LaBocca is opening a new restaurant in the Telliskivi TLN business district, marking a significant milestone for the company. Having developed into a successful concept with its first restaurant in the Rotermann Quarter, the company is now deliberately building a restaurant chain with ambitions to expand through a franchise model.
LaBocca, a rising star in Tallinn’s dining scene, which established itself less than a year ago in the Golden Gate development in the Rotermann Quarter, will open its second location in the newly completed I4 building at Telliskivi 60, next to Reisijate Street.
According to LaBocca’s owner and founder, Gert Kerde, Telliskivi has become a destination where people come to dine and spend time, bringing together the diversity and high standards of Estonian gastronomy.
“LaBocca is a family-oriented restaurant created with shared experiences and great flavors in mind. The new location in the heart of Kalamaja, one of Tallinn’s most accessible areas, will be more than just a place to eat. It will become a gathering place where experiences are created and will quickly develop into a new focal point in Telliskivi, complementing the area’s already rich offering,” said Kerde.
Katrina Šokman, head of the Telliskivi TLN business district, noted that LaBocca’s arrival reflects the area’s development direction. In recent years, Telliskivi has become Tallinn’s most attractive business and lifestyle district.
“Our goal is to create an environment where people intentionally come to spend their time. LaBocca’s concept fits this vision very well, offering a high-quality and accessible dining experience to a broad audience,” said Šokman. She added that the choice was deliberate: LaBocca was one of the strongest candidates from the start.
“Given the high level of interest, it was important to find a partner that adds value to the area. LaBocca has both a strong concept and clear ambition to grow—these are exactly the kinds of businesses we want to bring to Telliskivi.”
The investment in the new restaurant is close to €1 million, covering more than 450 square meters of service space. During the summer, an additional 100-square-meter sun-facing outdoor terrace will open in Telliskivi Park. The restaurant will feature a custom-designed interior, an open kitchen concept, and state-of-the-art equipment, enabling the preparation of fresh, on-site meals very quickly. The opening is planned for mid-summer.
According to Kerde, LaBocca was never meant to be just a single restaurant, but a brand with potential to expand both in Estonia and internationally.
“From the very beginning, LaBocca was created with the idea of becoming a chain. The strength of our concept lies in simplicity and speed—pizzas, pastas, and salads are prepared in 3–5 minutes, and daily production capacity exceeds 1,000 pizzas. At the same time, we keep prices accessible—for example, pasta dishes and 45 cm pizzas start from €9.90,” Kerde explained.
The restaurant will also offer lunch specials based on the regular menu at reasonable prices and is intentionally positioned for a broad audience—from business clients to families. At the core of the concept is an experiential atmosphere, where food is prepared in front of guests, with an emphasis on sharing and togetherness.
The new Telliskivi location will employ approximately 50 people, with around 20 staff members per shift serving guests. The focus is on young and energetic employees who are seen as part of the LaBocca family, responsible for delivering friendly and attentive service.
According to Kerde, the first restaurant in the Rotermann Quarter has exceeded all initial expectations.
“Today, the LaBocca restaurant at Golden Gate welcomes an average of more than 700 guests per day, and the projected revenue for the first 12 months is €3.2 million. Strong customer reception and positive feedback have given us the confidence to further develop the concept and expand,” said Kerde.
LaBocca is backed by domestic capital and a strong team with extensive experience in launching and developing well-known dining concepts, creating the foundation to become one of the next success stories in Estonia’s restaurant market.
