The second edition of the Michelin Guide to Lithuania has been published: it is now known which restaurants in the country have been awarded stars this year
The second edition of the MICHELIN Guide Lithuania was announced today, highlighting the continued growth of Lithuania's culinary scene. This time, four restaurants in the country were awarded prestigious stars, which signify the highest level of culinary excellence. In total, 37 restaurants were included in the Michelin Guide – an increase from 26 last year.
The highly sought-after Michelin stars, coveted by restaurants and chefs worldwide, were retained this year by the same four restaurants that earned them last year –Demo, Džiaugsmas, Pas mus, and Nineteen18, all located in Vilnius.
Compared to last year’s MICHELIN Guide Lithuania, the number of restaurants recognized with the “Bib Gourmand” award – which honors establishments offering the best value for money – has doubled. New additions to the “Bib Gourmand” list include Augustin, B‘ARN Bistro, El Gato Negro, and Kristoforas in Vilnius. Additionally, last year’s awardees – 14Horses, Gaspar’s, Le Travi in Vilnius and Nüman in Kaunas – successfully retained their titles.
The list of establishments in Lithuania recommended by Michelin inspectors has grown. This year, it was expanded to include MOTÍF in Vilnius and Alba Bistro in Klaipėda. The recommended restaurant list also continues to feature last year’s entries, including Amandus, Da Antonio, Dine, Elven, Ertlio Namas, Fabrikėlis, Farmer & The Ocean, HeJi, Justa Pasta, Momo Grill, Pacai, Protėviai, Somm, Stebuklai, Stikliai, and Telegrafas in Vilnius; Arrivée, DIA, Monte Pacis, and Uoksas in Kaunas; Monai in Klaipėda; Apvalaus Stalo Klubas in Trakai and Red Brick, located in Radiškis village, Ukmergė district.
According to Minister of Economy and Innovation, Lukas Savickas, the new Michelin Guide results reflect the maturity and international competitiveness of Lithuania’s gastronomy sector.
“This is a great example of how careful work, investment in quality, and creativity bring real economic impact. Our restaurant sector, despite a challenging geopolitical and economic environment, demonstrates resilience and the ability to create added value, significantly contributing to shaping the country's international image,” said L. Savickas.
This morning, special Michelin awards were also announced. The Young Chef Award went to Darek Medvedev of Augustin; the Sommelier Award was given to wine expert Martynas Pravilonis from HeJi; the Service Award was presented to Lina Marija Balčiūnaitė, service manager at Red Brick; and the Opening of the Year Award was given to B‘ARN Bistro chef Arnas Petronis.
The head of Lithuania’s national tourism promotion agency Lithuania Travel, Olga Gončarova, says that the second edition of the MICHELIN Guide Lithuania shows that Lithuania is increasingly establishing and strengthening its position on the global culinary map.
“Our chefs and restaurant teams are proving that they not only maintain a high level of mastery but also continuously strive to improve. These results are not just recognition of current achievements – they are also a strong incentive to further develop gastronomic tourism opportunities in Lithuania. We are confident that this international recognition will increase tourist flows and encourage visitors to extend their stays in our country,” said O. Gončarova.
According to O. Gončarova, gastronomic tourism is one of the fastest-growing global travel trends, so Michelin recognition not only enhances Lithuania’s international image but also creates new opportunities to attract even more foreign visitors.
“Research shows that nearly 60% of travelers would consider extending their stay if offered a selection of Michelin-starred restaurants. Therefore, these new Michelin recognitions give Lithuania a powerful boost to attract gastronomic tourists from around the world.”
The MICHELIN Guide announcement and the awards ceremony of Lithuania’s first-ever Bocuse d'Or chef selection competition will be broadcast live this evening on the Lithuania Travel Facebook channel starting at 6 PM. You can find the link HERE.