlesque and much more! If you have never visited us, then we recommend firstcomers to see our house-specialty monthly Burlesque shows. Talk about a one-of-a-kind event! Performers interchange, with guest stars from around the globe each month shining on our stage. This December, just before Christmas we have three Burlesque shows in one day and five fabulous performers to entertain you. Additionally, if you want to get a naughty gift for your loved one, the performers are excellent at handicraft goods and offer intriguing handmade gifts on the spot. Visiting our Burlesque show will undoubtedly make an unforgettable Christmas present. But if you want to leave the option to choose a show to the gift receiver, then you can also get your hands on our gift card (valid for a whole year!).
A Dinner
We all love good food. No question about it. It’s a universal law that love is shown best through a delicious meal. Many of us enjoy going out to dine with someone every once in a while. And thus, why not arrange a get-together and indulge in a yummy meal as a Christmas gift?
The artsy Telliskivi Creative City is home to many cafes, restaurants, bars and venues, but F-Hoone is all of them combined and more. Their food menu is vast, offering even multiple options for the non-meat eaters, their cocktails are utterly delicious and desserts even more so. F-Hoone is spacious, with unimaginably high ceilings and large factory-esque windows, and yet has a rustic, comforting vibe to it. Additionally, every once in a while they host live music events. If you’re looking for a delightful culinary experience without breaking the bank, then this one is definitely for you.
If you want to get the full holiday experience, Christmas buzz, snowfall and all, then you should bring your loved one to the Tallinn Christmas Markets in the Town Hall Square. The jewel of the Town Hall is the beautiful Christmas tree, decorated with shiny baubles and hundreds of fairy lights. The cutesy elf workshop-like kiosks around offer typical hearty Estonian Christmas meals, like sauerkraut, potatoes and blood sausages, and warm drinks like glögi or eggnog. You can indulge in some traditional food outdoors, enjoy some Christmas music (sometimes live!) and afterwards look at some handicraft goods some of the kiosks have to offer!
If you can afford to, then dining in the only place in Estonia with two Michelin stars, 180 Degrees might be for you. It is a high-class fine dining restaurant by the sea, located in Noblessner. You get utmost excellent and sterling service here, no doubt, not to mention the food! Here you can choose between the ‘Entire Menu by Matthias Diether’ (the executive chef of the establishment) or a shorter ‘4 Course’ version. For vegetarians, you can pre-order individually cooked multi-course meals. Additionally, they offer groups of up to ten the ‘Discover the Chef’s Table experience’, where guests can watch the executive chef preparing the entire menu in front of your eyes, like a show in itself. Matthias Diether aims to create an elevating eating experience for all your senses and raise the bar for fine dining in Estonia. It can make for an unforgettable, once in a lifetime dining experience with your beloved as a Christmas gift.
Something to Indulge in
On the topic of cuisine, it can be hard sometimes to find the time to meet up and enjoy a meal together, as it’s always difficult to match up schedules. But if you have a friend with a sweet tooth, or who enjoys a good snack or a special exclusive drink, then we’ve got you covered!
Karu Talu Šokolaad is a charming handicraft chocolaterie located right next to the Town Hall Square. It’s a tiny space filled with adorable little nick nacks, a shop that omits a 20th century Parisian bakery vibe. It’s a small family-run business that has truly mastered the art of chocolate-making. The best part is that all of their products are 100% vegan and affordable! From truffles, chocolate chip cookies to pastries and chocolate bars, all of their goods are simply delicious. You will definitely find some delightful sweets for you choco-maniac friends here!
If you’re looking for a gift for someone that loves to revel in a premium whisky, a handicraft beer or a bold vermouth, then the Heldeke! Bottle Shop is the one-stop-shop-for-all. Offering the widest selection of vermouths in Estonia, the most unique selection of whiskies, Aussie goods and more, you won’t run out of options for sure. You can shop by category, price, country etc, to find the perfect match for your loved one’s preferences. Whenever they take a sip of the drink you got them, they will always be reminded of you. A carefully selected drink makes for a thoughtful present.
Coffee, that beloved robust, chocolate-hued beverage is the one thing that gets us all going in the morning. Thus, coffee beans make for a practical, yet delicious gift for almost anyone. OA Coffee is an Estonian roastery-coffee shop, located next to Viru street in the Old Town. Their cafe is snug and intimate, and their coffee selection is impeccable. Their roastery boasts of over 20 different types of coffee beans that you can purchase and grind at home. Light roast, dark roast, decaf and special edition blends, all of them with unique flavour palates. Whichever beans you choose, the one receiving them will most definitely enjoy it.
