"Raimundas Dambrauskas's modern Lithuanian tasting menu inside a baroque monastery guesthouse — one of the most singular settings in the Baltics, and a kitchen that earns it."
About Monte Pacis
Monte Pacis occupies the 17th-century guesthouse of the Pažaislis Monastery, a baroque ensemble set in parkland just outside Kaunas. The name — 'Mountain of Peace' — was given to the building by its patron, Grand Duchy of Lithuania Chancellor Kristupas Zigmantas Pacas, who built it for travellers and guests. Today it is a Michelin Guide restaurant and four-star hotel, and one of the most atmospheric places to eat in the Baltics.
Head chef Raimundas Dambrauskas reinterprets Lithuanian cuisine in a modern, produce-led register, drawing on the property's own kitchen garden and local organic farms. The format is the tasting menu: a four-course set menu and the six-course 'Monte Pacis Show', with an à la carte option alongside.
The Kitchen
The cooking is seasonal and visually precise, built around what the kitchen garden and Lithuanian farms are sending in. The six-course 'Monte Pacis Show' (€80) is the fullest expression of the kitchen; the four-course set menu (€70) is the shorter route through it. Secret historical recipes — a nod to the monastery's own past — are woven through a thoroughly contemporary plate.
Wine is a genuine highlight, not an afterthought: the owner is a qualified sommelier, the cellar runs past 200 individually described bottles, and — uniquely in Lithuania — it includes wines produced in European monasteries. If you take a pairing, this is a list worth surrendering to.
The Room
The setting carries the evening. Vaulted ceilings, thick stone walls and the hush of the monastery grounds give the dining room a calm that no purpose-built restaurant can replicate, and in summer the parkland and courtyard come into play. It is grand without being stiff — the kind of room that makes an ordinary Tuesday feel like an occasion.
Service is composed and wine-literate, paced to the tasting format. The monastery is a short drive from central Kaunas, so plan transport; the trade for the slight journey is one of the most distinctive dining settings in the country.
Best for an Anniversary
The monastery setting and tasting-menu format make Monte Pacis an obvious anniversary or proposal destination — few rooms in Lithuania feel this much like an occasion. The calm, the cellar and the seclusion also make it a strong choice to impress clients over a long, unhurried dinner.
Not for
Not for a quick or casual meal, or a city-centre stroll-in — Monte Pacis is a tasting-menu destination a short drive from central Kaunas, priced and paced as a full evening rather than a drop-in.
Frequently Asked
What is Monte Pacis known for?
Being a Michelin Guide restaurant inside the 17th-century Pažaislis Monastery near Kaunas. Head chef Raimundas Dambrauskas cooks a modern Lithuanian tasting menu, and the cellar uniquely includes wines made in European monasteries.
What does the tasting menu cost?
The four-course set menu is €70 and the six-course 'Monte Pacis Show' is €80, with à la carte also available. Wine pairings draw on a cellar of more than 200 individually described bottles.
Who is the chef at Monte Pacis?
Head chef Raimundas Dambrauskas, who reinterprets Lithuanian cuisine in a modern, produce-led style using the property's own kitchen garden and local organic farms.
Where is Monte Pacis?
At T. Masiulio g. 31, in the guesthouse of the Pažaislis Monastery on the edge of Kaunas. It is a short drive from the city centre, set in monastery parkland.
Do I need a reservation?
Yes — Monte Pacis is a tasting-menu destination and books ahead, especially at weekends and in summer when the monastery grounds are in use. Reserve by phone.
Reserve a Table
Reserve at Monte Pacis
Book ahead, especially weekends and summer. A short drive from central Kaunas — plan transport.
Affiliate disclosure: Restaurants for Kings may earn a commission when you book through our reservation links, at no cost to you. Our scores are editorial and never paid for.
Practical Information
AddressT. Masiulio g. 31, Kaunas 52436, Lithuania
NeighbourhoodPažaislis Monastery, T. Masiulio Street
CuisineModern Lithuanian
PriceTasting menus €70 (4 course) / €80 (6 course, 'Monte Pacis Show')
Dress CodeSmart
SeatingVaulted monastery dining room plus seasonal courtyard
ReservationRecommended, especially weekends and summer
