An unbelievable hotel with a few rooms and its restaurant became a benchmark for Estonian hospitality.
Estonia's largest and third largest island are connected by a road dam. The islands can be reached by ferry from the mainland. Since the ferry port is located on the island of Muhu, all those who want to go to the islands arrive here first. Therefore, Muhu island has mainly been a passing place, where the only reason for stopping is the village shop.
15 years ago, an important change took place on the island. The restored Pädaste Manor and restaurant Alexander were opened as a hotel in Pädaste village on the shore of the sea. The small hotel with a few dozen rooms and its restaurant became a benchmark for Estonian hospitality.
13 of the hotel's rooms are located in the manor house and 9 in the former stable house. In addition, the hotel complex includes a farmhouse where a family or group up to 6 persons can be privately accommodated. The rooms of the manor house are all different. Choosing your favourite among them is impossible, because each room is charming in its own way. Frequent guests prefer to stay in a new room every time.
Why would anyone come to this manor cut off from the rest of the world? Because of time. If you don't have time elsewhere, you have it at Pädaste manor. Time stands still here, doing nothing is the main activity. Because of rural chic in Muhu style. Relaxation and well-being in Pädaste’s spa is based on sometimes centuries-old Estonian herbal traditions. All plants and herbs used in the spa are from Muhu Island. Oils, crèmes and skin-spreads are freshly prepared daily. Because of food. They call it Nordic Islands cuisine. The food is made from raw materials that grow on the Nordic islands. The garfish made in the Alexander restaurant's kitchen tastes better than eel. Dry-aged celeriac replaces truffle here. A dish of local onions has irresistible savour. Every year, the Alexander restaurant interprets the cuisine of the Nordic islands in its own new way.
Pädaste is like a magnet, whoever has been here once will want to come back again and again. Not only visitors. The last three chefs have come to Pädaste's kitchen from Germany. All three have become locals. Foreign chefs prepare local traditional dishes in a completely different way than has been the custom. Estonian food heritage here is getting richer year by year.
The example of Pädaste has inspired other entrepreneurs. Muhu Wine house is the northernmost point in Europe where wine is made from grapes growing on spot. The island has its own craft brewery; Bottengarn offers fisherman's farm-style accommodation and meals.
Although summer is the peak season for tourism on Muhu Island, the best time to visit Pädaste is spring and autumn. Then it is the most quiet and calm place on earth. The magic of Pädaste can be experienced until November 4 this year. The manor will be reopened to visitors in the early spring of next year.
