Sometimes living in Lithuania can be a challenge (oh those dark winter days!), so I wanted to focus on forgetting about the challenges and enjoying the positives. I started this series a few years ago to make myself get out and experience the more creative side of Lithuania. For this series I wanted to focus on creative events, unique aspects of the culture or language, and cool places that I find around Lithuania. Previously I've written about Open Kitchen, the Beer Marathon, the Lithuanian Design Block, Pottery Class, Coffee Enthusiasm, and Vilnius Gastro. If you have any suggestions of things to check out I'd love to hear them!


Vilnius is pretty awesome when it comes to pop up events featuring local designers and small business owners doing there thing. I find new designers on Instagram and Facebook nearly each week. Every couple of months a new designer event makes its way onto my schedule.

Maybe you love supporting small designers and local businesses as much as I do, or maybe you are looking for a very authentic souvenir to remember your cool trip to Vilnius. Whatever it is, today I wanted to share how to find pop up shopping events and local designers in Vilnius.

 

Pop Up Events

 Kauno Kulturos Kablys

I'm starting off with my favorite pop up design event in Vilnius -- seasonal pop up shops held at the Kauno Kulturo Kalbys (otherwise known as the Hook Building). Held quarterly, these pop ups feature everything from clothing and accessories, to cake, coffee, and books. I've been eyeing some jewelry by several of the local Lithuanian brands (I love DD Workshop), so I think I'll be treating myself soon!

The pop ups held at Kablys are my favorite because the venue is smaller and feels a bit more manageable, even in crowds. It is easy to get to and the guys from Crooked Nose and Coffee Stories are always selling their awesome coffee and cool brewing devices. The Hook is also just a super cool building, making it fun to stop by and shop!

The Kablys will be hosting the Spring Pop Up on April 8 and 9 from 11 am until 7 pm.

Find out more on their website and Instagram, which announces all of the designers.

Loftas

Loftsa is a cool (way too cool for me) music venue that occasionally hosts design festivals, called Uptown Markets. These markets are held roughly once per quarter and feature similar local designers as PopUp.LT. Loftas is a much large venue, with outdoor space and potentially two large indoor spaces open for designers.

The only problem really with Uptown Markets held at Loftas is that they can be sometimes really confusing to enter. Though Loftas has a clearly marked entrance on Svitrigailos g. 8 (behind the bus stop), sometimes this entrance is closed and you must go around the side of the building.

The benefit of holding a design pop up at Loftas is the ample outdoor space allowing for food trucks, street art, tables, and sometimes, live music. They also tend to have far more designers due to the larger space.

To find the side entrance, walk past the Iki grocery store and store selling home items -- towards the building with street art (the written art, you'll see what I mean). Enter through the sort of dilapidated gates and wind your way through kind of creepy industrial buildings. As the street art becomes more concentrated, you'll start seeing signs and spotting food trucks and designer wear. Don't get discouraged! You'll find it! **If you'd like me to draw a map or have specific questions, feel free to email me!

The next Up Town Market is on April 22 and 23 from 12 pm to 6:30 pm.

Local Designers

If your trip to Vilnius doesn't happen to coincide with one of the pop up design events, don't worry! You can still shop great Lithuanian designers at brick and mortar stores in Vilnius. I've written quite a long post about second hand, vintage, and local designer shops before, so I'll link that here. Stores do tend to come and go pretty quickly in Vilnius and a couple of the stores I featured in that article are no longer around (I've noted it in the original article).

Locals.LT

Conveniently located in the mall Gedimino 9, Locals.LT stocks the most popular items from several Lithuanian designers. In store they sell clothing, jewelry, accessories, and home items -- a perfect place to stop for a locally made goodie to take home! The store is also really nicely organized, making it easy to find what you are looking for.

Aukso Avis

Aukso Avis is a jewelry store selling only handmade items from local designers. They carry both affordable and more luxury brands (prices tend to be about 10 EUR to 150 EUR), and everything is color coordinated!

