Restaurant in Vilnius, Lithuania
1,600 labels, sommelier guidance, worth booking.
Somm is Vilnius's strongest case for wine-led dining at the €€ price tier: a Michelin Plate-recognised French-Japanese kitchen with a 1,600-label wine list and sommeliers who run the room as much as the cellar. Currently closed through 2025 for renovations. When it reopens, book the weekend Sommeliers Lunch for a special occasion or the late-night SOMMsupper for a three-course wine-paired dinner without the early-evening rush.
If you visited Somm before, here is the relevant update: the restaurant is closed through 2025 for renovations. When it reopens, the core proposition remains unchanged — a wine-forward French-Japanese kitchen where the sommeliers are as central to the meal as the kitchen. At the €€ price tier, Somm delivers a level of wine programme depth that most restaurants at twice the price cannot match. The question is not whether it is worth your time; it is whether you are booking for the right occasion.
Somm holds a Michelin Plate (2025) and ranked #271 in the Opinionated About Dining Leading Restaurants in Asia in 2025 — notable credentials for a restaurant operating in Vilnius, a city still building its international dining profile. Those credentials are earned primarily through the wine side of the operation, and that is where the experience is concentrated.
The list runs to more than 1,600 labels, spanning familiar names , Dom Pérignon, Château Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc , alongside less obvious choices like Zankyo Super 7 Junmai Daiginjo sake from Japan, Quinta de Lemos Touriga Nacional from Portugal, and Domaine Jean-François Ganevat Chardonnay from France. That range is unusual anywhere; in Vilnius, it is without precedent among the city's current dining options.
Two sommeliers are on the floor at any given service. If you come in knowing exactly what you want, they will help you find it. If you arrive without a clear direction, they are trained to draw preferences out of you rather than steer you toward obvious choices. For diners who find wine lists intimidating, the 75ml tasting-sized pour option removes the commitment pressure of a full glass or bottle , a practical detail worth knowing before you sit down. There is also a Wines of the Month section that functions as a shortcut if you want a curated starting point without working through the full list.
The French-Japanese menu changes seasonally, and the sourcing of produce is a documented priority for the kitchen. This is not a decorative claim , seasonal menu rotation in this format depends on supply discipline, and the French-Japanese pairing is a format that exposes sourcing quality directly: clean fish, properly aged proteins, and produce at peak condition are load-bearing elements in this cuisine, not garnish. Chef Terry Ho runs the kitchen with that logic applied consistently. Dishes are paired with the wine programme by design rather than as an afterthought, which is what separates this format from restaurants that treat wine as a transaction rather than a second kitchen.
Booking at Somm is direct by the standards of comparable wine-led restaurants. The hours are broad , weekday service runs from early morning through midnight, covering breakfast, lunch, dinner and a late-night menu, with short breaks between shifts. Saturday and Sunday open slightly later at 8am and include the Sommeliers Lunch, a weekend-only format that pairs signature dishes with a curated wine selection and is the format to book if this is a special occasion or a long meal is the point.
For late arrivals, the SOMMsupper option begins at 9pm and covers three courses with 90 minutes of free-flow wines. That is the format for a post-theatre or late-night dinner without the pressure of a fixed end time. Check current hours and service breaks before visiting, as the three-session structure means there are gaps in service mid-afternoon and the kitchen is not continuously open across the full listed range.
Google reviewers rate Somm at 4.5 across 183 reviews, which for a wine-specialist restaurant at this price tier represents consistent delivery rather than occasional peaks. The Michelin Plate recognition aligns with that reading , a reliable, high-quality experience rather than a once-a-year event restaurant.
Somm is the right call for a date dinner, a business meal where wine knowledge signals something, or a celebration where the occasion calls for a proper wine experience rather than a decent bottle from a standard list. The warm walnut interiors and fabric seating create a setting that reads as occasion-worthy without formal dress requirements. At €€, it is accessible enough that you are not committing to a blowout, but the experience is calibrated for people who want more than a weeknight dinner.
For solo dining, the bar format and tasting pour option make this workable , you are not penalised for dining alone and the sommelier interaction is arguably better one-on-one. For groups, the breadth of the wine list means everyone finds something, and the seasonal menu format gives the kitchen flexibility to accommodate different preferences within the same service.
