43 Michelin-recognised restaurants and counting: Celebrating Lithuania’s culinary rise
Vilnius is emerging as one of the Baltics’ most interesting food destinations, combining deeply rooted Lithuanian flavours with contemporary techniques and influences from around the world. From rye bread ice cream to pink soup and affordable Michelin restaurants, the city’s food scene has plenty of surprises beyond the usual fine-dining experience.
Food is becoming a bigger part of the travel experience, with 69% of UK consumers saying they want more food-related experiences, and 79% of US domestic travelers claiming they want to seek out local cuisine when they travel. As culinary travel grows, Lithuania is emerging as a new destination on Europe’s food map: the number of restaurants recognised by the Michelin Guide has risen by nearly 30% in two years.
This November, Lithuanian Gastronomy Week will put that momentum on the plate, with 20 Michelin-recognized restaurants in Vilnius. On November 9–15, more than 50 restaurants across Vilnius will offer special tasting menus at €40, €50, and €60, giving culinary travelers an accessible way to experience one of the Baltics’ fastest-rising food scenes.
Lithuania’s food scene has changed dramatically in just a few years. The number of Michelin-recognised restaurants grew from 34 in 2024 to 43 this year, and the attention is growing beyond Michelin. Falstaff recently singled out Lithuania’s culinary potential too, while the country’s national team made its debut at Bocuse d’Or Europe in Marseille. Vilnius is also becoming a meeting point for the region’s food scene, hosting the Baltic Gastro Summit and attracting attention from one of the most famous restaurant guides Gault&Millau.
This year, two Michelin-starred Vilnius restaurants, Deep Roots and Džiaugsmas, are taking part in the Gastronomy Week, giving visitors the opportunity to experience some of the city’s most acclaimed dining at lower prices. Deep Roots is a particularly striking example: it earned its first Michelin Star just two months after opening. Chef Andrius Kubilius draws on childhood memories and family recipes, with many ingredients coming from the restaurant’s own farm.
The 16th edition’s theme, Flavours Bring Us Together, celebrates Lithuania’s local ingredients and culinary heritage by collaborating with other cultures, creators, and other restaurants. Even familiar Lithuanian staples are being reworked in unexpected ways. Black rye bread appears as rye bread ice cream, rye brioche and sourdough pudding, while the traditional tree cake šakotis is paired with Japanese miso, bringing salty, umami notes into a classic sweet dessert.
“Vilnius’ food scene is growing well beyond fine dining. Cafés and bakeries are thriving, and there is a new wave of cocktail and wine bars. What’s exciting is that the best restaurants are not simply following global trends – they are looking closer to home, drawing on family recipes, personal stories and local produce,” says Eglė Ližaitytė, Director of the Lithuanian Hotel and Restaurant Association. “That can mean a 16th-century recipe at Lokys, wild boar with porcini and caramelised plums, or yeast doughnuts with kefir butter and a yuzu glaze at bistro n.2.”
3 reasons to explore Vilnius culinary scene:
Michelin stars
For a city of just over 600,000 people, Vilnius has a notably high concentration of Michelin Guide-recognised restaurants – higher per capita than Berlin or London. The city has three Michelin Stars and six Bib Gourmands, recognising restaurants that combine good cooking with particularly good value.
Authentic Baltic ingredients
Lithuanian cuisine starts with: rye, mushrooms, berries, game, and root vegetables. At Protėviai, Lithuanian meat is cooked over open fire, reviving ancestral cooking traditions. Lokys draws on noble estate recipes, pairing venison with mushrooms and hazelnuts. At Stiklių Taverna, venison sausages come with juniper sauce, braised red cabbage and roast potatoes.
Vilnius Pink Soup Fest
Every spring, Vilnius turns its love of šaltibarščiai – the bright-pink cold beetroot soup – into a city-wide celebration. The 2026 festival drew more than 176,000 visits, including around 34,000 international visitors, with pink-themed food, a parade on water, a traditional costume contest, and events taking place across the city. The next pinkest weekend of the year will return on May 28–30, 2027.
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