Sarka

Sarka is one of my favorite places to shop in Vilnius as it has such a wide array of options to choose from. This small store is packed with high quality vintage finds, beautiful re-worked pieces, and clothes from their in-house designer. They also carry shoes, accessories, and decorations for the home.

Linen Tales

Lithuania is well known for its linen products, so it seems only natural to purchase a linen item. Linen Tales has two stores in Vilnius as well as a really great online shop. Be warned -- those who are nesting or love decorating are going to want to watch their wallet here!

Eva Design

I love the gorgeous dresses by Eva Design! Selling very carefully tailored women's shirts, skirts, and dresses, the option is very selective, but really creative and beautiful.

Pop ups can also be found in Kaunas -- the 2022 European Cultural Capital! Check PopUp.Lt, although they same to be held less frequently. Local designers also sometimes share a text (the one that looks like a bubble) during large weekend festivals that happen pretty regularly in the summer months in Vilnius (also at Kaziukas and the pre-Easter festival).


What would you add to the list? Any other pop up events I don't know about yet?

Sweet, flavorful, and ubiquitous, meet Lithuania's liquid gold. From tea to a cure for sore throats, Lithuanians use honey constantly. So much so that I'd have to call Lithuanian honey liquid gold.

Is Honey Really That Important In Lithuania?

The short answer: yes. More than black rye bread, wild-collected mushrooms, and potatoes, honey might just be Lithuania's number one culturally important food. So much so that it has been incorporated into Lithuania's pagan belief system, proverbs, tourism, and basic healthcare.

A Lithuanian proverb says, "A lone bee cannot create honey." (Viena bite avilin medaus neprines.)

 

How is Lithuania's honey consumed + utilized?

Honey tea

One of my favorite ways to consume Lithuanian honey is in the form of honey tea, something that I had never heard of prior to moving to Lithuania. Honey tea is made from thick, spun honey with herbs incorporated into the mixture to provide ultimate health benefits. Though there are several brands that sell honey tea, my personal favorite is from Apiflorus.

They sell honey teas in a variety of sizes and include teas infused with herbs that have added health benefits. For example, lemon balm is thought to aid digestion, reduce period cramps, and be calming. The honey tea with lemon balm is excellent for relaxation, in my opinion.

To use honey tea, simply mix a small spoonful with hot water and stir. This can be enjoyed immediately -- I really enjoyed it while I was pregnant with Baby ISO. You can buy honey tea at several gift stores and at the Vilnius Airport, but my favorite place is at Senamiescio Kratuve on Literatu g. in the Vilnius old town.

Cakes

Honey is used as a traditional sweetener for numerous Lithuanian desserts, although honey is now sometimes replaced by white cane sugar. My favorite Lithuanian cookbook, Taste Lithuania* by Beata Nicholson, even has a wonderful chapter entitled "Rivers of Honey." This entire chapter is dedicated to desserts, most of which use honey as the sweetener and main flavoring. Included in the recipes are gyrabukai -- my favorite Lithuanian dessert -- glazed mushroom cookies. The most famous Lithuanian dessert, honey cake, is also described, and of course, features honey as one of the main ingredients.

Honey cake (medaus tortas) is a labor intensive layer cake sweetened and flavored with quite a bit of honey. Found in numerous bakeries in Lithuania, visitors can easily sink their teeth into a slice of honey cake. Made with a different number of thin, wafer-like layers of cake depending on who makes it, the layers are then soaked in tea before assembly.

I think the best honey cake in Vilnius can be found at Senamiescio Kratuve on Literatu gatve and Pilies Kepyklele on Pilies gatve. Senamiescio Kratuve also has excellent gyrabukai, although they aren't always shaped as mushrooms. If you'd like to try out this recipe at home, the blog Ugne Bakes has a really nice recipe. The blog's writer, Ugne, is the Lithuanian woman who was on Great British Bake Off in 2015!!

