If you can't find decent quality food at fair prices in Vilnius you're not looking, or not hungry. Vilnius city is peppered with restaurants that can cater to all tastes and budgets. There seems to be an inexhaustible number of restaurants to choose from with cuisine available from all around the globe. Be warned that many Lithuanian restaurants tend to serve extra-large portions fit for a small army. Most the best tables are located within the compounds of Vilnius' incredible ancient Old town.
Just reading our Vilnius Restaurant Guide will make you hungry! So, after a fun day shopping for some great gifts from Lithuania, pull up a chair and enjoy a mouth watering meal at one of our recommended restaurants.
Vilnius Food & Cuisine Guide
Vilnius Cuisine
Vilnius is a gourmet's dream. Travellers will be spoilt for choice with great food available at hard-to-beat prices. Restaurants and cafes catering to a variety of palates and budgets dot the city landscape.
Gourmands will be delighted with the humungous portions served up at traditional Lithuanian restaurants. For more delicate meals and tables with a view, people head out to the medieval ramparts of the Old Town.
"Don't judge the restaurants by their doors". This word of advice from seasoned travellers to Lithuania couldn't be truer in Vilnius. A delectable meal is often waiting to be had behind the simplest façade. A heavy meal in Vilnius, more often than not, will come for well under 5 pounds.
Lokys Restaurant is one of the city's oldest restaurants and is an institution in itself. Lokys specialises in local cuisine and its setting in a merchant house from the 15th century with live music playing in the background only heightens the drama. You can order medieval style food off a vast and intriguing menu for a genuine Lithuanian experience. If you'd rather not try venison, boar or beaver, then there are the omnipresent potato dishes or a beef or fish course.
Lithuanians eat heartily and their food, much like the cuisine of Russia and Poland, makes liberal use of dairy produce and potatoes. Another local favourite is the pancake, which is usually eaten sweet.
Guide to the Menu
Zeppelin - The parcel-shaped local dish of cheese, mushrooms or meat stuffed into a potato dough shell comes doused in a buttery onion, cream and bacon bits gravy.
Bigos - This local speciality is a stew not unlike a rich German Sauerkraut in texture, although quite different in flavour. In addition to fermented and fresh cabbage, cooks often add in mushrooms, tomatoes, a variety of meats and sausage and even a dash of honey. The one dish meal usually comes with ham, beef, veal or bacon in it and is served hot with potatoes and bread. This goes down well with a nice dry white wine or vodka or even a chilled beer.
Spirits and Beer - The local drink of choice is vodka and the locally distilled ones are quite good. The local beer is very good and most bars serve draught. A more unusual and less familiar drink to many is Lithuanian mead, a traditional sweetish drink made from honey. Bottles of mead also double up as a great souvenir or gift since they come with attractive labels with sketches of Lithuania on them.
Nightlife
The people of Vilnius really know how to party and the pulsating music from discotheques and clubs will have you dancing in no time. There's a mind boggling choice of great bars and pubs too if you are looking for some good tipple and conversation. Watch the sun come up as you mingle with the locals in the Old Town's many late-night bars.
