Vilnius

Why it matters: run by the Lithuanian Jewish Community on the first floor of its Pylimo street headquarters, this little bakery-cafe brought the bagel back to the city where Litvak bagel culture was born, and doubles as a community and cultural center where tours of Jewish Vilnius often start or finish. Everything is baked on site to traditional recipes – bagels with lox, bialys, challah on Fridays, and old Litvak sweets like teiglach and imberlach you will not find elsewhere. Come hungry and curious; it is closed Saturdays for Shabbat.

Why it matters: running since 2004 as one of Lithuania’s first social businesses, this cheerful salad bar trains and employs people rebuilding their lives after prison or addiction, with cooks, waiters and bartenders learning the trade alongside psychologists and social workers. The food holds its own – build-your-own salads, hot daily specials and fresh juices at some of the friendliest prices on Vilniaus street. Grab a weekday lunch when the specials rotate and the local office crowd pours in. Every bill directly funds the reintegration program.