Mead

The delicious hard alcohol made from honey -- mead -- has likely been produced in Lithuania for thousands of years. At one point, noble Lithuanian families even had their own special recipes and consumed up to 30 barrels per week. If you want to read more about the history of Lithuanian mead, I've written about it here for Culture Trip.

If you want to taste mead while in Lithuania (I know I do!), Lithuania's most famous mead company, Lietuviskas Midus, just started holding mead tastings in Vilnius. Prices are really reasonable, 8 Euros for four beverages, education, plus snacks. Tastings are held on Stikliu g., which is really the perfect location in old town. I'm dying to get a babysitter for the afternoon to do a tasting!

Cure for ailments

"A spoon full of [honey] makes the medicine go down[?]" ... that is how the song in Mary Poppins goes, right? Well, I bet the version translated into Lithuanian would be more culturally appropriate if honey replaced sugar in the timeless song. In Lithuania, honey is thought to be a cure for ailments. Spoonfuls of honey are added to tea, hot water, or simply consumed to prevent or help colds and sore throats.

This belief is actually backed by science, as honey is known to have antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. Its antibacterial properties are actually what makes honey unable to spoil. Using honey (and other bee products) as a medicine is considered apitherapy, and other than ingesting honey, it can be used in facials and spa treatments.

The wonderful resort town of Druskininkai in southern Lithuania has an abundance of spas with honey-based treatments. Though I wasn't in love with the treatments at the spa I stayed at, Spa Vilnius Druskininkai was highly recommended by my friends, and I'm rather envious of their stay! Spa Vilnius Druskininkai offers body massages with honey meant to stimulate the immune system and relieve inflammation.

Where can you learn more about Lithuanian honey?

Beekeeping Museum

I hate to say that after four years in Lithuania, I still haven't had the chance to visit the Beekeeping Museum even though it has been on my Lithuanian Bucket List since the beginning. Though way off-the-beaten-path for most visitors, the Lithuanian Museum of Ancient Beekeeping is an open air museum located in Aukstaitija National Park. The museum features carvings of pagan beekeeping gods and goddesses, examples of tree-trunk beekeeping hives, and other beekeeping paraphernalia. It is slightly unclear when the museum is open, so you might want to check with the tourism board and call ahead before visiting. I'm hoping to visit before leaving Vilnius, although some sources say it doesn't open for the season until May, so hopefully we have time for a quick weekend escape!

Rumsiskes: The Lithuanian Open Air Museum

Rumsiskes was also on my Lithuanian Bucket List, but we managed to visit this year for my birthday. This awesome open air museum holds historic houses from all of Lithuania's cultural regions and also has a small area about beekeeping.

Honey + Lithuanian beliefs

Honey gods and goddesses 

Honey features in Lithuanian food, culture, and is even wrapped into Lithuania's former pagan beliefs. Lithuanian folklore remembers two pagan bee deities. The first is the female queen bee, Austeja, the goddess of fertility and protector of women, especially pregnant women. The second deity is the male worker bee, Babilas. Further excellent details are given in this blog post.



Who knew honey could be so important. Tell me, is honey used where you live?

This weekend has been full of junk food because of the delicious street food at the Kaziukas festival. I have a particular weakness for these amazing jam sweetbreads that look like pies! To balance things out a bit and add back in the veggies, I've gotta have a healthy week. Luckily, among the potatoes stuffed with meat and topped with cream sauce, Vilnius has some wonderful healthy restaurants.

Vegafe

J and I found Vegafe our first year in Vilnius when we were dying for something a bit different. The restaurant on Augustijonu g. 2, near the Town Hall Square, is also a yoga studio, so guests must take of their shoes and many tables have cozy floor seating. With the no shoes cozy seating, and Tibetan music, from the second you enter, it feels like you've left Lithuania.

