If you are looking for me over the next couple of weeks, you can find me somewhere over the Atlantic, or more specifically, exploring four European countries I have never set foot in before: Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Denmark.

This trip is an intentional mix of business, visiting our daughter (who has lived and worked in Lithuania for the past 3 years) and beautiful, slow exploration of the Baltic region. One of the core pillars of how I design travel is making sure we personally visit the locations we sell, and we’re always searching for new destinations. There is no substitute for walking a property, tasting the local flavors, and meeting face-to-face with on-the-ground partners to make sure our clients will be well taken care of. See below, two new partners (Sten and Sven) who helped us coordinate our time in the Baltic cities. They treated us to a few wonderful meals while in Tallinn, and we had the opportunity to meet face to face over one of them.

Since the world opened back up, interest in Western Europe has absolutely skyrocketed, leaving many beloved hot spots incredibly overwhelmed with visitors. While those places will always hold a special place in my heart, part of my job is finding what is next. I’m on the lookout for those interesting, slightly quieter corners of the world where you can still experience incredible luxury and deep culture without fighting the massive crowds. Our first city: Tallinn, Estonia.

Our culinary introduction to the country began at Lore Bistroo, nestled in a historic shipyard building right on the vibrant Noblessner waterfront.

The whole experience is built around sharing small plates, which gives modern Estonian dining such a warm, welcoming, and relaxed feel. It is exactly the kind of slow, unhurried meal that completely grounds you after a long flight across the Atlantic.

To be completely honest, we had no idea the food scene here would be this spectacular. We were totally taken by surprise, and we say that with the utmost humility. Every single thing we tried was an absolute “wow.” The flavors and spices were complex, perfectly balanced, and just incredibly delicious. Our menu consisted of the following:

Olives and Focaccia with Rosemary, Seeds, and Caramelized Cashews

Goat Cheese Cream and Pumpkin Appetizer

Duck Confit Risotto

Panna Cotta with Mango, Passion Fruit, and Waffle Shavings

The open kitchen concept made the dining experience so much more fun!

The next morning, we spent three hours completely immersing ourselves in the layout and history of Tallinn’s remarkably preserved medieval Old Town, walking the winding cobblestone streets alongside an expert local guide, who kept us entertained with many stories mixed in with valuable history.

We also completed three hotel site inspections throughout our time here to observe how local history meets five-star comfort. We toured the polished Art Deco elegance of Hotel Telegraaf, the intimate, fireplace-lit medieval rooms of the Schlössle Hotel, and the new Nunne Boutique Hotel. The Nunne is a spectacular example of preservation, featuring a massive portion of Tallinn’s original 13th-century limestone fortification wall running directly through the interior corridors. I may share additional photos of these hotels in a later post.

Over the next few weeks, I look forward to sharing detailed features on the exceptional dining, the local tours, and the unique properties we vet along the way. I hope to also post photos and moments as we discover these incredible countries, helping you envision a newer, quieter way to experience Europe.

I would love to have you follow along. Welcome to the Baltics. For more information on our itineraries, feel free to email me at dtgainor@gmail.com or visit Global Getaways to learn more about who we are and how we work.