Tikupoiss

Finding a good meal when motoring from one town to another can prove difficult, there are barely any restaurants catering to travelers. After all, distances are so short that you can get most anywhere fast enough, without having to stop for a rest.

Tikupoiss is a new spot next to a small farmer's market, which, in turn, stands next to the newest gas station built along the Tallinn-Tartu highway, right by the Viljandi junction. The Viljandi match factory used to supply matches for the whole country, and places beyond its borders too. Tikupoiss, or Match Boy, is the manufacturer’s iconic mascot, as seen on the matchbooks. A roadside eatery with a farmer’s market, it’s a unique concept, there’s nothing else like it in the country. You can choose between ready-made canteen fare and the à la carte menu. Go for the latter, you’re not in any hurry, right? The selection ranges from local favorites like black bread with Baltic sprat, potato salad à la Estonia and Spotted Dog cake, to more exotic offerings such as sweet potato and coconut soup and bratwurst. The dining room is spacious, light, cool and Nordic-minimalist; a perfectly charming place for a leisurely food break.