Hiiumaa residents open cafés in their yards and in the island's hidden spots
from 30 July to 1 August, 2026, Hiiumaa will once again turn into one big food and experience tour. For three days, island residents open temporary cafés in their home courtyards, gardens, country homes, harbours, forests and other exciting places that you would probably not visit on an ordinary day.
Hiiumaa Home Café Days is not just a food event. It is an opportunity to discover the island through the eyes of local people, get to know Hiiumaa's villages and communities, and visit places off the usual tourist routes.
Each café has its own menu, opening hours, design, and entertainment program. Some offer traditional Hiiumaa flavors, fresh fish, and homemade cakes, while others feature international dishes, concerts, workshops, activities for children, or special dinners.
Hiiumaa Home Café Days 2026: the most important information
When: from 30 July to 1 August 2026
Where: Hiiumaa and Kassari
Format: temporary cafés in home gardens, villages, harbours, forests and other unusual locations
Admission: there is no general event ticket, but food, drinks and some additional activities are subject to a fee
Programme: on the first day, the cafés operate mainly in Kassari; on the following days, cafés open across Hiiumaa
Each café sets its own prices, opening hours, menu, and payment options. Separate dinners, concerts, workshops, or other activities with a limited number of participants may require advance registration.
Why are the Hiiumaa home café days special?
The tradition of home cafés, which has become popular throughout Estonia, originated in Hiiumaa. The first home café days were held in Kärdla in 2007.
The tradition is associated with the old nickname for Kärdla residents, coffee flasks. As early as the 19 century, locals were known as great coffee lovers. Over the years, a small local initiative grew into an event that spread across Estonia and inspired many villages, towns and communities to organise their own home café days.
In Hiiumaa, the event has retained an especially authentic and local atmosphere. Visitors do not come here just to eat. They can peek into the islanders' yards, listen to their stories, discover small villages and experience Hiiumaa's relaxed pace of life.
How do home café days work?
30 July: home cafés on Kassari
On the first day of the event, most activities will be concentrated in Kassari. Cafés will open in various villages, accommodation establishments, home gardens, in the forest and near the sea.
Visitors may find, for example, a peaceful soup café under birch trees, a courtyard café serving fish dishes, a charity cake café or a small dinner venue offering a special multi-course menu.
Several cafés also host concerts, workshops, or activities for children. In some places, the programme continues into the evening, so it is worth checking both the café's opening hours and the start times of any special events before setting off.
31 July and 1 August: cafés all over Hiiumaa
On Friday and Saturday, the home café programme expands across the entire island. Pop-up cafés can be found in Kärdla, Käina, Kalana, Kõpu, Malvaste, Reigi, Sarve and many other places in Hiiumaa.
Cafés are opened by the sea, in the yards of old farmhouses, at harbors, in cultural centers, on company premises, and in other unusual places.
It is not realistic to visit all the cafés in one day. It makes much more sense to choose one area and plan a route around a few cafés located close to one another.
What experiences can you expect at Hiiumaa home cafés?
10 exciting home cafés to visit on Hiiumaa
The 2026 program features cafés with a wide variety of menus and atmospheres—from a soup café in the forest to insect-based food, sea views, boat trips, and French cuisine. The following selection is not a ranking, but rather ten distinctive places to help you plan your Hiiumaa café tour.
1. Soup cafe with a chimney
Open: 30 July at 12–20
Location: Truubi, Kassari
The café in the birch forest of Kassari resembles a picnic spot, a home café and a small enchanted forest all at once. The menu includes various soups, pies and sweet treats. There are mini trampolines for children, and a surprise concert begins at 19.
2. Café “SIHT”
Open: 30 July at 12–19
Location: Keldrimäe külalistemaja, Mõisa, Kassari küla
At the café, Hiiumaa's sea and land come together: fresh fish, meat from local pastures and homemade cakes are served. A three-course wine dinner begins at 17, costs 60 euros and requires advance registration.
3. Grill ja trall
Open: 30 July at 12–21
Location: Lest & Lammas restoran, Kassari
The café centers around flavors from land and sea prepared on a red Kamado grill. Plant-based snacks, seasonal berries, fruit, coffee, and cakes are also available. A Hiiumaa accordionist sets the mood, while a climbing area and rope swing park await children.
4. Sarvenaiste kalakuur
Open: 31 July at 12–21
Location: Naistlaiu sadam
The café on the Sarve Peninsula serves fish dishes associated with local history. Visitors can also take part in an approximately 30-minute boat trip, try stand-up paddleboarding, listen to live music, and end the day with an open-air movie by the sea.
5. Putukakohvik
Open: 31 July and 1 August at 12–19
Location: Tooma-Meeri talu, Jausa küla
At what has been called Estonia's first insect café, insect flour is used to prepare both savoury and sweet dishes, smoothies and snacks. Visitors are also introduced to the history of eating insects and the potential role of insect-based food in the diet of the future.
6. From Pusk to Paris
Open: 31 July and 1 August at 12–20
Location: Metsanotsu, Puski
French cuisine meets the atmosphere of a Hiiumaa village here. The menu includes ratatouille, goat cheese and pumpkin pie, salmon soup, smoked salmon éclairs, burgers, tartlets, éclairs, and macarons. Children can enjoy trampolines, an adventure course, giant bubbles, and electric cars.
7. Ranna Surfiküla kodukohvik
Open: 31 July and 1 August at 12–19
Location: Ranna, Suureranna küla
Located directly by the sea on the west coast of Hiiumaa, this boho-style café is perfect for those looking for good food, refreshing drinks, and a relaxed summer atmosphere. The program also includes live music and the laid-back atmosphere of a surf village.
