After doing your sightseeing in the old town, eating in one of the medieval style restaurants and shopping amber... And now, for something completely different... Kolm lövi (three lions) is a small, friendly bar close to the main railway station. Most of the guests are...Russians living in the neighbourhood, so when you enter the bar, it feels as if you are leaving Estonia and entering Russia. Good food at very reasonable price (5 EUR can buy you a decent meal), a large vodka selection, and - of course champagne and the odd fist fight in the ladies' room. In addition, there is karaoke (50 cents per song) The interiour is... well - different. Coloured lights, "jungle" painting on the walls, etc. Food and drinks are served from 9 am to 6 am.
During weekends, people come here to celebrate birthdays. If you are lucky enough to come here at such an occation, you will have great fun.
I found Kolm lövi an afternoon ca ten years ago, while waiting for a train from Tallinn to Moscow. At that time, I only had time for a cup of coffee, a salad and a couple of glasses of vodka. But it was enough to make me fall in love with the place. Every time I have visited Tallinn since then, I have spent a night in Kolm lövi.
I guess many Scandinavian tourists would regard it a "dirty" place. I agree. Chairs and tables have seen better days. There will at all times be at least a couple of drunk gentlemen who, as intoxication grows, so does their noise level. And some blood stains can be expected at times.
This said, I always feel safe there. I guess Kolm lövi serves a handful of foreign tourists per year, try Russian or Estonian first, and then there will probably be some guest in the bar that can speak a little German, French or English.
Even though the bar is dirty, the kitchen is clean. I mean - it is CLEAN. And the food is fresh, simple, but very tasty. Meat, cabbage, cheese, potatoes, cucumber, garlic.... You know the drill if you have ever eaten in a Russian restaurant. And, of course, pelmeni if you want.
After your meal, you will probably want to chat with the other guests. If there is a birthday party, try to buy a bottle of champagne for the party. You are guaranteed to make friends. If you, in addition, sing a karaoke song for the party, you will have more fun than you can hope for anywhere else. Within twenty minutes, you will be part of the family.
The staff is friendly and caring. They will make sure that you are safe and well fed.
If you prefer white tablecloth, and candlelit dinner, Kolm lövi may not be the right choice for you. Also, quiet conversation at a corner table is out of the question. But if you want to have fun on a small dance floor after a nice meal and a number of nice vodki, step right in!
There is a tram stop just across the street, so it is easy to get there.More
