The prestigious European magazine “Falstaff“, which has analyzed and evaluated food and beverage culture in Lithuania, has compiled a list of the country’s best restaurants and announced the best chef, the best sommelier, and seven additional special awards highlighting the nation’s progress.
Reklāma
“We have been publishing the magazine for more than 40 years, so it is very interesting to follow the historical culinary development of different European regions and to see how Lithuania is blossoming on this stage with impressive colors and experiences for visitors to your country. You are entering the Nordic culinary conversation with incredible energy and creative boldness. At the same time, you consistently reveal and maintain a strong local identity – an authenticity that is quickly noticeable and fascinating. It is wonderful to be here and to congratulate you on your impressive achievements,” said Tove Oskarsson Henckel, Editor-in-Chief of “Falstaff Nordics.”
In November 2025, “Falstaff“ launched its English-language “Nordics” edition, covering Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Norway, and the Baltic states – Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. This expansion strengthened the publication’s international reach: today, “Falstaff” operates in 12 countries, is published in four languages, has a circulation of around 300,000, and reaches nearly 3 million readers and users.
Honoring standout creators and masters
The magazine, published for over 40 years, entered Lithuania with a commitment to evaluate and present the country’s best venues. The first-ever awards were ceremoniously announced in Vilnius at the “Falstaff Nordics” awards.
The magazine’s experts selected Gaspar Fernandes from the restaurant “Gaspar’s” in Vilnius as the Best Chef in Lithuania. Martynas Pravilonis from the restaurant “HeJi” in Vilnius was recognized as the Best Sommelier. In the Best Service category, “Demo Restoranas” in Vilnius took the top spot. The Best New Opening award went to “Eleno by Martyn Meid” in Vilnius.
The jury named Gabrielė Gofmanė from “Vila Komoda” in Palanga the Rising Star. The restaurant “Red Brick” in Radiškiai was awarded for Sustainability and Innovation.
In the Culinary Hideaway of the Year category, Palanga’s “Monist” outshone the competition. The Casual Restaurant of the Year award went to “B’ARN bistro” in Vilnius.
A Lifetime Achievement Award honored Arūnas Oželis’ “the O.”
“Falstaff” restaurant ratings are based on a combined evaluation by the community and experts: registered “Falstaff Gourmet Club” members submit their reviews, which are then reviewed and validated by an expert panel. Restaurants are evaluated across four categories: food (up to 50 points), service (up to 20 points), wine list (up to 20 points), and atmosphere (up to 10 points), for a maximum score of 100 points. Results are published annually in the “Falstaff” guide, app, and website.
“Culinary tourism is one of the steadily growing international travel trends. Inbound tourism studies show that gastronomic experiences are becoming an important part of this growth: one-third of tourists try traditional dishes, and 30% visit restaurants and cafés. Therefore, a reliable restaurant map is extremely important for both locals and foreign visitors who value food culture—it helps turn this growing interest into a high-quality experience. International expert evaluations are a vote of confidence for Lithuania, strengthening our gastronomic position alongside other countries,” said Vice Minister of Economy and Innovation Guoda Burokienė.
Vilnius restaurants ranked the best, but others were recognized too
The published “Falstaff” lists reveal an extensive selection of restaurants, grouped by three Lithuanian regions: Klaipėda, Kaunas, and Vilnius.
The top-rated restaurants in Lithuania are: “Demo Restoranas” (95 points), “ELĒNO by Martyn Meid” (95 points), “Gaspar’s” (95 points), “HeJi Restaurant” (95 points), “Džiaugsmas” (93 points), “Pacai” (93 points), “Epotheca by Amandus” (92 points).
Although the top spots were awarded to Vilnius-based restaurants, Olga Gončarova, head of the national tourism agency “Lithuania Travel”, noted that the “Falstaff” team’s evaluations cover a broad spectrum of Lithuania’s food and beverage culture.
“The magazine’s experts clearly direct thousands of their readers not only to restaurants in Vilnius, Kaunas, and Klaipėda, but also encourage visits to creative chefs working in other parts of the country. In this way, the connections between the Baltic and Nordic regions are purposefully highlighted, emerging through unique gastronomic traditions and interpretations,” she said.
After spending significant time in Lithuania, the “Falstaff” team prepared a series of publications presenting the award winners, restaurant lists, and, for the first time, the “Falstaff Café Guide,” featuring the country’s best cafés. This marks the first such café selection in Lithuania, complementing the overall gastronomic map.
Among the top-rated cafés in Lithuania are: “MON.” (97 points), “Desertų Klubas” (97 points), “Backstage Café” (96 points), “Habits Coffee House” (95 points), “Demoloftas Café” (95 points), “Espresinė” (95 points), “Rocket Bean” (95 points), and “Kalve” (95 points).
The lists of Lithuania’s best restaurants are also included in the “Falstaff Restaurant Guide Nordics” and featured in the magazine and its digital platforms. Published since 1982, “Falstaff” is considered one of Europe’s most influential publications on wine, gastronomy, and travel.
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