The inaugural Michelin Guide Estonia 2022 was released yesterday. After visits from anonymous inspectors, 31 restaurants in Estonia have earned a place on the Michelin Guide. Two restaurants were honoured with one Michelin Star, five restaurants were awarded a Michelin Bib Gourmand, and two restaurants were highlighted with a Michelin Green Star for sustainability. NOA Chef's Hall and 180° were the Estonian restaurants that impressed the inspectors the most and they have been awarded a prestigious Michelin Star for their outstanding cuisine.
Estonia's Michelin star restaurants:
NOA Chef's Hall in Tallinn is set within a striking modern building (where you’ll also find restaurant NOA). Guests are invited to start their evening with an aperitif served in a romantic lounge with a splendid view of Tallinn Bay and the Gulf of Finland – then it’s on to the restaurant where an open kitchen takes centre stage and the open fire is used to great effect. The engaging 7 course menu comprises complex, highly original dishes packed full of complementary flavours and layers of texture.
The stylish yet relaxed 180° by Matthias Diether sits within a modern harbour development a couple of miles outside Tallinn city centre and is named after the 180° view from its U-shaped open kitchen. After snacks in the futuristic bar, guests can enjoy either a 4 or 6 course tasting menu where ambitious, showy creations exhibit great attention to detail and display an array of both flavour and texture contrasts.
As with all Michelin Guide restaurant selections around the globe, the independent and anonymous Michelin inspectors evaluated Estonia's restaurants taking into consideration five criteria:
- The quality of the ingredients
- The mastery of culinary techniques
- The harmony of flavours
- The personality of the chef as expressed in the dishes
- Consistency across the entire menu and over time
