Kalevi martsipanituba

About the museum

The Kalevi martsipanituba is located in the historic Maiasmokk café building on Pika street in Tallinn’s Old Town. The predecessor of the marzipan room was the Kalevi Maiustustemuuseum (sweets museum) on Pärnu maantee; after that building was sold, the exhibits were moved to Pikk tänav 16. The marzipan room was founded in 2000.

Maiasmokk café is probably the oldest continuously operating café in Tallinn and in all of Estonia. Its founding year is taken to be 1864, although a small confectionery business and shop already operated on the same site from 1806. The café and commercial building was acquired by the Baltic German confectioner Georg Stude, whose marzipan products were well known throughout Estonia and Livonia and even reached the tsarist court in St Petersburg. In Soviet times Stude’s business was nationalised, and the production of marzipan figures continued at the Kalevi factory.

In 2007 the production of marzipan figures returned to its historic home in the Maiasmokk building, where it continues to this day. Stude’s factory moulds and production technology are still used; the figures are made by hand and painted with a brush using food colouring, so each figure is unique.

In the marzipan room you can learn about the history of the café, see the display of marzipan figures and the exhibition of sweet boxes from Stude’s time, and watch marzipan being painted on site. Marzipan figures made and painted on site, handcrafted sweets and chocolates are on sale.

Highlights

• Display of marzipan figures
• Exhibition of sweet boxes from Georg Stude’s time
• Historic wall on the café’s rich past
• Watching marzipan painting on site
• Marzipan painting workshop in Estonian and English

Permanent exhibition

• Martsipanituba väljapanek – The display of marzipan figures, the exhibition of sweet boxes from Stude’s time and a historic wall giving an overview of the café’s past.

Founded

2000

Operated by

Maiasmokk OÜ

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

In the workshop a marzipan figure is painted under the guidance of an instructor, and the history of marzipan and the café is discussed; food can be ordered on request. Workshops must be booked in advance at maiasmokk@orkla.ee; the language must be stated when booking.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible: not available
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

Kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Hands-on stations

At the workshop, the participant paints their own marzipan figure with the help of the instructor.

Getting there & parking

The marzipan room is in Tallinn’s Old Town, in the Maiasmokk café building at the corner of Pika and Pühavaimu streets.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop

The Maiasmokk café is in the same building (open every day 9:00–20:00). Marzipan figures made and painted on site, handcrafted sweets and chocolates are on sale.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties
• Corporate events

Up to 200 guests.

The Maiasmokk café occupies two floors and seats up to 200 people; events for up to 75 people can be held in the halls on the first floor. The Georg Stude room (10-person table and screen) and the Otto Kubo room (up to 5 guests) can be booked separately. Events can be complemented with a marzipan painting workshop.

Plan your visit