The food is what I'd call Tibetan vegetarian and it is wonderful. The chickpea meatballs in a red sauce is a family favorite, as is the hummus platter. They also have a large offering of vegan food, so if you have dietary restrictions against dairy, this is a perfect option.

Vegan Raw House

Though the raw diet is something I don't necessary understand, I can absolutely get behind fresh, healthy, local produce. Vegan Raw House on Rudninku g. 12 is a raw, vegan restaurant severing lovely fresh vegetables.

A few weeks back, the kind owners invited me to their reopening night, which was a wonderful chance to taste some incredible dishes. My favorites were the delicate veggie rolls stuffed with herbs and the naughty tasting coconut raw balls that tasted just like raffaello candies. So good!

The veggie roll ups are a really excellent snack that make for a healthy treat -- something I'm in need of this week.

Maghrib

Maghrib, located in Uzupis, is a great option for someone wanting to eat vegetarian while out with a group of meat-eaters. Though the menu is pretty small, Maghrib really offers something for everyone. I'm a big fan of their chickpea and vegetable tagine. Their fig, cheese, and bread appetizer is also delicious.

-->If you are looking for unhealthy treats in Vilnius, check out this post.<--

Where else do you suggest eating healthy while in Vilnius?

During our multi-family road trip through the Baltics last year, we had an emergency stop in Riga because Baby ISO was ill. Our friends booked us into the Riga Islande Hotel*, which is across the Daugava River from Riga's old town. Though not necessarily the area I would have chosen, the hotel was in a cool location and was only a short distance from old town. It also offered free parking, which was great since we had a massive car for our road trip.

The Riga Islande Hotel is a really great budget option (rooms are around $50 per night) with surprisingly good amenities. The rooms were clean and comfortable, and ours had a great view of the Vansu Bridge. I thought the large bed was very comfortable and the room was large enough for us to fit our travel crib. There was also a large space to store luggage and a desk with a chair.

Had we spent more time in the hotel, I would have liked to take advantage of the amenities including bowling alley, large tvs, spa, sauna, and pool. Reviews of the bowling alley, sauna, and pool are really good, so its a bummer we didn't get to enjoy!

I'm not usually a fan of hotel breakfasts, but the breakfast at Riga Islande Hotel was pretty decent and there were loads of choices.

The breakfast buffet was actually pretty good!

The view from our hotel room

The Riga Island Hotel* is located on Ķīpsalas iela 2, Kurzemes rajons, Rīga, Latvia. It is about a 15 minute walk from Riga's old town.


Where have you stayed in Riga? We are planning a spring trip to spend more time in the city, so I'm looking for some accommodation and restaurant suggestions!

Note that links marked with a * are affiliate links. You can find more information about In Search Of's use of affiliate links at the bottom of this blog.

One of my favorite ways to travel and learn about culture is through food. No matter how long or short your trip, you can always find somewhere to taste the local cuisine or sample an imported delight. If you are hungry in Tallinn, here are six wonderful and surprisingly affordable places to eat in Tallinn.

Ribe Restaurant

Ribe is an amazing restaurant in Tallinn's old town, just off of the main square. Ribe serves high quality European food in a really beautiful atmosphere. I dined alone at Ribe because J was in Tallinn for work, and the staff were super nice and attentive. I enjoyed a delicious pumpkin salad and really amazing lamb. I highly recommend a meal at Ribe when you visit Tallinn.

Vene 7, 10123 Tallinn, Estonia

Lendav Taldrik

We ate at the Indian restaurant Lendav Taldrik during our multifamily road trip through the Baltics. I thought that the food was delicious and was really happy to be eating something a bit spicy! The food is really for sharing, so if you do visit Lendav Taldrik, don't order too much! Lendav Taldrik is located in Building E of the Telliskivi Creative City.

