Held every February in the city of Tartu, the restaurant month Tasty Tartu has been named a finalist in the prestigious 2025 European Cultural Tourism Awards, organised by the European Cultural Tourism Network (ECTN). The campaign was submitted in the category “Wine and Gastronomy Tourism based on Local, Cultural and Ethno-Culinary Heritage.”
In total, 16 initiatives from 11 countries were selected for the final round, including projects from Italy, Slovenia, and Croatia alongside Tartu. This recognition highlights meaningful contributions to cultural tourism across Europe, celebrating campaigns rooted in heritage, sustainability, and local values.
Tasty Tartu is a great example of how traditional food culture can be made inclusive and appealing, attracting visitors even during the quiet winter season,” said Marleen Otsus, Head of Marketing for the City of Tartu. “Being named a finalist in this international competition shows that Tartu’s culinary experience deserves recognition beyond Estonia.”
The event boosts low-season tourism by inviting people to enjoy specially curated three-course menus at local restaurants throughout February, all at an accessible price. Over the past 11 years, 199 unique menus have been created, including a growing selection of plant-based dishes. In total, more than 195,000 three-course meals have been served. In 2025 alone, over 27,000 menus were sold. TOKO, voted the favourite restaurant of the year, hosted more than 2,500 guests during the month-long campaign—demonstrating the event’s popularity and strong impact.
Marilin Kroon, Tartu City Government’s Food Sector Development Manager and initiator of the project in 2014, emphasised the campaign’s importance: “Tasty Tartu is a clear example of how cooperation between the city and local businesses can grow a simple idea into a sustainable tradition. With ongoing commitment, it has the potential to become an international success story.”
The award winners will be announced on October 2nd at the 18th ECTN Conference in Sibiu, Romania. The application was submitted by the Tartu County Tourism Foundation (SA Tartumaa Turism), and the campaign is led by the City of Tartu in cooperation with local restaurants and partners.
Learn more about the campaign: Tasty Tartu – ECTN 2025 finalist
Learn more about the award and ECTN: Finalists 2025 – Sustainable Cultural Tourism across Europe
Tartu has already been recognised once before in the ECTN awards. In 2023, the city won first place in the “Riverside Heritage” category with the project “Emajõgi – The Binding River: Drawing Inhabitants Closer in Tartu.” The award acknowledged Tartu’s long-term and sustainable efforts to revitalise the riverside as a multifunctional urban space that connects everyday life, cultural heritage, and recreation.
Read more about the Emajõgi project here: Tartu Earns European Recognition for Emajõgi Riverside Developments
More information: Annika Ojasaar, Tourism Manager, Tartu County Tourism Foundation, +372 5886 7883, annika.ojasaar@visittartu.com