Restaurants in Parnu

Our Pärnu restaurant guide below is a quick and easy guide that you can use as a reference to some of those local Pärnu restaurants where you can enjoy a delicious meal especially after shopping in Pärnu all day.

Food & Cuisine in Pärnu

Many taverns, restaurants and pubs serve modern versions of traditional Estonian cuisine. There are even tourist farms that offer excellent food. If you visit Setumaa in southeast Estonia, don't forget to sample their baked potatoes with cottage cheese, sauerkraut, and raisin bread. Drinks that go well with this dish are 'mead', as well as the locally brewed white whiskey, 'hansa', and there's always the accompaniment of live music.

Berries and mushrooms

In July and August, Estonians go into the woods to gather berries and wild mushrooms for the table, and it is something you can try yourself if you are armed with a good guidebook. This culinary tradition is still popular in Estonia while it is, sadly, almost forgotten in Western Europe. If you go blackberry hunting in Estonia, you'll certainly discover the difference between wild blackberries and those that are cultivated.

Where to eat in Pärnu

In Pärnu there are many fine places in which to eat. There is the luxurious Ammende Villa with its French-Mediterranean cuisine, the Postipoiss Tavern which specialises in Slavic cuisine, and the restaurant in Rannahotell and Kuld Lõvi Tavern just outside the town. On Muhu Island, there is the Pädaste Manor, highly acclaimed for its food by gourmets worldwide. Haapsalu has the Kuursaal summer café and many unique restaurants in the old town area. In Kuressaare you will come across lots of pleasant restaurants that offer great food and exciting entertainment. If you are in Hiiumaa, head to its finest restaurant in the Liilia Hotel in Käina. The very interesting restaurant in Pärnu is Kõrgessaare Manor which used to be its vodka distillery once upon a time.

Organic food

The people of Estonia value their locally grown organic foods, and seem to have a preference for outdoor grilling. Much of their milk and meat, rye and barley bread comes from domestic sources. The vegetable and flower market by the riverside in Tartu is worth visiting not just for its fresh produce, but also for the colours of the country. There are taverns, cafes and ordinary eateries in the smaller rural villages. These serve unique traditional fare, their interiors are interesting, and their visitors colourfully dressed. Simple, organic food is typical of the tourist farms, while you can eat smoked fish in the coastal villages. Look out for one of Estonia's most loved food and beverage brands (be it smoked ham, vodka, or spring water) - "Made in Saaremaa".

Typical Estonian dishes

Leib (black bread) - Estonians love their black bread so much that to them, meat is just "something to go with the bread."

Kartulid (potatoes) - have become indispensable for Estonian cooks since it was Introduced in the 1700s.

Kotlet - This is basically a hamburger patty with onions.

Verivorst - Is a blood sausage that is not something that everyone will enjoy.

Sült (jellied meat) - If you've had the Scottish haggis, you are probably not going to be put off by pig's feet.

Kohupiim (cottage cheese) - This is a very popular filling for the Estonian pastries and cakes.

Kringel - This sweet knotted bread sprinkled with nuts and raisins comes from a German recipe and is a must for Estonian birthdays.

Some other dishes that you will also find on the tables are: beet salad, pancakes, honey, herring, crayfish, and pickled pumpkin which you can try.

It is important to note that when dining out in Pärnu and Estonia you do not have to tip the waiter as the service charge is included in the bills, nevertheless a 10% tip is always welcome. If you are planning to eat at the better restaurants in Pärnu , it is best to book your table ahead of time, especially if it is a Friday or Saturday evening.

Food in Soomaa National Park

If you are heading to the Soomaa National Park, remember that there is only the most basic backpacker variety of accommodation available in the centre of the bogs, and food can pose a problem. The visitor's centre only stocks small snack items so come prepared if you want a bigger meal.