{"id":148851,"date":"2025-07-10T01:19:00","date_gmt":"2025-07-09T22:19:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/balticguide.ee\/?p=148851"},"modified":"2025-07-10T08:39:53","modified_gmt":"2025-07-10T05:39:53","slug":"stefan-life-between-music-and-the-stove","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/balticguide.ee\/en\/stefan-life-between-music-and-the-stove\/","title":{"rendered":"Stefan\u2014Life Between Music and the Stove"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

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The door of Steff Grill swings open steadily. Stefan Airapetjan<\/b> sits at a table in the restaurant with his wife, taking care of day-to-day matters. To many, however, he is better known as a charismatic performer on concert stages than from behind a restaurant counter. Half a year ago, one of Stefan\u2019s dreams came true\u2014he opened his own restaurant in the Pelgulinn part of Tallinn. And not just a restaurant, but a meeting place where people can enjoy live music along with their meals.<\/p>\n

What does Stefan, originally from Viljandi, think of his new hometown? \u201cTallinn is just the right size for a capital city. It\u2019s never boring here, but it\u2019s not overwhelmingly crowded either. In Viljandi, it could sometimes get too quiet\u2014except in the summer, when various events brought thousands of people to town.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Stefan became a national favourite in 2018 when he took part in Estonia\u2019s Eurovision selection for the first time.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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Life in an Idyllic Lakeside Town<\/b><\/h2>\n

<\/b>Let\u2019s go back for just a moment to Southern Estonia. Stefan is the perfect person to answer what to see and do in Viljandi when visiting. \u201cViljandi is truly a charming place. The people are nice and friendly. The town has many good restaurants, including my father\u2019s Armenian restaurant, Armeenia K\u00f6\u00f6k Soso Juures, located in the centre of Viljandi. Just below the centre of town is Lake Viljandi, surrounded by forests and hiking trails. In summer, the lakefront is especially cosy. You can rent a boat, play beach volleyball, and enjoy nature there,\u201d Stefan describes.<\/p>\n

He himself used to spend a lot of time at the lakeside. That\u2019s where he practiced kickboxing, and every other day he would run a 12-kilometer loop around the lake. There was no shortage of romance either\u2014Stefan had his very first date right by the shores of Lake Viljandi.<\/p>\n

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Stefan was chosen as Estonia\u2019s Eurovision representative in 2022. The photo shows props from Eurovision.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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Towards the World of Music and Performing<\/b><\/h2>\n

<\/b>Stefan\u2019s path into music began when he was just a little boy. In music school, he studied violin. He taught himself to play the guitar at home. He took singing lessons from Hedi-Kai Pai<\/b>. \u201cMy aunt and my vocal coach, in particular, played a key role. They taught me how to sing, and they believed in me! My own family didn\u2019t really believe yet that I could become a singer. At some point, I also started getting interested in songwriting. I ended up in a band, which was a lot of fun. We mostly did everything but<\/i> rehearse, but even that was an important experience.\u201d<\/p>\n

In 2017, the 20-year old Stefan met another young aspiring musician, Hans Noormets<\/b>, and things really began to take off. \u201cWe wrote and produced songs together on a computer. I learned a lot about production from him. Our band was called Vaj\u00e9, which came from the fact that I\u2019m an Armenian from Viljandi, and he\u2019s Estonian.\u201d In 2018, Vaj\u00e9 made it to the superfinal of Estonia\u2019s Eurovision selection and placed third with the song \u201cLaura (Walk With Me)\u201d, written and produced by Karl-Ander Reismann<\/b>.<\/p>\n

Stefan went on to reach the Eurovision selection superfinal three more times\u2014in 2019, 2020, and again in 2022, when he was chosen to represent Estonia with his song \u201cHope\u201d. He finished 13th in the Eurovision Song Contest. In 2022, Stefan released his long-awaited debut album, \u201cHope”. In January 2023, he was awarded four titles at the Estonian Music Awards: Male Artist of the Year, Pop Artist of the Year, Song of the Year, and Audience Favourite.<\/p>\n

