Restaurant in Vilnius, Lithuania
Michelin-starred Vilnius: book well ahead.
Džiaugsmas holds a Michelin star (2024 and 2025) and an OAD Top Europe ranking, priced at €€ — one of the clearest value cases in Northern European fine dining. Chef Martynas Praškevicius runs a Modern Cuisine kitchen with a serious wine program in Vilnius Old Town. Book three to four weeks out minimum; this one fills hard.
Džiaugsmas holds a Michelin star (retained in both 2024 and 2025), sits at #423 on the Opinionated About Dining Europe ranking for 2025, and scores 78.5 points on La Liste's 2026 ranking. For a first-timer considering the Vilnius fine dining circuit, this is the clearest yes in the city. The price range sits at €€, which makes it one of the better value Michelin-starred meals available in Northern Europe right now. The caveat: getting a table is harder than the city's profile might suggest. Plan at least three to four weeks ahead, and more if you are visiting on a weekend.
Džiaugsmas operates as a restaurant and winery on Vilniaus gatvė, one of the main arteries running through Vilnius Old Town. The name translates from Lithuanian as joy or happiness, and the tone of the room reflects that: this is not a hushed, ceremony-heavy temple in the way some starred restaurants present themselves. The atmosphere sits closer to confident and warm than to stiff or performative. For first-timers used to European fine dining that leans austere, the mood here is easier and more accessible than the awards suggest.
Chef Martynas Praškevicius leads the kitchen. The cuisine is classified as Modern Cuisine, and the winery component means wine is treated as a serious part of the experience rather than an afterthought. A White Star designation from Star Wine List, published in September 2024, confirms the wine program carries real weight. If you are pairing, plan for it; this is not a restaurant where the list is merely decorative.
For a first visit, the tasting menu format is the right choice. It gives you the clearest read on what the kitchen is doing, and at the €€ price point it represents meaningful value against comparable Michelin-starred formats elsewhere in Europe. For context, a single Michelin star tasting menu in Paris or Copenhagen at a similar quality tier will typically run two to three times the price you will pay here. That gap is real and worth factoring into your decision.
Timing your visit matters more at Džiaugsmas than at many restaurants in its tier. Vilnius sees its most concentrated tourist traffic from late May through August, when the Old Town fills and reservation competition increases noticeably. If you have flexibility, a weekday visit in April, early May, or September gives you better odds of securing your preferred seating time and a room that is full without feeling pressured. Winter evenings, particularly in November and December, create a different atmosphere entirely: the Old Town is quieter, the pace slows, and a long dinner here feels more natural. That said, December holiday weekends are competitive again, so mid-week remains the practical call year-round.
Lunch service, if available, tends to be less booked than dinner at this tier of restaurant in Vilnius. Check availability for both when booking, since a lunch slot at Džiaugsmas at €€ pricing is a strong option if your schedule allows. See our full Vilnius restaurants guide for context on how this sits within the broader dining calendar.
The editorial angle here is worth addressing directly: Džiaugsmas is not a takeout proposition. The kitchen produces modern cuisine at Michelin-starred level, and the experience is built around the room, the wine program, and service sequencing. None of that travels. If your trip to Vilnius includes a situation where you cannot get to the table, the right call is to reschedule, not to order delivery. There is no credible off-premise version of what this kitchen does. The food does not exist independently of the context in which it is designed to be eaten.
If you need a Vilnius option that travels or suits a more casual format, Pas mus and Amandus are worth checking. For the full picture on what else the city offers at different price points and formats, see our Vilnius dining guide.
Booking difficulty is rated Hard. With two consecutive Michelin stars and a growing international profile through La Liste and OAD, demand at Džiaugsmas has moved well past what the Old Town location alone would generate. Visitors flying in specifically to eat here should secure a reservation before booking flights. Local diners should work on at least three weeks' notice, four or more for Friday and Saturday dinner.
The address is Vilniaus g. 28, in Vilnius Old Town. Parking in the immediate area is limited during the day; the neighbourhood is walkable from most central accommodation. For where to stay, see our Vilnius hotels guide. For pre- or post-dinner options, our Vilnius bars guide covers the neighbourhood well.
| Venue | Cuisine | Price | Booking Difficulty | Awards |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Džiaugsmas | Modern Cuisine | €€ | Hard | Michelin 1★, OAD Leading Europe, La Liste |
| Nineteen18 | Modern Cuisine | €€€€ | Hard | — |
| 14Horses | — | , | , | , |
| Augustin | , | , | , | , |
| Pas mus | , | , | , | , |
Within Lithuania, ALBA Bistro in Klaipeda, Apvalaus Stalo Klubo in Trakai, and Arrivée in Kaunas are worth your attention if you are building a broader trip. For manor dining, Paliesius manor is a distinct format worth considering. If the Modern Cuisine format at this level has your attention, Frantzén in Stockholm, FZN by Björn Frantzén in Dubai, and Maison Lameloise in Chagny represent meaningful reference points in the same genre. For experiences beyond restaurants in the city, see our Vilnius experiences guide.
