According to Tripadvisor, Tartu has over 125 restaurants to choose from, which might make choosing your next meal a bit tricky.

Here we have compiled a small list of restaurant recommendations from our organizing committee that ranges from luxurious Michelin mentioned dining, old favourites that have been around for decades to hidden gems you need to know about to find.

High class dining

We will start off our list with Joyce, the nr 1 restaurant in Tartu according to Tripadvisor. Joyce, which is the official restaurant of our conference venue VSpa, is located in a modern shopping centre in the heart of the city. It is a large, split-level brasserie with bold décor, that is both a restaurant as well as a popular cocktail bar with a buzzy vibe. Hõlm is a place where everyone feels welcome. Its kitchen creates unforgettable dining experiences in which every detail is carefully considered, painstakingly prepared and lovingly presented.

Both Joyce and Hõlm are Michelin mentioned restaurants that are also featured in the White Guide Baltics.

Other restaurants that have been recommended by the White Guide Baltics include Antonius, Fii, Cafe Truffe, Kampus and Vilde and Vine. From these, our organizers recommend Antonius for a high class meal surrounded by vaulted columns, Fii for a modern feel, Kampus for street style food and Caffe Truffe for a quiet corner right on the city square. Our gala dinner will be held in Vilde and Vine so all participants will get a chance to enjoy this restaurant together.

Coffee and pastries

Our PhD students would like to recommend a few coffee and pastry places for everyone looking for a treat. Situated right on the city square, Cruffin is a artisan pastry shop that offers both delicious pastries as well as filling pizza slices. Werner is located a bit further away yet it is a timeless classic that started offering it services back in 1895. If you wish to explore Tartu a bit more, Karlova kohv is situated a 20 minute walk away from our main venue yet the coffee and pastries are worth the trip. But if you don’t want to venture that far, Crepp offers coffee and crepes right on Rüütli street and if all day breakfast is more your style, you can venture into Krempel on the same street to enjoy it there.

Best burgers in town

In Estonia, flavour takes center stage in burgers and is cherished above delivery speed. Nonetheless, most  will still be handed to you within a few minutes after you order your meal. We suggest you try out Viru Burger that is right in the city center for a delicious snack or BurgerBros for those who wish to venture out further in town.

Pst! Both burger places also offer delivery through Wolt and Bolt food so no need to venture outside if you just want to grab a quick snack in your hotel room after a long conference day! Most other places mentioned in this list can also be delivered right to your doorstep but we recommend venturing out of your hotel room to get more of a feel of Tartu and the student spirit that lives here.

Evening on the riverwalk

Estonian is known for its long white nights and there is no place better to enjoy them than the Emajõe riverwalk. We recommend two vastly different places that both guarantee an amazing evening – Toko for those who wish to enjoy some delicious food and a beautiful view; and Väike-Kuuba for those who just wish to grab a drink by the river. June is the end of the spring semester in Tartu and students are still active around town, so be sure to have plenty of patience if visiting either as finding a place to sit down at might be a bit challenging. Or you could just book a table beforehand through their website.

Something different

If you wish to taste something different, we suggest making a trip to Aparaaditehas which is a 20 minute walk away from our venue. Here you can find one of our PhD student favourite restaurants Kolm Tilli which offers a vast variety of pizzas, street food and ramens. You can also explore the other restaurants in this compound such as Restoran Aparaat.