Telliskivi 60A, 10412 Tallinn, Estonia

Rataskaevu 16

Rataskaevu 16 is J's favorite restaurant, perhaps of all time. On our most recently visit to Tallinn, we had made reservations to eat here as our special Thanksgiving meal, but I unfortunately was sick and couldn't go. I forced J to go without me (he had eaten there before) and he made me drool over the food descriptions.

According to J, Rataskaevu 16 also has a children's play area, which makes it convenient for families!

Rataskaevu 16, Tallinn, Estonia

Olde Hansa

We also ate at Olde Hansa, which is right in Tallinn's old town square. Now, I wouldn't think that a restaurant on the square would be good, but it really was! The environment was interesting, with staff dressed in medieval clothing and everything lit by candles. It was pretty cool! I ordered fig with lamb and the portion was massive.

Town Hall Square

Pannkoogipubi Kompressor

Pannkoogipubi is a quick cafeteria to order specialty pancakes. The free walking tour guide suggested Pannkoogipubi as a cheap lunch place and she was right. The meat and cheese pancake I had was really filling and delicious.

Rataskaevu 3, 10123 Tallinn, Estonia

Pierre Chocolaterie 

Pierre Chocolaterie is a delicious cafe and chocolate house with a beautiful courtyard that I bet would be great in the summertime. The chocolate cake I had was pretty tasty and I've heard that they serve amazing hot chocolate.

Vene 6, 10123 Tallinn, Estonia



There are a bunch of other places that I'd like to try in Telliskivi Creative City, so I'll have to plan a return trip to Tallinn soon! Where else would you suggest to eat in Tallinn?

Vilnius is home to some 120 nationalities, and many have played a significant role in Lithuania's history. Recently, Vilnius has been celebrating this diversity of nationalities with the installation of multicultural street signs. These multicultural signs are written in the language of the ethnicity that is referred to in the sign. For example, Vokeiciu gatve (German Street) is written in German as Deutsche Strake with a decorative symbol next to the name.

The first sign was installed on Iceland Street (Islandija gatve) because Iceland was the first country to recognize Lithuania as independent in 1991. Another sign was installed on Totoriu g. (Tartar Street) at the intersection with Gedimino pr. in the old town to celebrate 600 years of Tartars in Lithuania. The sign installations are celebrated with a visit from Vilnius' mayor, and in some cases, a small celebration of folk songs.

Now, not all have accepted these multicultural signs, and within the first few days, the street sign on Rusu g. (Russia Street) was vandalized, but was quickly cleaned up by the city government. There is also currently a lawsuit pending regarding the (ridiculous, in my opinion) belief that these signs may cause racism. However, the municipal government insists that the signs are decorative and meant to celebrate Lithuania's heritage.

Hopefully the Vilnius municipal government will be able to continue this interesting celebration of Lithuania's long history.

 Where to find these signs:

Feel free to read more on these press releases: Warsaw Street; Totoriu g.


What do you think about multicultural signs? Do you think they instigate racism and hatred or rather, celebrate a diverse city?

Traveling and living abroad provides an unparalleled opportunity to learn about cultures and histories that may be completely different from your own. It is your chance to open your mind to foods, experiences, religions, festivals, and more.

Lithuania, a country that only recently regained its freedom from the Soviet Union, has a rich history of food, culture, and bravery. Because it was part of the Soviet Union and only joined the EU recently, many people don't have a clue about Lithuania or what to expect when visiting. Actually, when I first moved to Lithuania, I also had no idea what Lithuania would be like and my parents were pretty nervous about the move. What I've found, however, is a wonderful home full of unique food culture where potato is king, a rich tradition of harvesting wild plants and fungi, and strong national pride.

If you happen to be visiting Lithuania or have recently moved here, I've created a list of 15 different ways that you can experience Lithuanian culture.

1) Mushroom Picking

Mushroom picking was one of my favorite experiences of all time in Lithuania. Shortly after the birth of Baby ISO, J's colleague took us mushroom picking in the suburbs of Vilnius. If visiting Lithuania, I have to suggest asking a knowledgeable local to take you mushrooming.