Also worth noting: Red Brick in Radiškis is a notable countryside option if you are driving out of Vilnius and want a dining stop with character outside the city.
Yes, at the €€ price point it is one of the better value propositions in Michelin-starred dining in Northern Europe. The kitchen has held one star in both 2024 and 2025, and the La Liste score (78.5pts in 2025, 75pts in 2026) confirms consistent quality recognition. For comparison, a tasting menu at a single-starred restaurant in Paris, Copenhagen, or Stockholm typically runs two to three times what you will spend here. If tasting menu format suits you, this is a strong yes.
Arrive with a reservation secured well in advance: booking difficulty is rated Hard. The room is warm rather than formal, so the experience is more relaxed than the awards tier might suggest. The wine program is a serious part of the offering, not optional background , budget for a pairing. The cuisine is Modern, and the kitchen also operates a winery component, which makes the food-and-wine relationship more integrated than at most comparable restaurants in Vilnius. Google rating of 4.6 from over 1,200 reviews indicates consistent execution across a broad range of guests.
No specific dietary accommodation information is available in our data. At Michelin-starred level, most kitchens in this tier accommodate dietary restrictions when notified in advance, but you should contact the restaurant directly before your visit to confirm. Do not assume flexibility without checking, particularly for tasting menu formats where the kitchen builds around a fixed sequence.
Bar seating specifics are not confirmed in our data. In Vilnius, bar or counter dining at this tier of restaurant is less common than in larger European capitals, and availability varies by service. If bar seating matters to you, confirm directly when booking. If the format is not available and you want a more casual entry point to the Vilnius fine dining scene, Pas mus is worth considering as an alternative with a different atmosphere and price point.
No formal dress code is on record, but at Michelin-starred level in a European Old Town setting, smart casual is the practical baseline. Trainers and shorts will feel out of place. Džiaugsmas operates at a €€ price point rather than the very leading of the market, so the room is unlikely to be as formally dressed as Nineteen18 at €€€€, but treating it as a dressed dinner is the right call for a first visit.
At minimum three to four weeks for a weekday dinner; four to six weeks for weekend slots. Džiaugsmas has two consecutive Michelin stars, OAD Leading Europe placement, and a growing international visitor base , demand has moved beyond what the local market alone would create. If you are travelling specifically to eat here, book before you confirm travel. Last-minute availability occasionally appears for weekday lunch, but do not rely on it.
| Venue | Cuisine | Price | Booking Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Džiaugsmas | Modern Cuisine | €€ | Hard |
| Demo | Modern European, Innovative, Wine Bar & Small Plates | €€€€ | Unknown |
| Somm | Fusion, Modern Cuisine | €€ | Unknown |
| Nineteen18 | Modern Cuisine | €€€€ | Unknown |
| Gaspar's | Indian | €€ | Unknown |
| Le Travi | Italian | € | Unknown |
Key differences to consider before you reserve.
Yes, for the right diner. At the €€ price point, Džiaugsmas delivers Michelin-star cooking (retained in both 2024 and 2025) at a fraction of what equivalent-tier restaurants charge in Paris or Copenhagen. Chef Martynas Praškevicius runs a modern cuisine format that earned 78.5 points on La Liste 2025, which places it in credible company across Europe. If tasting menus are your format, this is one of the stronger value cases in the region.
Džiaugsmas is a restaurant and winery on Vilniaus gatvė in Vilnius Old Town — the wine program is integral, not incidental, so engage with it. Booking difficulty is rated Hard given the Michelin star and growing international profile from OAD and La Liste. Come with a reservation, arrive on time, and treat the wine pairings as part of the experience rather than an optional add-on.
The venue data does not confirm specific dietary accommodation policies. For Michelin-starred modern cuisine at this level, it is standard practice to notify the kitchen of dietary requirements at the time of booking — do not leave it until arrival. check the venue's official channels before reserving to confirm what can be accommodated.
The venue data does not confirm bar seating or a counter dining option. Given the Michelin-starred format and hard booking difficulty, planning around a reserved table is the safer approach. Check directly with the restaurant if a more informal seating arrangement is a priority for your visit.
The venue data does not state a dress code, but a Michelin-starred restaurant with a La Liste ranking and OAD Europe recognition sets a clear expectation: dress well. At Džiaugsmas, business casual or above is the practical baseline — avoid overly casual clothing. If in doubt, err toward neat and considered rather than formal.
Book at minimum three to four weeks out, and further in advance if you are visiting during Vilnius's peak tourist window (late May through August). Booking difficulty is rated Hard: two consecutive Michelin stars (2024 and 2025), OAD Europe #423, and a La Liste ranking have all widened the international audience. Weekend tables at peak season likely require six or more weeks of lead time.
Keep this venue in your Pearl passport, rate it after you visit, and track it alongside every other place you collect.
