Šaltinio St. 1, Kavarskas

Every fan of Lithuanian cuisine has probably heard of Kavarskas Koldūnis. This cozy café, located near the Anykščiai–Ukmerge road, has become a regular stop for those looking for simple but delicious food reminiscent of childhood.

This place has been talked about a lot – and not without reason. Koldūninė has been around for more than three decades, and only those places that become part of the identity of the area manage to survive for so long. When returning home after an eventful weekend in Anykščiai, stopping by here has become a small but important tradition for many. And traditions, as you know, should not be broken.

This is reflected in the menu – it has hardly changed over the years. Here you will find everything that lovers of Lithuanian cuisine expect: dumplings, cepelinai and curd dumplings. Everything is made traditionally – by hand, without haste, with love.

By the way, right nearby is the Kavarskas St. John the Baptist Spring – one of the most famous and valuable water springs in Lithuania. It is a great place to stop, refresh yourself and fill up on pure spring water for your journey.

Panevėžio St. 9, Janušava

One of the culinary discoveries that surprised us the most is hidden in the remote outskirts of Anykščiai district – in the village of Janušava. You won’t find this place on the internet, it’s not even marked on Google Maps. When we asked what to call this place, we were told: „Write it simply – Panevėžio g. 9.“ Its owners say: „We don’t advertise, we don’t want to commit too much, we live a free life – those who want it, find us themselves.“

Janušavos Panevėžio g. 9 – at first glance, an unremarkable village shop, where you can find standard goods typical of such places. This place was established almost 30 years ago, but initially operated as a bakery and only later grew into a village shop.

To this day, people come here to buy baked goods – they are still the main attraction of this shop. The products are very familiar: kibinai, old-fashioned pretzels, žagarelės, apple and fruit pies, rolls with cottage cheese and, of course, cakes. Here you will almost always find one of two – „Napoleon“ or „Medutės“. The baked goods are unpretentious and at first glance do not even seem special, but as soon as you taste any of the delicacies, you feel as if you have returned to childhood.

The owners of the bakery say that they cook simply: they don't pursue innovative technologies, use only natural products, choose more expensive ingredients and avoid food additives, and most importantly, they do everything with love. As they say themselves: "We don't dare offer others something that we don't like ourselves." That's enough to make the products exceptional.

So, if you want fragrant, nostalgic pastries, it's definitely worth visiting Janušavas.

Shopping area in Ažuožeriai

Apples hold a special place in the hearts of Anykščiai. Back in 1926, when Balys Karazija founded the Anykščiai winery, apple purchase prices soared to unprecedented heights, and at the same time the long history of apples in this region began. Since then, apples and drinks made from them have become inseparable from the city's identity. This tradition is still cherished by the annual autumn festival - Obuolinės, which brings together local residents and city guests.

When traveling around Anykščiai region, it is worth visiting the village of Ažuožeriai, located next to the Anykščiai–Ukmerge road. The company „Ažuožeriai sodai“ is located here, managing more than 140 hectares of orchards. Their shop is a real paradise for apple lovers: here you can always buy juicy and fragrant fruits.

Over time, this place became not only a trading point, but also a unique center of attraction. Small stalls began to spring up around "Ažuožeriai sodi" offering smoked fish, meat products, flowers and vegetables. This naturally led to the formation of a cozy, lively market, which from Thursday to Sunday attracts with an increasingly wide selection of products.

Restaurant "5 Points", S. Daukanto St. 5, Anykščiai

To taste the authentic flavors of Italy, you don't even need to fly – you can do it in the Old Town of Anykščiai, where the spaghetteria "5 Taškai" is located. This is a unique family restaurant founded by Giedrė and Erikas Leitonas. Tired of the noise and meaningless work of the capital, Giedrė and Erikas moved to Anykščiai and founded an Italian restaurant where quality is the most important thing.

Erik himself works in the kitchen. The menu here is small, but the food is always fresh, made from local ingredients, so it changes slightly depending on the season. The chef makes the pasta by hand, using an authentic tool called a chitarra. This tool has been used to make pasta in Italy since ancient times. You will also find handmade tiramisu and excellent espresso here.

Bakery "Skoneta", A. Baranausko a. 12, Anykščiai

Probably every city has its own little gem, which only the locals know about. In Anykščiai, such a gem is undoubtedly a bakery hidden in one of the streets of the old town. It was founded by two friends – Jolita and Diana. To this day, they bake fragrant bread, handmade kibinai, buns and cookies themselves every day. They greet visitors with a smile, advise and help them choose the most delicious treat.

The bakery's products are appreciated throughout the city - Jolita and Diana collaborate with the restaurants "Dublis" and "Naha", and the nearby gastrobar "Industrija" uses their bread for sandwiches.

In the mornings, there is a special atmosphere here, reminiscent of a small French village: as soon as the doors open, locals are already lining up, waiting for the bakery's pride and joy - toasted bread with carrots. However, not everyone is lucky: "Unfortunately, they've already bought it, the next batch will be baked in a couple of hours," - I've heard more than once.

The bakery is small, but there are a few cozy tables where you can enjoy fresh pastries and a cup of coffee. It's a great stop to start your day in Anykščiai. Just make sure you have cash - they don't accept cards.

