Kalamaja is one of the oldest districts in Tallinn and during the Middle Ages it was home to fishermen and sailors — hence its name, which is Estonian for fish house. Sadly from the s the area began to fall into decline, with its beautiful houses falling into disrepair, and until recently, it was considered an unsafe area for visitors, especially at night. To me, Kalamaja feels like the perfect place to live, with its chilled vibe, pretty buildings, tree-lined streets and cute corner cafes.
Around every corner you see smiling friends meeting over a coffee, families playing in the small parks or people walking their dogs.
Now iconic to the Kalamaja district, these were originally built in the boom era of the s and s. Many are now modern homes, whereas others have been turned into cute cafes and restaurants, like Boheem. At the heart of Kalamaja is the old industrial area, which has been given an amazing second lease of life.
The old buildings now house museums, art galleries, shops, restaurants and bars. At its centre lies the Telliskivi Creative Centre; a warehouse turned shopping centre now full of small design, food, interior and clothes boutiques.
Behind this giant building, the old outhouses have been converted into bars and restaurants, and all across the area are ping pong tables for the locals to play. The old industrial works regularly hosts flea markets where the cool kids sell their funky clothes and designer cast-offs and it even gets turned into an outdoor cinema during summer evenings. Just north of Telliskivi was my favourite spot — Depoo.
