Hotel Telegraaf

Hotel Telegraaf, a Michelin Key Selected property in Tallinn, Estonia, offers a luxurious and memorable experience by blending its 19th-century telegraph exchange heritage with modern boutique hotel amenities. Located in the heart of Tallinn's Old Town, it is frequently praised for its exceptional service, elegant design, and superb location.

1. Overall Rating & Sentiment

The general consensus for Hotel Telegraaf is overwhelmingly positive, with guests frequently rating it as "Wonderful" or "Excellent." It boasts a high guest score in Michelin Guide reviews, with scores like 19.2 out of 20 for overall experience, 19.3 for rooms, 19.0 for services, 19.5 for cleanliness, and 19.3 for public spaces. While some recent feedback points to issues with breakfast service and staffing levels, the overarching sentiment highlights a high-end, well-maintained, and spotless hotel.

2. Key Highlights

Guests consistently laud the Hotel Telegraaf for several standout features:

• Service: The staff are often described as very helpful, friendly, attentive, welcoming, and professional, speaking excellent English.
• Location: Its prime position in Tallinn's Old Town is a major draw, allowing easy walking access to major attractions like Town Hall Square, as well as numerous bars and restaurants.
• Design & Atmosphere: The hotel beautifully combines traditional and modern elements, housed in a 19th-century building with a classy, relaxed, welcoming, and warm atmosphere. The lobby, for instance, features classic design with marble flooring and chandeliers alongside modern fixtures.
• Amenities: The Telegraaf Spa, with its indoor pool, hot tub, sauna, and steam bath, is a significant highlight, offering a tranquil and revitalizing experience. Restaurant Tchaikovsky is also a key highlight for its fine dining.

3. Room Quality

The rooms at Hotel Telegraaf are noted for their comfort, space, and a confident mix of retro elegance and contemporary cool. While the lobby has a trendy feel, some describe the rooms as having an "old school" charm.

• Comfort: King-size beds are generally comfortable, though some prefer a firmer mattress. There's even a pillow menu for personalized comfort.
• Design: Rooms in the historic wing may feature more Art Deco ornament. They often include a desk, a sitting area, and ample space, which is considered large for a city center hotel. Unique touches like a service door connecting bedroom closets to corridors for discreet laundry collection are also mentioned.
• Amenities: Each room is air-conditioned and includes a flat-screen TV, mini-bar, refrigerator, coffee/tea maker, and a bathroom with bathrobes and slippers. Bathrooms can vary, with some featuring shower-tub combos (though one guest noted issues with water spillage due to single glass panes), while suites might offer more impressive master bathrooms with heated floors and soaking tubs. Elemis toiletries are provided in communal bottles.

4. Dining Experience

The hotel's dining experiences receive mixed but generally positive feedback, especially for its fine dining restaurant.

• Restaurant Tchaikovsky: This acclaimed restaurant is a fixture on Tallinn's fine dining scene, combining French and Russian techniques with local Estonian flavors and produce. It is consistently recognized as one of the best restaurants in Estonia by guides like Michelin and White Guide. The atmosphere is elegant, with impeccable service and a memorable gastronomic journey.
• Breakfast: Breakfast is served in Restaurant Tchaikovsky and typically includes a buffet with an à la carte menu. Hot items, pastries (like delightful Danish and fresh croissants), fruits, and cereals are usually available. However, some recent guests in early 2026 reported a "complete disaster" with breakfast due to insufficient seating, the main restaurant being closed, missing glasses, and mediocre buffet variety and quality. Service for à la carte items can also be slow. Despite this, other reviews from the same period still describe breakfast as "high quality and plentiful" or "great".

5. Service & Staff

The service at Hotel Telegraaf is a consistent strong point. Guests frequently highlight the staff's professionalism, attentiveness, and friendliness. They are noted for being helpful, speaking excellent English, and going above and beyond to ensure a comfortable stay. Concierge services are praised for providing excellent recommendations. Room service is efficient, and staff are quick to respond to requests.

6. Location & Accessibility

Hotel Telegraaf boasts an "amazing" and "perfect" location in Tallinn's Old Town, just 230 feet from Town Hall Square.

• Neighborhood: Situated on Vene 9, it is centrally located, surrounded by cobblestone streets and historic buildings, making it feel like a fairy tale. All major attractions, great bars, restaurants, and the Christmas Markets (seasonal) are within a short walking distance.
• Transport: While cars are generally restricted in some parts of Old Town, taxis can drop guests off nearby (e.g., at the intersection of Vene tn and Munga tn, a 1-2 minute walk). The hotel offers an airport shuttle service for a fee (€35 one-way), and public bus lines connect the airport to Old Town for €2 in under 30 minutes. It's also an easy 20-minute walk from the ferry terminal.
• Parking: Secure underground parking is available on-site for €30 per day, but reservations are needed due to limited spots. Electric car charging is also available for an additional fee.

7. Value & Pricing

Hotel Telegraaf is considered a luxury 5-star property, and its pricing reflects this.

• Price Range: Room prices can vary significantly, with some deals starting from around $83, but typical rates can go upwards of €250-400 per night. Kayak indicates an average weeknight price of $304 and a weekend night price of $276 (based on recent data).
• Value: Many guests feel it offers excellent value for money given its top-tier amenities, impeccable service, and prime location. However, some have expressed dissatisfaction with the value for the price, particularly if there are perceived imperfections or shortcomings. December is noted as the most expensive month, while March can be the cheapest.

8. Common Complaints

While largely positive, some recurring issues or criticisms have been noted:

• Breakfast Service: Recent reviews (January 2026) highlighted significant problems with breakfast, including a lack of seating, the main restaurant being closed for this meal, missing utensils, and a mediocre buffet. Slow service for à la carte breakfast orders has also been mentioned.
• Spa/Gym Size: The Telegraaf Spa, while excellent, has been described as potentially suffering from its small size, and the hotel itself does not have a dedicated gym on-site. Guests can access a nearby gym at Kalev Hotel, but this requires an inquiry at the front desk.
• Bathroom Design: Some find the single pane glass shower-tub combos to be impractical, leading to water spillage. Tiny sinks in some bathrooms have also been noted as inconvenient.
• Room Assignment/Value: A few guests have expressed dissatisfaction with room assignments and the overall value for price, citing "imperfections, lightnesses and even shortcomings" for a 5-star hotel at its price point.
• Staffing Levels: One recent review suggested that while staff were friendly and hardworking, there might not be enough of them, leading to service issues, especially at breakfast.

Sources

1. booking.com
2. michelin.com
3. booking.com
4. marriott.com
5. emilyembarks.com
6. upgradedpoints.com
7. pointsmiler.com
8. hotels.com
9. sealthedealtravels.com
10. kindaboringtravels.com
11. princeoftravel.com
12. agoda.com
13. telegraafhotel.com
14. telegraafhotel.com
15. travelguys.fr
16. kayak.com
17. kayak.com
18. momondo.com