Eat · Old Town & Town Hall Square
Olde Hansa
A candlelit medieval-themed restaurant on Vana turg with staff in costume and game on the menu: a tourist set piece, not a local haunt; book a dinner table and expect to pay for the theatre.
- Candlelit medieval theme
- Game on the menu
- Book for dinner
- Order: Medieval-style feast with game and honey beer
- Tables and stools
- Walk-in window: 12:00–15:00
- Queue risk: 18:00–20:30
- Menu with prices on Voykit
Highlights come from Voykit's own data and desk notes, not from reviews. Hover a tag to see its source.
Rules in force · 11Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window…Treat the Estonian, Latvian and Lithuanian borders with R…Old Town lanes are cobbled and the hill is steep
- Europe ↗Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window, counted across all 29 Schengen states together — not per country; the Entry/Exit System now logs each crossing, so an overstay is detected automatically.
- Europe ↗On the first Schengen entry since EES began, non-EU travellers give four fingerprints and a face photo at the border instead of a passport stamp; there is nothing to apply for or pay in advance.
- Baltic states ↗Treat the Estonian, Latvian and Lithuanian borders with Russia and Belarus as closed to your plans: crossings are restricted, change within hours, and sit under advisories on the far side.
- Baltic states ↗Book open-jaw flights (into Tallinn or Vilnius, out of the other) so the line runs one way; Riga is the biggest airport if you need a single hub.
- Baltic states ↗Midsummer (23–24 June) is the biggest holiday in all three countries: cities empty, many businesses close and island and coast transport sells out.
- Estonia ↗Estonia is in the EU and the Schengen area; the EU Entry/Exit System applies to non-EU visitors. Check the official EU and Estonian sources for your passport.
- Estonia ↗The land border with Russia is not a route for casual travel; check your government's advice before going near it.
- Estonia ↗Winter tyres are required in the cold months; rental cars include them, but confirm if you drive.
- Tallinn and the north coast ↗Book Helsinki ferry tickets ahead in summer; check the last return before you cross.
- Tallinn ↗Old Town lanes are cobbled and the hill is steep: large suitcases go from the car to the door, never on a walk.
- Tallinn ↗November to March brings ice and short days: plan sights for the middle of the day and wear grippy shoes.
More
Map & directions
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Plan
Open now, when you can walk in, what to order
Go now?
Open?
Typically lunch to late evening daily (check)
Busy this hour
Estimate by hour below
Easiest walk-in
12:00–15:00
Reservations
Reserve ahead
Paying
Cards taken
Per person
€30–55 (≈ US$35–65)2026 estimate · check
Walk-in windows
Tip
Format
A walk-in lunch is only planned as primary when your arrival lands outside the “impossible” window.
Not checked in the last 12 months (no check date on file).
On the ground
How to order, tip and pay, allergies, and booking
How to order
- Book a table for dinner; ask for a candle-lit room.
- Ask what game is available; a set menu may be offered (check).
Tipping
Sit-down restaurants: about 5–10%, less than the 15–20% US norm.
Allergies and diets
- AskVegetarian · A few options; the menu is meat-heavy. · say: “Ma olen taimetoitlane.”
- NoVegan · Very limited.
- NoHalal · Pork and alcohol are used widely (check).
- AskGluten-free · Bread and sauces contain gluten; ask. · say: “Ma ei tohi gluteeni.”
- AskNut allergy · Almond snacks; ask about the kitchen.
- AskAllergy · Staff check; show an allergy card in English. · say: “Mul on allergia.”
Paying
Cards taken
- Pay at the table; check for a service charge on groups.
- A service charge may be added for groups (check the bill).
- Cards and contactless accepted.
Booking
- Booking
- Reserve ahead
- Reservations
- Taken
- Note
- Book ahead for dinner, and for a table on weekends (check).
Not checked in the last 12 months (no check date on file).