8. Pipi's trip to Paris
Open: 31 July and 1 August at 12–20
Location: Kastani, Reigi küla
A café for the whole family will open at Hiiu Eiffeli seikluspark. Visitors can see the local Eiffel Tower and a life-size replica of Christopher Columbus's ship. The menu includes pancakes, cakes, coffee and meals for both children and adults.
9. Mawa Tee Leid
Open: 31 July and 1 August at 12–20
Location: Malvaste
The café nestled among the forests of Malvaste invites guests to slow down. The program includes gong fu tea ceremonies, mochi, meditation classes, and fireside conversations. It is suitable for those seeking a calmer and more profound experience than a typical café visit.
10. Hagaste kabel summer café “Viis Leiba ja Kaks Kala”
Open: 1 August at 12–20
Location: Hagaste palvela, Puliste küla
In the chapel courtyard, fresh perch caught at Värssu sadam is smoked on-site, and fish soup, homemade bread, pancakes and waffles are served. Every hour, a musician connected to Hiiumaa performs, and a concert by Helin-Mari Arder begins at 19. All sales proceeds are used for the upkeep of the place of worship.
Where can you find all the home cafés in Hiiumaa?
These ten places are just a small part of the 2026 programme. The full list of cafés, exact addresses, opening hours, menus, additional activities and a map can be found on the official website of Hiiumaa Home Café Days.
The programme may be expanded or changed before the event, so it is worth checking the information about your chosen café again just before setting off.
View all Hiiumaa home cafés and the map
The selection at home cafés is usually very diverse. One place may offer fresh fish, fish soup, and smoked fish, while another serves homemade pies, pancakes, and cakes. Some cafés focus on plant-based food, some on international flavors, and others on local family recipes.
In addition to food, the programme may include:
- live music and small concerts;
- children's play areas and trampolines;
- handicraft and cooking workshops;
- boat or SUP trips;
- film evenings by the sea;
- yoga and meditation classes;
- tea or cocoa ceremonies;
- meetings with local entrepreneurs and communities;
- charity cafés and lotteries.
For some cafés, the greatest attraction is not even the menu, but the location and atmosphere. Visitors may find themselves, for example, in a quiet forest café, a harbour, a surf village, a seaside courtyard or a place offering a rare view of the sea.
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Can I take children to the home cafés in Hiiumaa?
Yes, home café days are generally well suited to the whole family. Many cafés prepare separate activities for children, such as trampolines, play areas, face painting, ponies, animals, crafts, or small adventure trails.
At the same time, each café has a different programme. Not all places may be easily accessible with a pram, and some evening concerts or more formal dinners are aimed primarily at adults.
Before planning your route, it is worth reading the descriptions of the selected cafés and checking which activities and amenities are available for families.
Do I need to book a table at the café in advance?
Most regular home cafés can be visited without prior registration. You can arrive at a convenient time, choose your preferred food from the menu and enjoy the café's programme.
Advance registration may be required for:
- dinners with limited seating;
- special menus and tastings;
- concerts;
- boat trips and sea excursions;
- workshops;
- yoga, meditation, or other guided activities.
There may also be a queue at some popular cafés. By the end of the day, the most sought-after dishes may be sold out because home cafés prepare food in limited quantities.
How much does it cost to visit home cafés?
There is usually no single admission ticket for Home Café Days. Visitors pay for their chosen food, drinks and paid additional activities directly at the café.
Each café sets its own prices. In some places, coffee and cake may cost a few euros, while a special menu, concert or multi-course dinner may cost considerably more.
It is advisable to bring both a bank card and cash. Although many cafés accept card payments, a payment terminal may not be available at every smaller or temporary café.
How to plan a home café route?
Hiiumaa may look small on the map, but travelling between different parts of the island takes time. If you choose cafés in completely different parts of the island, much of the day may be spent sitting in the car.
For a more comfortable day, it is worth:
- choose one specific area of Hiiumaa for the day;
- select three to five cafés of interest;
- check the cafés' opening hours;
- leave enough free time in the schedule;
- check the ferry schedules;
- book accommodation as early as possible;
- bring cash;
- take the island's changeable weather into account;
- do not plan to arrive just before the café closes.
The aim of Home Café Days is not to visit every place as quickly as possible. The best experiences come when visitors have time to sit, eat, talk to locals, and explore the surroundings.
How to get to Hiiumaa?
The most common way to travel to Hiiumaa is by ferry from Rohuküla harbor to Heltermaa. During the peak summer season and popular events, demand for ferry tickets may be higher than usual.
Those travelling by car are advised to buy their ferry ticket in advance. Hiiumaa can also be reached by bus without a car, but a car is usually the most convenient option for visiting home cafés, as many cafés are located in small villages and away from public transport routes.
It is also possible to get around the island by bicycle, but in that case, the distances between the cafés and the weather conditions must be taken into account.
Where can you find the full programme and map of the home cafés?
The list of home cafés, addresses, menus, opening hours and additional programme will be published on the official Hiiumaa Home Café Days website.
It is definitely worth checking the official program again before your trip. The cafés' opening hours, menus, and activities may change or be updated.
Official information: Hiiumaa kodukohvikute päevad
Are the Hiiumaa Home Café Days worth visiting?
Hiiumaa Home Café Days are one of the best opportunities to experience the island in a different way. Visitors see not only well-known lighthouses, beaches, and tourist attractions but also get a closer look at the everyday lives of local people.
Over the course of three days, visitors can try homemade dishes, listen to music, discover hidden places, and meet people who live and work on Hiiumaa.
The most important thing is not to try to see everything in one day. Choose a few cafés that interest you, allow time for stops and let Hiiumaa itself set the pace of the day.
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