Dining Etiquette

Estonians eat with utensils, with the fork in the left hand and the knife in the right, in the Continental style. In Estonia, it is considered impolite to rest one's elbows on the table, and it is considered good manners to finish everything on one's plate. If bread is dropped on the floor, it is not thrown away; it is picked up, kissed to show the diner's respect and gratitude, and eaten.

In Estonia, formal dining manners are relatively strict and socially conservative. Formal meals require semi-formal or conservatively cut attire. Estonian homes are considered very private, and guests are rarely invited to tour them or explore beyond the dining and reception areas. Guests frequently bring small thank-you gifts for their hosts, such as wine, sweets, and flowers—but never white flowers, which are traditionally used in funerary arrangements in Estonia

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Estonians wait to be seated by their host, who says Head isu, which allows everyone to begin eating (Good appetite). Another Estonian saying, Jätku leiba (May your bread last), refers to the ubiquitous black bread that is eaten with nearly every meal. Evening meals in Estonia almost always include vodka for diners of legal drinking age. Fruit juice is another popular beverage. As a guest in Estonia, it is polite to offer to assist the host or hostess with meal preparation and cleanup, but these offers are almost always declined, unless you are with close friends or family.

Although business meetings in Estonia are sometimes concluded over lunch or dinner, business is rarely discussed directly over food. Restaurants have proliferated in Estonia in recent decades, especially in Tallinn, the capital city. While Estonian chefs and restaurateurs are known for their fusion cuisines, traditional Estonian peasant fare can also be found. Tipping is optional in Estonian restaurants, but a 10% gratuity is customary.