Map and nearby
Where this place is, how to get there, and what is around it
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Nearby places
Eat nearby
More detail
Everything else we know about this place
How to order here, in full
How to order here
The order of play at the counter or table, what to say, how much to order and how to pay.
- 1Book a table for dinner; ask for a candle-lit room.
- 2Ask what game is available; a set menu may be offered (check).
No shared language? Tap dishes in the order builder below and show the waiter the full-screen list in the local script. For a printed menu, translate a photo of it.
What to say
| In English | Say or show | Sounds like |
|---|---|---|
| The bill, please | Arve, palun | AR-veh PAH-loon |
| Hello | Tere | TEH-reh |
| Thank you | Aitäh | EYE-tah |
Portions and sharing
- Order a honey beer, and share starters to try more dishes.
- Game platter: The signature; order one to share.
Extras, condiments and what costs extra
- Service charge: Often 10% for groups — Check the bill before adding a tip.
Paying and tipping
Sit-down restaurants: about 5–10%, less than the 15–20% US norm.
- Pay at the table; check for a service charge on groups.
- A service charge may be added for groups (check the bill).
- Cards and contactless accepted.
- Tipping: Round up or leave 5–10% in restaurants; tip a taxi driver by rounding up.
- A 10% service charge is added at a few Old Town restaurants: check the bill.
At the table
- Book dinner for Friday and Saturday, and in December for any night.
- Lunch set menus (a soup, main and drink for €8–12 (≈ US$10–14)) are the best value on weekdays.
- Late-night food: kitchens close 21:00–23:00 in the Old Town; after that use a kebab or burger counter on Viru Street, a 24-hour supermarket for a snack, or Bolt Food to your hotel (check).Late-night food: kitchens close 9:00 PM–11:00 PM in the Old Town; after that use a kebab or burger counter on Viru Street, a 24-hour supermarket for a snack, or Bolt Food to your hotel (check).
- Vegetarian and vegan options are strong; ask for the vegan menu.
Price and paying
- Typical spend
- €30–55 (≈ US$35–65) per person for dinner
Paying, diet and allergies
Paying
Accepted, but rarely needed.
Contactless is normal.
Not applicable.
Apple Pay and Google Pay work through contactless.
Diet and allergies
Yes means there is something for you; ask means possible with care; no means go elsewhere.
- Vegetarianask
A few options; the menu is meat-heavy.
Show: Ma olen taimetoitlane.
- Veganno
Very limited.
- Halalno
Pork and alcohol are used widely (check).
- Gluten-freeask
Bread and sauces contain gluten; ask.
Show: Ma ei tohi gluteeni.
- Nut allergyask
Almond snacks; ask about the kitchen.
- Allergyask
Staff check; show an allergy card in English.
Show: Mul on allergia.
What is in the dishes
- Game platterUlukilihadairy
- Soup in a bread bowlSuppwheat
- Roast pork or chickenRöstitud lihapork
- Cinnamon almondsKaneeliga mandlidtree nuts
Read from the menu names and notes; recipes vary and cross-contact is not tested. Check with the kitchen.
Who it suits, booking and the kitchen
Who it suits, booking, closures
- How to book
- Book on the restaurant website or by phone (check).
- How far ahead
- 1–7 days; more in December
- No-show / cancel fee
- Ask about a fee.
- Dress code
- Casual.
| When | Status | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Christmas Eve | check before you go | Closed or a set menu. |
| Midsummer | check before you go | Shorter hours. |
Show the kitchen
Tap a need to get a large screen you can hold up to staff. The wording is the guide’s; a helper who reads the language should confirm it if your allergy is serious.
Hour by hour, with queue times
Quietest listed hour: 12:00 (busy).
- 12:00busya short wait is possible
- 14:00busya short wait is possible
- 17:00busya short wait is possible
- 18:00heavyexpect a line
- 19:00packedexpect a long lineBook ahead
- 20:00packedexpect a long line
- 21:00heavyexpect a line
- 22:00busya short wait is possible
Desk estimate of crowd on a weekday; weekends, December and cruise-ship days run one level higher. Not live data. No line length is on file, so waits are in words.