2) Uzgavenes

Uzgavenes is a traditional Lithuanian festival occurring 46 days before Easter and involved dressing up in wooden masks, singing, and going door to door to collect candy. The celebration culminates with the burning of a more to scare away winter. Enjoy the merriment on the streets on Vilnius or at the Rumsiskes Open Air Museum.

3) Kaziuko Festival

The Kaziuko Festival is the best festival in Lithuania and occurs at the beginning of March. At this festival, you can expect thousands of folk crafters selling their goods such as carved masks, wooden bowls and platters, painted eggs, jewelry and more! Plan your visit to Vilnius to coincide with the awesome Kaziuko Festival.

4) Coffee Tasting

Coffee culture is single-handedly changing the face of Lithuania and creating a counterculture. Cafes are providing upbeat meeting places, jobs, and workspaces for freelancers. With the increase of cafes comes pop-up festivals and markets, and improvement in parts of the city that were once kind of yucky (e.g., the Stotis area). One of my first and favorite coffee experiences in Vilnius was a coffee tasting at Crooked Nose and Coffee Stories. The owner is awesome and hosts frequent coffee tastings (see "kavos degustacija" on their FB page) at their airy cafe. Tastings can also be given in English, so no worries if your Lithuanian is as bad as mine!

5) Open Kitchen

I've shared my love for Open Kitchen probably too many times on In Search Of, but it is a highlight of the summer season in Vilnius and will provide a lively snapshot into hipster life in Vilnius. If you are visiting Vilnius in the summer or early fall, pop over to Tymo Turgis where they hold Open Kitchen.

6) Beekeeping Museum

The Beekeeping Museum has remained on my Lithuanian Bucket List since we moved to Vilnius, and I still have yet to visit <-- blame that on the bad weather most of the year. Both beekeeping and honey are culturally very important in Lithuania and there are even Lithuanian gods of beekeeping. Honey is used a sweetener in numerous desserts including gyrabai cookies, which are my personal favorite.

7) Maker Popups

Along with the cool cafes, there have been quarterly maker popups with great artisans. These events are always packed and I think they are a great way to support small businesses.

8) Jewish Museum in Vilnius

Another location that I haven't yet had the chance to visit is the Jewish Museum in Vilnius. My Mother-In-Law, who is Jewish with Lithuanian ancestry, did visit all of the Jewish sites in Vilnius + surroundings, and she said they were incredibly moving.

9) All Saints Day

All Saints Day is celebrated on November 1 all over Lithuania with families visiting cemeteries to light candles and pay respects to the dead.

10) 9th Fort

 Located just outside of Kaunas, the 9th Fort is a museum, memorial, and historic site in remembrance of the 50,000 people murdered there during WWII.

11) Street art walk

Vilnius has recently started street art festivals and projects meant to rejuvenate parts of the city as well as celebrate its history. Taking a self-guided tour of Vilnius' street art paints a picture of Lithuania's creativity and politics.

12) Mead tasting

Lithuania is widely known for its mead, which was previously used in pagan religious ceremonies. Mead tastings are available in Vilnius at Lietuviskas Midus in old town.

13) Independence Days

Lithuanian has two independence days, and both are widely celebrated with people wearing yellow, green, and red. If you happen to be in Lithuania on either February 16 or March 11, be sure to look out for parades, flags, and patriotism.

14) Grutas Parkas

 Located near Druskininkai, Grutas Park contains old Soviet statues that were once located throughout Lithuania. The park is pretty spooky with Soviet music playing in the background and larger than life statues of evil personalities such as Lenin and Stalin.

15) KGB Museum 

 The Museum of Genocide Victims (also called the KGB Museum) is a bone chilling museum in Vilnius that describes the recent horrors that Lithuanians faced under Soviet rule. The basement of the KGB Museum was a former KGB office, prison, and torture chamber.