If Vilnius is part of a broader Lithuania trip, the dining scene extends well beyond the city. ALBA Bistro in Klaipeda, Apvalaus Stalo Klubo in Trakai, and Arrivée in Kaunas are worth knowing for the rest of the itinerary. Within Vilnius, see our full Vilnius restaurants guide, our full Vilnius hotels guide, and our full Vilnius bars guide for the wider picture. For wine-focused context beyond Lithuania, Nolla in Helsinki offers a useful Nordic comparison point for produce-led modern cuisine, and internationally, Le Bernardin in New York City and Atomix in New York City represent the upper ceiling of the French and Korean-influenced formats Somm draws from.
Among Vilnius-specific modern cuisine peers, Džiaugsmas, Nineteen18, Pas mus, and 14Horses are the direct comparisons to consider when deciding where to spend your evening. See also our full Vilnius wineries guide and our full Vilnius experiences guide for planning beyond the table.
Yes. Somm operates as a flexible bar and restaurant, and bar seating is part of the format. The 75ml tasting-sized pour option makes bar dining practical , you can work through several wines across a meal without committing to full glasses or bottles each time. If you are coming for the wine experience rather than a full sit-down meal, the bar is the right format.
Groups are well-suited to Somm's format. The 1,600-label wine list means a table with different preferences can all find something without compromise, and the seasonal French-Japanese menu is broad enough to accommodate varied appetites. At €€, a group dinner here is accessible rather than a special-occasion stretch. Contact the venue directly for large-group reservations, as no online booking details are currently listed.
No dress code is published, and at €€ with Michelin Plate recognition, smart casual is the practical call. The interiors read as occasion-appropriate , warm lighting, walnut tones, quality fabrics , so underdressing slightly will feel noticeable. If this is a date or business dinner, dress one notch above your default restaurant choice and you will be fine.
For a full experience, dinner is the main event , the wine programme and sommelier engagement are designed around a longer meal format. That said, the weekend Sommeliers Lunch is a genuine alternative if you prefer a daytime meal: it includes signature dishes with curated wine pairings and is a better option for a leisurely occasion than a quick weekday lunch. Weekday lunch (12–2:30pm) runs shorter and is better suited to a business meal with a time constraint.
At the same €€ price tier, Džiaugsmas is the closest modern cuisine comparison. For a higher-spend option with a wine-forward programme, Demo sits at €€€€ and covers modern European with small plates. If you want French cooking specifically, Stikliai at €€€€ is the classic option. For a lower price point, Le Travi at € covers Italian and is the right call if budget is the priority. Somm is currently closed through 2025 for renovations, so these alternatives are the practical options in the interim.
The most important thing: Somm is closed through 2025 for renovations. When it reopens, arrive knowing that the wine experience is the core of the visit , the sommeliers lead the meal, not just the drinks. You do not need wine knowledge to have a good time; the staff are trained to work with beginners as well as serious collectors. Use the 75ml tasting pours to explore the list without overcommitting, and consider the Wines of the Month section as a starting point. The French-Japanese menu changes seasonally, so specific dishes cannot be guaranteed in advance.
Yes, and arguably more rewarding solo than in a group. The sommelier interaction is more personal one-on-one, and the tasting-pour option means you can move through four or five wines across a meal without waste. At €€, a solo dinner here is a reasonable spend for the quality of the experience. The bar seating format removes any awkwardness around a table for one.
