Noblessner Quarter

Noblessner was built from 1912 as a shipyard for the Russian imperial navy, named for its founders Emanuel Nobel and Arthur Lessner, and it produced submarines; the halls, slipways and workshops were later used by Soviet industry and then abandoned. Redevelopment from the 2010s turned the site into a waterfront quarter: the brick and concrete industrial buildings hold restaurants, the Põhjala brewery taproom, the Kai art centre in a former factory, a floating sauna and spa, apartments, and a marina in the old basin. The Seaplane Harbour maritime museum, in the 1917 seaplane hangars, is next door and is the main museum on this stretch of shore.

What you actually see

• The industrial halls - the shipyard buildings converted to new use.
• The marina - the boats in the old shipyard basin.
• Kai art centre - the contemporary gallery in a former factory.
• The waterfront promenade - the path along the shore toward the museum.

When to go

May to September for the waterfront and the marina; the venues operate year round but the outdoor side is seasonal. Evenings and weekends are busiest. It combines with the Seaplane Harbour next door.

Honest expectations

The quarter is a commercial development and prices are high. Little of the shipyard's own history is interpreted on site. Construction continues in parts. The waterfront is exposed and windy.

Nearby

The Seaplane Harbour is adjacent; Kalamaja lies inland.