19.12.2025 | Shopping

Festive Christmas Foods From Tallinn’s Keskturg Market

Text Susanna Poikela
Photos Tom Röllich

Tallinn’s Keskturg Market will celebrate its 80th anniversary in two years.

Tallinn’s Keskturg Market, also known as the central market, has been serving city residents since 1947. The market is known for its meat hall, its abundant vegetable and berry stalls, and fresh fish sold at the market gate from Thursday to Saturday. In addition, the market features distinctive clothing stalls.

A new and splendid central market—but when?

In the coming years, the market area is set to undergo a major transformation, as plans are in place to build a new, modern market hall on the site. However, when I asked a representative of Astri Grupp for more detailed information about the construction plans, I received no clear answer regarding the timetable. So we remain eagerly waiting to see what the future will bring. In the meantime, it’s well worth heading to the central market to do Christmas shopping and enjoy the authentic market atmosphere.

Endel’s meat shop has been serving customers for over forty years.

Local farm products from the veterans of the meat hall

Endel has been running a meat shop for more than 40 years. He does not plan to continue at the new market, but intends to retire well deservedly. “I’m old school. I’m no longer interested in the new market. This old central market is the real, authentic one. The new one will be more like a shopping centre. It will surely be nice, but it won’t be the same place anymore,” Endel remarks, smiling at the camera. In the past, he had his own sheep farm, and sold meat from his own animals. Today, Endel’s counter offers meat from other local farms. During the interview, Endel gives generous chunks of beef to some dogs, which their small teeth quickly make short work of.

In front of the kiosk, seeds, nuts, and dried fruits are sold loose. Inside, you can also find other food products. The kiosk owner hands items to customers through a small hatch with practiced ease.

Fresh treats for the Christmas table from the outdoor market

The entrance to the central market leads directly to the outdoor market, where vegetables, fruit, and seasonal products such as berries and mushrooms are sold in the central area. At the moment, red berries are on display: lingonberries and cranberries. Along the edges of the outdoor market you’ll find, among other things, a café, a grill, an Azerbaijani juice stand, honey stalls, and clothing and shoe vendors.

The Keskturg Market is located in the Keldrimäe district, which is easy to reach on foot, by bike, or by public transport. The Tallinn Bus Station is only about half a kilometer away.

At one sales table sits an elderly woman wrapped in a warm coat. She looks as if she has been sitting there for years. On the table are various kinds of sauerkraut, pickles, mushrooms, and other items suitable for a festive table. Her name is Inna. It turns out that she, too, has been working at the central market for a couple of decades. Inna weighs some sweet sauerkraut and announces the price as two euros and fifty cents. Estonian sauerkraut is well worth trying. The pickles and lightly salted cucumbers are also delicious.

This time, the market has a leisurely atmosphere, even though it’s Saturday. There is plenty of space, and shopping can be done calmly without queuing. Trading works even with gestures if no common language is found. So head straight to the central market to make discoveries and enjoy the genuine market atmosphere!