A magnificent photo museum and a great restaurant at the same address
Text and photos Timo Huttunen
Fotografiska, which presents photographic art, is located in an old restored industrial building in the heart of Telliskivi – Tallinn’s trendy district.
There is a museum shop and a large café in the lower lobby. Floors two and three are dedicated to the exhibitions and events. There is also a museum-styled fine dining restaurant on the sixth floor.
The first Fotografiska was opened in Stockholm in 2010. Tallinn was the first place outside Sweden where Fotografiska expanded in 2019. In the same year, the museum received the “Tallinn Tourism of the Year” award. Since then, Fotografiska has also opened in New York. This year, it will open Berlin and Shanghai.
Upon entering, the visitor is greeted by a large and tall factory-like lobby, supported by concrete columns, which is full of life. The lobby café also offers reasonably priced lunches. The exhibition floors can be reached by stairs or by lift.
The exhibition area on the two floors is large. The museum has a total area of 2,500 square meters, of which 1,200 square meters is exhibition space. Even large images come into their own. If necessary, the space can be divided into smaller parts.
All of this space means that often there are three to four photo exhibitions at the same time, making it possible to visit up to 15 world-class exhibitions each year.
However, Fotografiska’s admission pricing is a little bit strange. Why does the entrance ticket cost people with an Estonian ID card 12 euros, but for visitors from elsewhere, 15 euros? Such pricing is no longer part of modern times and is discriminatory.
Four different exhibitions
At the turn of the year, Fotografiska had four different exhibitions, two of which will continue into early this year.
Nick Brandt’s exhibition “This Empty World. We only have dust left”, the theme of which is the conflicting relationship between man and wildlife. The images are perhaps too prescriptive and repeat the same thing too much. However, the big photos are spectacular and technically savvy. The exhibition ends on February 22nd.
Finnish photographer Arno Rafael Minkkinen has also brought his exhibition “Two Hundred Seasons” to Fotografiska. Minkkinen’s topics are man and nature. The black and white photos are calm and beautiful. Minkkinen’s intimate images exude happiness, but also Finnishness. The exhibition will be on display until the end of January.
The presentation of the photos has been done very well. The lighting of the pictures and spaces deserves special appreciation.
Restaurant above the rooftops of Tallinn
Rarely has there been so much talk about a museum restaurant as about Fotografiska. The decor, service and food of the place have all been praised. The restaurant’s large windows offer great views over the city. The modern space has about 70 seats, and the interior is clearly Nordic in its feel.
The restaurant offers its guests seasonal dishes made from Estonian local ingredients that change every couple of months. “There’s more meat on the list in the winter. In summer, our offer is lighter, ” said the cheerful waitress.
In addition to the set menu options, the list includes a four-course surprise dinner, which included a warm pumpkin soup and goats cheese, whitefish ravioli with crab sauce, “pike cheeks”, and chicken fillet seasoned with bearberry and hake ice cream.
The most interesting dish was the “pike cheeks,”. The whole dish was fresh and tasty. The delicate flavours complemented each other perfectly. The taste experience offered by Fotografiska is worth the price.
It is advisable to make a reservation in advance to avoid disappointment.
Photographic Arts Center and restaurant Fotografiska Tallinn,
Telliskivi tn. 60a / 8, Tallinn.
To learn more about this and similar topicsFotografiska Fotografiska Café Fotografiska Exhibitions Fotografiska Restaurant Fotografiska Tallinn Museum Tallinn Telliskivi