„"Vitamin Farm", Šlavėnai village, tel. +370 605 20616

Just three kilometers from the city of Anykščiai is the cozy and exclusive "Vitaminų ūkis". It is a small farm, just one hectare in area, famous for its excellent berries and fruits. Due to its compact size, the farm is maintained with extreme care - the owner Rolandas does all the work with his own hands, so each plant receives special attention.

„The harvest at the Vitamin Farm is seasonal, so each season has its own unique flavor. At the beginning of summer, visitors are greeted by honeysuckle berries, and soon early raspberries also ripen. In July, the gardens are filled with cherries and sour cherries, and at the end of the month, the first blueberries appear. In August, the harvest becomes even more abundant - blueberries are supplemented by blackberries. In autumn, the farm pampers with plums and late raspberries.

The owner of the farm is a true enthusiast in his field. He regularly participates in berry growing seminars, is interested in new varieties and modern growing methods. Therefore, by prior arrangement and arrival at the farm, you can not only purchase fresh, freshly picked berries, but also chat with the owner - learn how to keep berries fresh longer, and get valuable advice on their cultivation and care.

Restaurant "Palaima", Ežero St. 8D, Mačionys

Few people would expect to find a Swiss-style mountain cabin in a Lithuanian village. The story of this place began a decade ago, when Swiss Karen and Steve, while traveling around Europe by motorcycle, stopped by the Anykščiai district.

„"During the Utena–Anykščiai section of the journey, I started to feel anxious, I couldn't get rid of a frightening thought: I didn't understand where such a clear and confident desire to live here came from. Until then, I hadn't even considered the possibility of moving outside of Switzerland. Steve was driving the motorcycle, we were flying through the Lithuanian villages, and I was worried: I wanted to know what my husband thought about this country," says Karen.

As you can imagine, Karen's husband felt the same way. A few years later, after purchasing a plot of land near Lake Rubikiai, Karen and Steve opened a hotel and restaurant.

When creating this place, the couple planned a small restaurant for hotel guests, but things turned out so that the restaurant became the main "star" of this place. The restaurant's chef not only introduces traditional Swiss cuisine, but also surprises with a dish made from local, seasonal ingredients collected or grown right here in the Anykščiai district.

„"Honey Farm", Butėnai St. 18, Butėnai, tel. +370 607 92202

We often hear about love immigrants coming to the Anykščiai region. This is how the story of Ugnė, a Vilnius resident, began in the village of Bukčiai, Anykščiai district. After settling in the house of Ugnė's husband Eimantas' grandparents, together they set about creating a "Honey Farm": they raise bees, extract honey and make a variety of products from it.

The doors of Ugnė and Eimantas' homestead are open to anyone who wants to rediscover honey. The couple not only sells various bee products, but also organizes tastings. When you visit the beekeepers - just remember to arrange your visit in advance - you will be able to taste chocolate with pollen, pollen sweets, honey and discover unexpected combinations of them.

„At the "Honey Farm", bees play another important role - they help people rest and relax. Apitherapy huts have been set up here for this purpose. This is a procedure during which, by lying on special beds above beehives and experiencing microvibrations caused by their wings, you can calm down and regain your inner balance.

Inkūnai spring, next to the Church of Our Lady of the Gates of Dawn in Inkūnai, Inkūnai village 4

The old village of Inkūnai often leaves an unexpected, somewhat mystical impression - one that quietly invites you to return again. Located in the Šventoji Landscape Reserve, surrounded by the Saldagiris Forest, the village has retained a special peace. Only a few old authentic huts and the Church of Our Lady of the Gates of Dawn have survived here, and next to it - the old cemetery.

Some of the homesteads today belong to creators and artists who have chosen this remote place for their life and work. The village hosts pottery camps, the "Forest Festival", and cozy concerts in the small wooden church. All this creates a special atmosphere, as if you have entered another time, where everything happens more slowly.

Right next to the church, there is a special spring, which locals say is holy. It is said that this is the place of the apparition of the Holy Virgin Mary. The spring water is pure and refreshing, and the place itself is charming in its simplicity: it has remained almost untouched, not covered with concrete or cobblestone paths, preserving its true, natural beauty. Although Anykščiai is twenty kilometers away from here, this direction is worth the attention of every nature lover. Just be sure to take care of the container in advance so that you can take this pure water home.

„"Mary's Hut", Ulyčios St. 1, Padvarninkai village, tel. +370 687 87826

We have already mentioned that the Anykščiai region is famous for its apples. This theme is beautifully continued by the Mindaugas and Vita family, who founded „Marijos trobelė“. After moving to the Anykščiai district, they started making apple cheeses and apple crisps. Over time, the range has expanded – today the family creatively processes not only apples, but also other fruits and berries: they make sweets, candies, and teas.

When visiting the "Marijas trobelė" homestead, you can not only taste various delicacies, but also take part in various educational activities. One of the most interesting is the creation of "Kramteikslas": paintings are created here from edible ingredients, which can later, of course, be... eaten.

So if you love apples as much as the people of Anykštės do, this place is definitely worth a visit. Just don't forget to arrange your stay at the homestead with the hosts in advance.