Tops
Tops is a neighborhood cocktail bar tucked within the Telliskivi 60a complex, occupying a cozy space that seats about 30 people. The bar is small by any standard, with a counter running most of one wall, a handful of tables, and an atmosphere that depends on the bartender-customer dynamic rather than decor or scale. The cocktail menu changes with the seasons and reflects the bartenders' genuine interest in mixing drinks: seasonal Estonian berries, house-made syrups, and inventive combinations that surprise without confusing. The name carries no deeper meaning; it's just a bar called Tops that happens to make very good drinks. The regulars come from the Telliskivi creative community, and the bar's reputation has grown through word of mouth rather than marketing.
What to Expect
The entrance is easy to miss within the Telliskivi complex. Inside, the room is small and warm. The bartender is likely mixing something as you walk in, and the sound of ice and shakers competes with a low-volume playlist. The regulars know each other and the bartender by name. New faces are welcome, and the intimate scale means you'll probably end up in conversation with someone by your second drink.
Intimate, warm, unpretentious. A bartender's bar where the drinks matter more than the decor.
Eclectic playlist: jazz, soul, indie, electronic. The bartender chooses the music and it shifts with the evening's mood.
Casual. No expectations beyond showing up.
Cocktail lovers who prefer craft over spectacle, solo travelers who want bar-seat conversation, locals looking for a neighborhood spot.
Cards and cash accepted.
Price Range
Cocktails EUR 8-12, beer EUR 4-6, wine EUR 5-8, non-alcoholic cocktails EUR 6-8
Cocktails ~$9-13, beer ~$4-7, wine ~$5-9
Hours
Wed-Sat 6 PM to midnight, Fri-Sat until 1 AM, closed Sun-Tue
Insider Tip
Tell the bartender what flavors you like and let them build you something off-menu. The non-alcoholic cocktails are taken as seriously as the regular ones. Come early on Friday if you want a seat at the bar.
Full Review
Tops operates on a scale that most cocktail bars wouldn't attempt. Thirty seats, one bartender on most nights, and a menu that relies on skill and seasonal ingredients rather than imported spirits or expensive glassware. The result is one of Tallinn's most genuine drinking experiences.
The cocktail approach is ingredient-driven. During berry season, Estonian blackcurrants, lingonberries, and sea buckthorn find their way into specials. In winter, the menu shifts toward warming spirits, spiced syrups, and heavier preparations. The core classics are always available and consistently well-made. Prices at EUR 8-12 represent exceptional value for the craft involved.
The bar's size forces an intimacy that larger venues can't create. When there are 15 people in the room, everyone is aware of everyone else. The bartender introduces regulars to newcomers naturally. Conversations happen because the space demands social interaction rather than isolated drinking.
The limitations are real. The bar opens only Wednesday through Saturday, and seating is genuinely scarce on Friday evenings. There's no food beyond occasional bar snacks. The lack of terrace space means summer crowds spill to neighboring venues for outdoor drinking.
Compared to Sveta's Telliskivi location, Tops is less polished and more personal. Sveta has the professional bartender team and the hotel-backed spirits collection. Tops has a single bartender who knows their regulars by name and makes drinks that reflect their personal style. Both are excellent; the choice depends on whether you want precision or personality.
For visitors looking beyond the tourist circuit, Tops rewards the effort of finding it. It's the kind of bar that doesn't need to advertise because the people who discover it keep coming back.
The Neighborhood
Within the Telliskivi 60a complex, near Sveta Telliskivi, F-Hoone, and Koht. The creative quarter's other bars are all within a 2-minute walk, making Telliskivi an easy neighborhood for bar-hopping without transport.
Getting There
Enter Telliskivi from Balti Jaam station and walk through the complex to the 60a building cluster. The bar's entrance is within the courtyard, about 5 minutes' walk from the station.
Address
Telliskivi 60a, 10412 Tallinn
Other Venues in Kalamaja-Telliskivi
Pudel
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F-Hoone
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