As far as super-elaborate decorations go, nothing in Tartu comes close to Hansa Tall. Owners have gone all out to create an old-fashioned, country-style feeling to go with their lengthy offering of hefty and hearty dishes. The antique-packed interior is a must-see, resembling a rural Estonian home of bygone days. When the season turns warm, diners can enjoy their meals in a wide flower-filled courtyard featuring a fountain.
For most of the year, the main attraction is the richly decorated indoor dining hall, but once the weather turns warmer, the focus shifts outdoors to neighbouring Hansa Hoov — a spacious flower-filled courtyard centred around a fountain. Summer menus, cocktails, concerts and occasional theatre performances give the courtyard a livelier, more relaxed feel, while the small “Stork’s Nest” house tucked inside offers shelter from either strong sun or passing rain.
Taken together, the two spaces manage to feel both theatrical and genuinely welcoming — the sort of place that fully commits to its theme and is all the more memorable for it.