 

What are ways that you can learn about the culture (or cultures) of your current home?

Though a small country, Lithuania has a an incredibly long history and probably surprising for most, different cultural groups. Samogitians, or lowlanders, are one such cultural group who have a strong presence in modern-day Lithuania and played an important role in Lithuania's history.

To put it simply, Samogitia is an ethnic region of Lithuania with a long and interesting cultural heritage. Samogitia is considered the low land, and this name has been in use since the 13th century.

Historically, Samogitia, or Zemaitija in Lithuanian, was independently ruled by Samogitian princes before the unification of Lithuania. Samogitia played an important role in the wars against Teutonic Knights in the 1200s and remained at least partially independent until the late 1700s when all of Lithuania was taken over by Tsarist Russia. Remaining steeped in national pride and cultural heritage, Samogitians were responsible for rejuvinating folklore, language, and history in the 19th century

Samogitia currently consists of the cities of Siaulai, Palanga, and Telsiai in northwestern Lithuania. Telsiai is considered the capital of Samogitia. Samogitia is notable as it was the last part of Lithuania that converted to Christianity -- it only converted in the early 1400s and most people continued to practice their pagan religion. Additionally, the people of this region have actively conserved the Samogitian language, which is slightly different from Lithuanian, cultural traditions, and cuisine.

Samogitians speak one of the two Lithuanian dialects and until fairly recently, women dressed in long skirts with brightly colored stripes and intricately detailed head scarfs. Examples of the outfits from different regions on Lithuania can be seen on the second floor of the National Museum in Vilnius.

In Samogitia, traditional botanical knowledge has also been maintained, and 113 plant species are considered medicinal. Use of traditional medicines are combined with modern medicine to create a holistic approach to healing in this region of modern-day Lithuania.

How to experience Samogitia while visiting Lithuania

Samogitian pancakes

If you happen to visit Lithuania and want to experience a bit of Samogitian but don't have a ton of time in country, try Samogitian pancakes. Samogitian pancakes are potato pancakes stuffed with meat and formed in a flattened football shape.

Rumsiskes

Houses were also traditionally very different than elsewhere in Lithuania and several example homes can be seen at Rumsiskes. Rumsiskes is a massive open-air museum located only a couple hour drive from Vilnius (near Kaunas) and is worth a visit if you have time.

Visiting Samogitia

If time isn't an issue, the wonderful blog True Lithuania has a massive post with maps that provides details for Samogitian sites that are worth visiting. A few examples on the "Samogitian trail" include the Panemune Castle (and road that has a couple of other related castles), a pagan shrine in Sventoji, and the Uzgavenes Museum (a pagan/Lithuanian festival to scare away winter) near the Zemaitija National Park.

Sources:

- Petekvicicute et al. 2010. Urban ethnobotany study in Samogitian region, Lithuania. Journal of Medicinal Plants Research Vol. 4 (1): 64-71. 
- Samogita Blog
- True Lithuania Blog



Do you like to learn about culture where you live or travel? What is one surprising/cool thing about where you're based?

Probably not unsurprisingly, J and I don't get out for dates much since having a baby. So, when we do go out now, we look for special locations where we can have a wonderful and slightly fancier meal. Maybe you are in the same boat as us, or maybe you are looking to simply enjoy one of Vilnius' top restaurants. Either way, I've got you covered with nine different options.

Here are my top picks:

Gaspar's: 

Gaspar's is a great restaurant for a weekend brunch, afternoon business lunch, or tasty evening meal. I've enjoyed an amazing weekend brunch at Gaspar's and was surprised by how reasonable the prices were.

I also recently went on a date night to Gaspar's for dinner and the food was SO good and the value for money was excellent. For around 50 Euros, including tip, J and I each ordered three courses (an appetizer, main, and dessert), a glass of wine each, and a coffee (just for J). If you've not been to Gaspar's, you have to go because the food is amazing. This meal totally catapulted Gaspar's to the top of my restaurant list and is easily my favorite restaurant in Vilnius.