| Venue | Awards | Price | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Somm | Opinionated About Dining Top Restaurants in Asia Ranked #271 (2025); Michelin Plate (2025); Editor's note: SOMM is closed through 2025 for renovations. **Our Inspector's Highlights Putting a contemporary spin on classic French bistros, SOMM ensures its affable and insightful sommeliers are at the center of the experience. Let the experts guide you to new discoveries and rare finds, all matched beautifully with the restaurant’s French-Japanese fare. SOMM proves that you don’t have to choose between quality and quantity. The extensive wine and sake menu includes more than 1,600 labels, with an excellent assortment from all over the world.Dishes change seasonally. SOMM places a huge emphasis on the freshness and provenance of its produce.Warmly lit interiors, deep walnut tones and rich fabrics create an inviting atmosphere that feels at once casual and sophisticated.For a long, lingering meal, visit for the Sommeliers Lunch on weekends. This indulgent experience includes your pick of signature dishes, alongside wine pairings from a specially curated menu.** **Things to Know SOMM is open most of the day, serving up lunch, dinner and a special late-night menu. Just be sure to check before visiting, as there are short breaks in between service shifts.If you’re a night owl, SOMMsupper is a popular option. Beginning at 9 p.m., the late-dining dining experience includes three courses accompanied by 90 minutes of free-flow wines.You don't have to order a glass or full bottle at this flexible bar and restaurant. If you’d like to try a few wines over the course of your meal, ask about the 75ml tasting-sized pours.** **Treatments:** The Wine As part of its sommelier-driven ethos, SOMM always has at least two experts on hand to guide diners toward the best wine and sake pairings, based on their preferences and dishes.If you’re not a wine connoisseur or collector, don't worry — SOMM is designed for wine lovers, but not necessarily industry insiders. The personable sommeliers make the experience approachable and enjoyable for wine newbies, while serious oenophiles will also be impressed with their depth of knowledge and personal insights.The menu includes familiar faces like Dom Pérignon, Francis Ford Coppola and Château Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc, alongside surprising finds like Zankyo “Super 7” Junmai Daiginjo sake from Japan, Quinta de Lemos Touriga Nacional Red from Portugal and Domaine Jean-François Ganevat Chardonnay from France.If you need a condensed version, look for the “Wines of the Month” section, which showcases a few of the sommelier’s top choices across regions or flavors. **Amenities:** 7/F, The Landmark Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong, 15 Queen's Road, Central, Hong Kong, China; Opinionated About Dining Top Restaurants in Asia Ranked #247 (2024); Michelin Plate (2024); Opinionated About Dining Top Restaurants in Asia Highly Recommended (2023) | €€ | — |
| Demo | Michelin 1 Star | €€€€ | — |
| Džiaugsmas | Michelin 1 Star | €€ | — |
| Gaspar's | €€ | — | |
| Le Travi | € | — | |
| Stikliai | €€€€ | — |
A quick look at how Somm measures up.
Yes. Somm operates as a flexible bar and restaurant, and bar seating is part of the format. Notably, the venue offers 75ml tasting-sized pours rather than requiring full glasses or bottles, which makes bar dining practical for solo guests or those who want to work through multiple wines across a meal. Note that Somm is closed through 2025 for renovations, so check before planning a visit.
Somm's broad service hours and multi-shift daily schedule make it workable for groups, though specific private dining arrangements are not documented in available venue data. For a group occasion centred on wine, the weekend Sommeliers Lunch format — signature dishes paired with a curated wine menu — is the clearest fit. check the venue's official channels to confirm group capacity when it reopens post-2025 renovations.
A dress code is not specified in the venue data, but the setting — warmly lit interiors, deep walnut tones, rich fabrics — reads as relaxed but considered. This is not a casual neighbourhood spot; a Michelin Plate holder with over 1,600 wines on the list tends to attract guests who dress accordingly. Err toward neat, put-together rather than formal.
For a proper wine-led experience, the weekend Sommeliers Lunch is the documented highlight: signature dishes paired with a curated selection. Dinner suits those who want the full evening format, and the late-night SOMMsupper option — three courses with 90 minutes of free-flow wines from 9pm — is worth noting for night-friendly itineraries. Lunch wins on structure; dinner wins on occasion.
Džiaugsmas is the go-to if you want a Vilnius restaurant with strong local produce credentials and a more Lithuanian-rooted menu. Stikliai suits traditional celebratory meals in a heritage setting. Le Travi and Gaspar's cover the mid-range European bistro ground. None of the local alternatives match Somm's wine list depth — 1,600 labels with on-floor sommelier guidance is a different proposition entirely.
The single most important update: Somm is closed through 2025 for renovations, so confirm reopening before booking. When it does reopen, know that the sommelier service is the anchor of the experience — two experts are always on the floor, and 75ml tasting pours mean you can sample widely without committing to bottles. The menu is French-Japanese and changes seasonally. Somm holds a Michelin Plate and ranked #271 on the OAD Top Restaurants in Asia list for 2025.
Yes, and arguably one of the stronger solo options in Vilnius at this price point. The bar seating and 75ml pour format mean you can eat and drink at your own pace without the social pressure of ordering a full bottle. The sommelier-led service gives solo diners a natural point of engagement. At €€ pricing, the value case for solo dining holds up.
Keep this venue in your Pearl passport, rate it after you visit, and track it alongside every other place you collect.
