Different restaurants with a unique and original style, in Vilnius you can experience everything that the Lithuanian gastronomic scene has to offer: from typical to less traditional dishes.
As with many other European capitals before it, the Vilnius food scene has been hit in recent years by a wave of globalization. We are therefore in that delicate and crucial phase of transition during which we see traditional restaurants close to make way for local (pseudo) ethnic cuisine that often too hastily open (and shortly after close) to chase the impulses of millennials and zoomers who have grown up bread and internet. It will take another couple of years before we reach a stable balance between uramaki and cepelinaei (the Lithuanian national dish). But in the meantime, you can enjoy these restaurants which, for one reason or another, represent the landmarks of catering of the Baltic capital.
5 must-see restaurants in Vilnius, Lithuania
1. Dvaras
Dvaras is the perfect restaurant to discover and savor for the first time Lithuanian comfort food: potato pancakes in all sauces, rich baked pork dishes, and colorful mixed platters of cold cuts, pickles and flavored cheeses. Ideal to place at the center of the table. The atmosphere is undoubtedly the other strong point of this restaurant: the whole place recreates the setting of a country house, with red and white checked tablecloths and lace borders, and the always friendly waitresses dressed in typical clothes of the rural tradition. Try the signature dish of local cuisine, i Cepelinaei: giant grated potato gnocchi stuffed with minced pork and dressed with bacon, onion and sour cream. A bomb of calories (and of feeling), but you cannot say that you have really visited Lithuania without having tasted them!
2. Beerhouse and Craft Kitchen
Beerhouse and Craft Kitchen, as the name suggests, is there typical brewery house with a warm and welcoming atmosphere, with a list of beers that will drive enthusiasts crazy. From the most unusual organic ale and lambic, to the more classic IPA and Pilsner, with the strong point that most of them are produced by local breweries. The menu, in which carnivorous dishes are the masters, gives a nod to Central European recipes. Thus we find bratwurst, beef straganoof, shredded pork and ribs in BBQ sauce. The “set menus” to share are interesting, each with a different theme.
A couple of examples? The best american snack set and Deuthschland cuisine set. And if in your company there are no meat lovers, do not worry, unexpectedly tasty and well served fish dishes, such as Belgian mussels and fried fish accompanied by tartar sauce. A tip: do not hesitate to ask the waiters for advice on which beer goes best with your dish. They will know how to direct you to the best.
3. Queensberry
Industrial furniture and professional staff distinguish the Queensberry of Vilnius. It is a'wine bar with kitchen, ideal for a dinner in a sober but elegant setting. Traditional recipes are revisited in a modern way, not to alter their flavor, rather to make them lighter and more balanced. Note on the presentation of the dishes, on the other hand also the eye wants its part! Peculiarity of the Queensberry is the selection of vinthe ones of the territory, among which those based on fruit other than grapes stand out: you can therefore taste unconventional wines of raspberry, apple and berries ... interesting, to try!
4. Blynine Taste
For a mouth-watering breakfast or for a quick and tasty lunch you cannot miss a visit Blynine Taste, the undisputed kingdom of the blyni: Lithuanian pancakes. Here they are offered in a thousand flavors, both sweet and savory.
Rely on their proposals or unleash your imagination in creating the perfect combination with the available ingredients: jam, cocoa, fresh fruit, but also stringy cheeses, local cold cuts and forest mushrooms. In addition you will enjoy a wide choice of American pancakes, roasted potato pancakes, and even a couple of traditional dishes. Bright and spacious environment, efficient and informal service, the mastery with which the young chefs shape the mixture of eggs and sugar on the hot plate captures the attention of the diners, giving shape to these small greedy creations. As usual here in Lithuania, the children's menu is rich (almost) as much as that for the older ones; in conclusion, a must in Vilnius!
5. Uzupio Kavine
A small oasis of tranquility 5 minutes walk from the center of Vilnius: Uzupio Kavine (la Uzupis coffee shop). It stands on the slopes of the green hill that rises to the east of the capital and is ideal for a break during a sunny day. A terrace on the stilts surrounded by green trees overlooking the river is in fact the real strength of this restaurant. Local cuisine with particular attention to the freshness of the ingredients, particularly tasty the blue fish salads such as mackerel and herring, the hot and cold soups of local vegetables and the typical snacks to accompany local beers, such as fried cumin rye bread. And if you miss home, give their Aperol Sprtiz a chance, it's not bad at all! Honest prices and delicious dishes, perfect as a starting point for a walk in the bizarre and original Independent Republic of Uzupis.
