olive travels: where to visit in June

Restaurant hopping through Sweden

Sweden celebrates its national day on 6 June, and this year’s 500-year anniversary coincides with The King’s 50th jubilee. Throughout the month, the capital city will come alive with festivities and special events. Join an aquavit tasting on the day at Museum of Spirits, learning how the flavours of the Swedish spirit alter as you sample varieties from the north to south of the country. Try unique dishes at a large celebration at open-air musem, Skansen, where chefs from all corners of the country will gather to prepare tasters of the dishes that make their region special. Discover the likes of Dalsland’s river trout three ways, Hälsingland’s glöhuppa with yeast butter and sweet cheese with blackberries unique from Halland. Relax over a picnic on the lawn, discover cycling routes through nearby forests, build an insect hotel or try your hand at folk dancing and traditional Swedish games. If you want to try a variety of restaurants while you’re in the city, join locals and friends on one of Moveat’s self-guided restaurant hopping afternoons. Locations rotate each time, but you might find yourself savouring plates of seasonal ferments at upmarket bistros, queuing for fresh-from-the-oven pizza slices and tucking into seafood tacos, learning about traditional chocolate making techniques at 100-year-old confectioners on the way. These interactive, sociable tours pop up throughout the year across cities and towns in Sweden, whether its cycling between traditional bakeries, outdoor terraces and whisky distilleries in the archipelago, or stringing together Malmö’s urban restaurants and wine bars on foot.

Michelin dining in Estonia

Estonia is the first Baltic country to get its own Michelin guide, and here you can enjoy excellent-value tasting menus in diverse locations, from Tallinn’s trendy UNESCO city centre to birch-lined beaches and lakeside houses. Start in Tallinn, where the country’s two star-receiving restaurants both lie on the water outside of the city centre. In a contemporary building with views over Tallin Bay and the Gulf of Finland, chefs at NOA Chef’s Hall use open fire to cook Norwegian scallops, Canadian lobster and locally foraged herbs in a contemporary seven-course tasting menu. In the harbour, 180° by Matthias Diether boasts a large, U-shaped open kitchen, where creative, modern tasting menus are prepared. For reasonably priced dining experiences, take a tour of the Bib Gourmand winners, including Tallinn’s buzzy all-day brasserie Härg, Mediterranean-style dishes at Mantel ja Korsten in a pretty clapboard house on the edge of Kadriorg park, and modern harbour-front bistro Lore Bistroo.
Drive an hour south of Tallinn, through birch forests and lakes, to Põhjaka Manor in Mäeküla, a sustainable restaurant that has been awarded a Michelin Green Star for its commitment to growing its own vegetables and herbs. Continue further south to Viljandi, a rural village with a picturesque old town, rows of colourful wooden houses and its own lake beach. In a red brick building on the edge of the old town, bohemian-style bistro Fellin serves traditional European dishes. Finally, hidden in the trees on the stunning white-sand beach of Kloogaranna on the north west coast, family-run Lahepere Villa has been recognised for its hospitality with the Michelin Service Award. Sit on the terrace with the crackling fire for warmth, and enjoy the likes of frog tempura and sea bass with fennel-pea ragout, along with a pot of homemade granola to take away for breakfast the next morning.

Time your star-studded tour with Midsummer celebrations at the end of June, when Estonians flock to the countryside and beaches to celebrate Midsummer’s Day, known as Jaanipäev. Join an al fresco BBQ or picnic beneath the stars, sit round a bonfire on the beach and listen to Estonian folk tales, or dance until dawn to welcome the new summer day.

Ancient Incan celebrations in Peru

June is the start of the dry season in the Peruvian Andes, when its ancient Incan capital, Cusco, marks two major festivals. On 11 June 2023, Incan and Christian traditions come together in spectacular Corpus Christi street processions, the former celebrating harvest time through the preparation of traditional dishes, including chiriuchu. This is Cusco’s most iconic meal, showcasing the diversity of Peru’s landscape and the ingredients it produces, from coastal seaweed and fish roe to guinea pig from the highlands, and Urumbamba corn and spicy rocoto chillies, grown on the slopes of the Andes.
Later in the month, on 24 June this year, the Incan festival of the sun, Inti Raymi, is celebrated. This is the time to try the slow-cooked beef stew, huatia, that takes its name from the earth oven it’s cooked in, while watching local tributes.
If you’re planning a trip to coincide with these celebrations, reserve a balcony table overlooking Plaza de Armas square to soak up the festivities from above while tucking into unique Incan dishes. Or try making Peruvian dishes at home with our recipes.