Comfort, facts and cons
Hygiene and comfort
- Restrooms
- Restroom on site · accessible restroom: check
- Seating
- Tables and stools
- Kids
- kids' menu: ask · stroller: poor · Dark and busy; go at lunch with children
- Access
- step-free: check · A medieval building with steps; ask when booking
Hygiene
- EU food standards; candles and low light mean check your plate.
- Toilets for customers.
Facts
- Reservations
- Taken — Book ahead for dinner, and for a table on weekends (check).
- Capabilities
- food · toilet · seated_rest
- Getting there
- Vana turg, 2 minutes from Town Hall Square · ~2 min walk
Cons
- Higher prices for a themed meal.
- Dark, loud and busy; not calm.
- Cruise groups fill it at lunch and early evening.
Dish glossary
| On the menu | What it is | Order it how |
|---|---|---|
| Vaimuleib | Bread served with a meal. | Say "leiba, palun". |
| Mõdu | Mead. | Ask for mead if listed. |
| Vein | Wine. | Say "vein, palun". |
| Pruulitud | Brewed. | Ask for the house beer. |
Price check
- locals pay
- Locals rarely eat here; prices are tourist-oriented.
- tourist price
- Game and sets cost 20–40% more than a similar dish in a regular restaurant.
- rule
- A service charge may be added for groups (check the bill).
| Extra on the table | Typical charge | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Service charge | Often 10% for groups | Check the bill before adding a tip. |
Deep dive
Questions, alternatives, and where our facts come from
Questions and answers
Questions and answers
Is it open for lunch?
Usually yes; check the hours for the day.
Checked 2026-09-28 · Voykit desk
Is Olde Hansa worth it?
Yes for the theatre of a medieval dinner; no if you want a quiet or cheap meal.
Do I need to book?
Yes for dinner and weekends; lunch is often walk-in.
How much does it cost?
About €30–55 (≈ US$35–65) per person for dinner with a drink.
Is it kid-friendly?
Children like the costumes; the room is dark and busy.
Where is it?
On Vana turg, 2 minutes from Town Hall Square.
If it is closed or full
Nearby alternatives
If it is closed or the line is too long
- Kompressor3 min walkCheaper pancakes for lunch.
- Rataskaevu 163 min walkA quieter Estonian dinner.Reserve ahead
- Maiasmokk3 min walkThe oldest café in the city (since 1864), with a marzipan counter and a small museum room upstairs: go for coffee and cake at 09:30 or a mid-afternoon break; not a full meal.The oldest café in the city (since 1864), with a marzipan counter and a small museum room upstairs: go for coffee and cake at 9:30 AM or a mid-afternoon break; not a full meal.
- Balti Jaam market10 min walkA market hall and food stalls beside the Baltic Station, with a flea market outside: go for a cheap, local lunch between 11:00 and 13:30, or a picnic to take away; skip on Monday afternoon when stalls thin out.A market hall and food stalls beside the Baltic Station, with a flea market outside: go for a cheap, local lunch between 11:00 AM and 1:30 PM, or a picnic to take away; skip on Monday afternoon when stalls thin out.
Places without an authored walk are ranked by straight-line distance × 1.3 at 5 km/h (3 mph)3 mph (5 km/h).
All places to eat in Tallinn, with filters →
Used as a seated rest node in Tallinn in 4 days.
Sources
- secondaryWikivoyage — Tallinn (eat)
- officialVisit Tallinn
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Source: Price per person
Draft
Written from desk research. Not yet compared with the official source.
Prices are 2026 estimates from the menu or the price line on file. Check on the day.
Source: Opening hours
Source: Best time
Draft
Written from desk research. Not yet compared with the official source.
No official source is recorded for this figure.
The easiest walk-in window or the quietest hour in this guide. Crowd levels are desk estimates, not counts.