Books and Nick-Nacks
Regardless of the genre, books can be important sources of information as well as help you unwind from the stresses of the world. Remembering to find a moment in our busy lives to take a breather, to relax and nourish our mind with a good read can be difficult. And this is precisely why giving a book as a Christmas gift is absolutely wonderful, it can serve as a reminder to escape the daily and shut off your brain for a bit. And if you yourself have read something that has greatly impacted you, it’s a chance to share it with someone dear to you.
Rahva Raamatu Kingipood is an adorable and eccentric concept store in Rocca al Mare, a shopping center located near the Zoo. This little bookshop-meets-nick-nack-store has gifts for every taste and need. Their book selection here is on the smaller side, but is carefully curated and always has the bestsellers of the time. The emphasis here, though, is on the plethora of cute gifts you can purchase. Something for your mom, your best friend, your partner and boss. From home goods like high quality scented candles, quirky ceramic tableware, to globes with hidden bar compartments, life-sized teddies and survival tools. If you’re out of ideas on what to get, then head on over to this fun little shop and you will definitely find something that reminds you of them!
In the center of the Old Town lies the only English-language bookstore around these parts, Rüütel & Matilda English Bookshop. It’s truly a gem of a find, since usually it’s difficult to find a good selection of books in English in Estonia. All the books are divided by category, every genre being represented, from poetry to self-help. Both new and used books can be found here, some old classics and loads of new publishings. It’s utterly inviting inside, a perfect amount of shabby maximalist, with botanical illustrations on the walls and real plants scattered around. They house a remarkable selection of books, so if you are searching for a book in English as a gift, then you should definitely check out this independent shop.
Apart from being a well-known contemporary art museum for exhibitions on photography, Fotografiska Tallinn also houses a restaurant, a cafe and a gift shop. Here in the latter, you can find so many unique artsy gifts for all your creative friends. Awesome high-quality posters of works on exhibition, various art books, some art history related games, designer jewelry and so much more. They have countless books on how to create artworks, art history and other art-related topics on sale here, a truly impressive selection. But one of my personal favorite items was a portable coffee cup shaped like a camera lens, as it served as a perfect gift for a friend interested in film and photography. You can certainly find a memorable gift for a gifted person here.
Estonian Design
Estonia boasts of excellent artisanal goods, especially exceptional jewelry, ceramics, textiles and other creative handicraft products. These one-of-a-kind items can hold special significance, because they are made with love by someone enjoying creating something out of nothing, where attention to detail is eminent and the user’s experience is kept in mind. Design items make your home feel comfier-cozier or can spruce up your accessory game. And they make for a very good gift.
TEKE keraamika, located in the Telliskivi Creative City, is a dreamy minimalist shop offering handicraft ceramics. Here, you can find numerous Estonian ceramicists’ goods on display, from tableware to jewelry. All items are made in small quantities and by hand, have unique features and imperfections. They’re heartwarming and charming, amplifying anyone’s home dining experience. Additionally, TEKE can host small ceramics workshops for friends or groups! So you and your loved one can have a go at creating something unique yourselves whilst sharing the experience together.
A good wallet will serve you a lifetime, and Von Baer makes the best classy leather wallets in Tallinn. Well, the selection does not conclude with wallets, they also make bags, belts and accessories. They offer different styles, some more minimalist, some with more detail, with varying shades and types of leather. And if you want to make your gift extra special, you can get it engraved with your loved one’s name! Their products are, no doubt, high quality, stunning and practical.
Everybody loves a well-made, quality piece of jewelry, and LEVI Design shop has an insurmountable selection of Estonian jewelers’ goods on sale. Earrings, bracelets, anklets, rings, accessories and more from different metals and materials, varying in price, offering something for all. Additionally, they sell home goods and clothing items, but their jewelry collection is the crown jewel. An absolute essential when shopping for a timeless gift for your loved one!
Gift giving can be a daunting task, since Christmas ads are plastered everywhere and can be overwhelming, but we hope this list has made your holiday shopping easier. From practical, to niche, delicious and memorable, we took all these characteristics into account when curating our gift guide. So celebrate the people around you, present them with something special this year and have a merry Christmas! Cheers!