In February of the same year, Stefan\u2019s song \u201cMiraa\u017e\u201d was named Radio Hit of the Year at Estonia\u2019s Kuldne Plaat, or Golden Record, pop music gala. With these awards, Stefan firmly established himself as one of the most popular artists on the Estonian music scene. \u201cViljandi produces a lot of talented musicians. Something must be nurturing that. Maybe it\u2019s the nature and the clean air, or perhaps the unusually vibrant cultural life for such a small town,\u201d Stefan reflects.<\/p>\n

The future includes both running the restaurant and continuing to make music. \u201cI\u2019m currently heading to England, where I\u2019d like to write songs and perform. I go there regularly, and am constantly working on developing that side of things.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Steff Grill has two cosy dining rooms, perfect for hosting larger groups.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Steff Grill\u2019s menu features dishes from the Caucasus, such as Armenian shashlik.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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A Taste of the Caucasus in Tallinn<\/b><\/h2>\n

<\/b>The world of restaurants has always been part of Stefan\u2019s life. His father has been running his restaurant, Soso, for over twenty years. The entire family has been involved in it one way or another. \u201cWhen I visit Viljandi, the first place I go is my father\u2019s restaurant. You\u2019ll often find other relatives there, too. We chat about all sorts of things, and I immediately feel at home. Armeenia K\u00f6\u00f6k Soso Juures is a bit like an Italian or Greek family restaurant, where the owner is right there behind the counter,\u201d says Stefan.<\/p>\n

So, the spark to open a restaurant of his own didn\u2019t come from far away. \u201cStefan has been dreaming of his own restaurant for years,\u201d notes his wife, Victoria Airapetjan<\/b>. Steff Grill features two spacious dining rooms, a covered terrace, and a lounge area in the yard made from repurposed euro pallets. The tables are served with a variety of delicious dishes.<\/p>\n

Every Saturday, a band or artist performs at the restaurant. More information about upcoming shows can be found on Steff Grill\u2019s Instagram page<\/span><\/a><\/span>. The concerts are free to attend, but it\u2019s wise to reserve a table in advance.<\/p>\n

The waitstaff are all smiles. During the interview and photo shoot, Stefan chats with customers. There\u2019s no rush. He picks up a guitar, sits down, and begins strumming a melody. On one side, the photographer clicks away; on the other, customers joke casually with the relaxed host.<\/p>\n

This is Stefan\u2019s world: it\u2019s full of music, food, and unhurried living.<\/p>\n

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Steff Grill<\/b><\/a>, Telliskivi 1, Tallinn.<\/a><\/p>\n

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The Roheline Maja Caf\u00e9 is located on Koidu Street in the centre of Viljandi.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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On the shore of Lake Viljandi, you can sunbathe, swim, and enjoy a variety of sports. You can also hike around the lake.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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Where Would Stefan Take You in Viljandi?<\/b><\/h2>\n

<\/b>Since Viljandi is a small town, people mostly get around on foot. This gives the town a peaceful and homey feel.<\/p>\n

We\u2019d start the morning with coffee and a pastry at the Roheline Maja Caf\u00e9. After that, we\u2019d head to the lake, where we\u2019d play basketball or beach volleyball, and go for a swim if the weather allows. We might even go for a short boat ride.<\/p>\n

From the lake, stairs lead up to the town centre. We\u2019d climb them and go eat shashlik at my father\u2019s restaurant, Armeenia K\u00f6\u00f6k Soso Juures. The shashlik there is really good, by the way.<\/p>\n

In the evening, we\u2019d buy tickets to a performance at Ait, Ugala, or Sakala Keskus. To end the day, we\u2019d take a walk around the ruins of the castle, cross the bridge, and go for dinner at either Fellin or Romaan.<\/p>\n

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