Gaspar's is pretty small and very popular, so don't forget to call ahead to make a reservation. You can find their phone number and lunch menus on their website.

Really good banana pancakes

Trust me, order the turmeric ice cream dessert

The duck was really good, too

The Town:

 In my opinion, The Town has one of the best steak menus in Vilnius. We've gone to The Town a few times now and I'm always impressed with the wonderful service; the staff are just so helpful and nice, which tends to be a bit rare in Lithuania! Be sure to order sides with your steak (or chicken) as they are really tasty and creative. Side dishes change depending on the season, and each one I've tried (mashed wasabi potatoes, potatoes au gratin) are SO tasty. Order some wine and a dessert to complete your meal!

Apparently I forgot to take a photo of the meal!

Dublis:

I've visited Dublis for lunch twice now.  I was really impressed during my first visit (but not as impressed my second visit), because the food was tasty and unique. I especially liked the dessert options at Dublis and remember the options all being really tasty. Because the menu rotates and can include some ingredients that are a bit unusual for some (e.g., chicken hearts), it is best to check their menu ahead of time.

Bistro 18: 

Bistro 18 is one of my favorite restaurants in Vilnius for a consistently good meal. On Bistro 18's menu, you'll find seasonal soups, delicious salads, steaks and other hearty mains, risotto, and really amazing desserts.

One of my favorite times to go to Bistro 18 is in the spring (approximately early May) when they feature locally grown asparagus in several dishes on the menu. Every asparagus dish I've tried has been absolutely amazing, so if you are in Vilnius in May, it is worth it to check their menu!

Bistro 18 is a really popular restaurant, so I suggest booking a table in advance.

Lauro Lapas

Lauro Lapas serves food with a creative twist on traditional ingredients. It is a great restaurant for a date night and the serve who had the funniest sense of humor was the cherry on top of a great meal.

You can find out more about Lauro Lapas on their website. Don't forget to call and make a reservation beforehand.

Uzupio Klasika

 Uzupio Klasika is a small restaurant located on Uzupio g. 28. While I enjoy their main dishes, their chocolate fondant cake, which takes 15-20 minutes to bake, is what really steals the show. I'm not ashamed to admit that J and I have just gone to Uzupio Klasika to order wine and a chocolate fondant cake!

That being said, I do also like their chicken dishes, and have enjoyed every meal I've had at Uzupio Klasika. While the other six restaurants on this list have some unique or unusual dishes, Uzupio Klasika serves classic Eastern European food, such as stuffed chicken or roasted pork, but the classic dishes are done really well. The interior is also very classically designed with long table cloths and tons of candlesticks providing light.

Sweet Root 

I've only eaten a small dish at Sweet Root during the Vilnius Gastro Walk, but Sweet Root is a really raved about restaurant due to its unique use of ingredients. Perhaps not for picky eaters, Sweet Root creates meals with locally sourced ingredients that are often grown on their own farm.

Find out more about their unique tasting menu and make a reservation on their website.

Sugamour

If you fancy a sweet dessert, I'd suggest stopping off for a date at Sugamour on Vokiecu gatve. Sugamour is a very cute, reasonably large restaurant that has beautiful, if a bit expensive, desserts. When we are short on time, J and I pick up desserts to go from Sugamour to enjoy after Baby ISO's bedtime.

Alaus Biblioteka 

Perhaps you are craving an after dinner drink? Head to my favorite bar in Vilnius, Alaus Biblioteka (Beer Library), which has nearly any beer you could ever want to drink. The staff are incredibly knowledgeable and even people who don't like beer can find an option that they'll enjoy. Just ask the staff for suggestions! They also have an amazing cheese and meat plate that you must try as an appetizer to your meal out.

What do you do for date night? What are your favorite restaurants in Vilnius?