Some places are not born from careful planning, but grow over time, like a garden where something new is planted each year. Thormani Talu café and craft shop is just such a place – shaped by years of work, experimentation, and a desire to do things in our own way, calmly and genuinely.
Handcrafting
Behind this place is the Thormani Talu family and our own stories. In 1997, I began building a blacksmith’s workshop, and ever since, metalwork has been part of my everyday life. Sometimes larger structures, sometimes smaller details – but the desire to make things by hand, and to give every piece its own character, has always remained.
We have been selling handmade products here at the farm for 15–20 years. Sometimes more, sometimes less – depending on what life and work have allowed. Production has changed over time, as have our target audiences, and it hasn’t always been possible to dedicate ourselves to everything one hundred percent. Still, the idea of sharing our creations directly with people has always remained in the background, waiting.
Last summer, during the Open Farms event, we decided to freshen up the space a little and, alongside the craft shop, try running a café as well. What was meant to be just one weekend soon stretched into an entire summer. We stayed open on weekends until early September and later also during Advent, when the demand for handmade Christmas gifts turned out to be greater than we had expected. Gift bags were filled with metal items, preserves, dried herbs, and home-decorated gingerbread.
That was when the feeling grew that this could become something more permanent. For my partner, a hobby grew into a profession.
For my partner, a hobby grew into a profession. What began as baking alongside regular work has now become a daily craft – cakes, pastries, and baked goods made with as much care as flavor. Here, in this place, we can now bring together both worlds: craftsmanship and the home kitchen, production and food-making.
Our dream is simple. To offer our products directly to people, in our own small, homely shop. To save on middle costs and put all our energy where we truly believe it belongs – into quality, durability, and making sure things remain beautiful even after long use.
When people leave our place, we hope they take something more with them than just a shopping bag or an empty coffee cup. We want them to leave a little inspired. Most of our pieces are created with the thought, “you won’t find this in a regular store.” They should be practical, durable, and at the same time pleasing to the eye. Many of our items are shown here in real use, so visitors can see how they fit into everyday life.
Dreams and Vision
Over time, we would like this place to become somewhere people come not only to shop or have coffee, but also simply to gather. To talk, exchange ideas, and maybe even come up with something new themselves.
On the café side, we keep things simple and honest. We offer coffee, tea, homemade cakes, and pastries. For summer, we plan to open an outdoor kitchen with pizza and barbecue ovens. The menu is still taking shape, but the idea leans toward baked dishes and foods that are easy to share and enjoy at a relaxed pace.
Principles and Preferences
When it comes to ingredients, we prefer to use as much local produce as possible. If we can, from our own fields. Herbs, vegetables, and seasonal harvests find their way both into the kitchen and onto the shop shelves.
The craft shop focuses primarily on metal. Garden tools, plant supports, shelves, and other items meant to be truly used, not just admired. In addition, we develop laser-engraved souvenirs and seasonal gifts. In winter, different sets of preserves have been a particular joy, often finding their way into gift packages.
Our location means a lot. The sea is within walking distance. Lottemaa, Pärnu Golf, the surf beach, Reiu swimming beach, and the city of Pärnu are all within about a ten-minute bike ride. This is a seasonal world that comes alive in spring and summer, and we move in the same rhythm.
Many of our products are designed for gardeners and outdoor living. Plant supports, flower shelves, hanging and supporting tools, herbs, and chili plants – these are things that have their own time and season. Running the café is also easier when we can use fresh, seasonal ingredients.
When to Visit and What to Do Here
On April 1st, when the weather starts to warm up, we open our home-style café. The craft shop will also be open at the same time. At other times, the craft shop is open as needed. Our farm is not large, but there is always someone around, working on something. If the shop is closed and someone arrives with a request, we simply open the door.
For us, the ideal visit is a calm one. Someone comes, takes a small coffee and a pastry, sits down, and starts to chat. And there, over a cup of coffee, we usually find the best solution from our selection – whether it’s a gift, a garden tool, or something that doesn’t even exist yet.
Looking ahead, we have ideas for workshops and small community events. At Christmas, we already wanted to organize gingerbread workshops, but not everything came together in time. This year, we’ll try again.
Our biggest wish is that people talk about this place in a way that sparks curiosity in others. That they want to come and see for themselves what Thormani Talu café and craft shop really are.
Practical Information
Opening: April 1
Café open: April–September
Craft shop: open as needed
Location: Lottemaa, Pärnu, Reiu Beach, and Pärnu Golf – all about 10 minutes away
Social media: Facebook – Thormani talu