Soviet-era bars were a disaster. These days there are plenty of above-average to excellent drinking holes in the Lithuanian capital. Also see What's to Drink for a listing of some of the better Lithuanian beers and liqueurs.
All Stars Sports Bar: Konstitucijos 26, at the Forum Palace; tel. 263-6666. Open:17-24; Fri., Sat. 17-06. www.forumpalace.lt
Amatininku Uzeiga: Didýioji 19/2, in the old city, tel. 212-7968. Open:11-05; Sat., Sun. 11-06. People come here to fill up on beer when the night is young and to fill up on food when the night is old. One of the few spots to eat late at night in Vilnius. But beware: the worst service in town means you will never escape here in under an hour or more. On a recent evening one visitor ordered an avocado salad and waited for an hour when roasted chicken was plopped on his table. Their explanation: 'Well, we don’t have any more avocado salad.' Enough said.
Astorija: Didzioji 35/2, tel. 236-0840. Open:12-24. A nice bar in the high-class Radisson SAS Astorija Hotel. A very good variety of cocktails.
Arka: Ausros Vartu 7, tel. 212-1646. Open:11-24. This used to be where intellectuals congregated at the turn of independence. Drop into the little gallery next door. Jazz/blues on weekends.
Bix: Etmonu 6, tel. 262-7791. Open:11-02; Sat., Sun. 11-05. In the old city. A hip bar/club run by one of Lithuania’s hottest bands. The cavernous, multi-colored interior could be a set for MTV. Good tunes are blasted at high decibels. Bix also serves good food at moderate prices. Pool upstairs and Czech’s Budvar on tap downstairs. www.bix.lt
Brodvejus: (J-2) Mesiniu 4, tel. 210-7208. Open:12-05; Sun. 12-02. Popular with a capital P. A narrow, cobblestoned side street hides the capital’s hippest hangout for shabby-chic youngsters. Modeled for atmosphere on Vilnius’ famous Pub nearby, Broadway has a dark, wooden interior and unpretentious furniture. It has the feel of a bygone tavern; it could pass for a bawdy Jack the Ripper-era East End public house. It’s warm, friendly, and has typical but cheap bar snacks. There is a wide variety of music on the weekends, including rock, blues and classical. Ventilation could be a lot better. www.brodvejus.lt
Busi Trecias: (G-1) Totoriu 18, tel. 231-2698. Open:11-23. American country music is a good match for this two-level traditional style pub that brews its own beer: a light beer and a cheery beer. You can rent out their beer tasting hall on the third floor. The wood-heavy decor is often filled with youngsters. They serve food too.
Iki Ausros (’Til Dawn): Ausros Vartu 15, tel. 610-04131. Open: Mon.-Thu. 19-02; Fri.-Sat. 19-04, or until the last client. Finally, a real cocktail bar with absolute class and surely the only place town where you can sip exotic drinks like Mojitos and Planter’s Punch. The German owner, who runs a cocktail academy in his native country, trained his bartenders for three months before opening the doors, and it shows. Upon your first sip, they dart to your table to make sure the drink’s perfect. The owner’s bid to offer 200 different kinds of drinks fell short at 50 thanks to Lithuanian liquor import laws. Indisputably one of the most sophisticated options in town with its sleek interior and dark lighting. Ideal for romance. Brutally expensive. Drinks start at 19 litas. A cigar lounge downstairs, one of the city’s first and only.
Jazz & Rock Café: (J-1) Mikalojaus 15, tel. 261-1397. Open:16-24; Thu.-Sat. 16-03. A new, hip place targeting the 25 and older working crowd. Check the listing outside the door for live jazz on weekends and DVD concerts on the large screen during the week. Downstairs disco from Wednesday to Saturday. Tango lessons for the public on Monday and Wednesday from 19-21 downstairs. The hearty menu offers eclectic salads, steaks and desserts.
The Pub: Dominikonu 9, tel. 261-8393. Open:11-02; Fri., Sat. 11-05. In the old city. A CITY PAPER favorite! A laid-back, English-style pub that’s a popular hangout among university students. A dark, lived-in feel, with candlelight, bookshelves and speakers that don’t have that annoying, tin-can sound. The Pub is also a good place for a quick, tasty lunch, though once you’re here you feel like lingering for hours on end. The menu includes avocado salad, chili, chicken curry and brownies. www.pub.lt
Sky Bar: Konstitucijos 20, on the top floor of Reval Hotel Lietuva; tel. 272-6272. Open:16-00:30; Fri., Sat. 16-02:30. Wow! Picture-perfect views of Vilnius. A must for tourists, even recommended as a first stop to get your bearings straight before you explore the rest of the capital. Beside great views, they also offer a fine selection of cocktails and snacks. www.revalhotels.com
SoHo: Ausros Vartu 7, tel. 212-1210. Open:11-24. A hot new place in Vilnius run by the same group that owns the excellent Freskos restaurant and the Pub. One of the few hangouts that fills up with young professionals on weeknights. Finger-painting on Wednesday. Live music outside during warmer months. The Mexican food here is as good as you will find this side of the globe. But if you want a real kick, try the stellar spicy Vietnamese soup. Probably the best bar food in town.
Sole Luna: Universiteto 4, tel. 212-0925. Open:10-24; Thu. 10-03; Fri., Sat. 10-04; Sun. 12-23. Italian cafe-bar.
Trecias Brolis: Sirvido 6, tel. 261-2404. Open:10-01; Fri. 10-05. The Third Brother is located in the Writer’s Union building just behind the Central Post Office. Enter through the heavy door and head to the left of the elegant staircase to discover where Lithuania’s hard-drinking, chain-smoking, hard-up writers come to argue and brawl. Drunken dancing daily. With uncertain working hours, this place is a much-ignored survivor. It has all the faded glory of Soviet days gone by that you might (for your own reasons) be looking for. An experience. Live music on Saturdays.
What's to Drink
Lithuania's beer market is not considered as strong as Estonia's or Latvia's. Nevertheless, there are some local brews that can compete with very good foreign beers. The most popular among them are Utenos and Kalnapilis.
Lithuania is also a great place for vodka. The best brand is probably Kvietine.
But as with its northern neighbors, Lithuania has its own set of liqueurs to spring on unsuspecting travelers. Some favorites are the strong honey liqueur Krupnikas, as well as the multi-fruit-based liqueurs, such as Palanga or Dainava. Overall, the choice of liqueurs is much wider in Lithuania than in Estonia or Latvia.
Midus, or mead, is a magical, potent honey concoction. Another good drink is gira, which is made from grains and flavored with fruits. Also worth trying is kveisas, a beer-like drink made from fermented birch sap.
There are also some nice wines produced in Lithuania, many by a winery in Anyksciai district. Their specialty is fruit wine.
Clubs
Cozy: Dominikonû 2, tel. 261-1137. Open from 21:00. Café-restaurant-bar. www.cozy.lt
Galaxy: Konstitucijos 26, at the Forum Palace; tel. 263-6666. Open: Fri., Sat. 22-05. Huge with a whole variety of shows and dancing styles. www.forumpalace.lt
Gravity: Jasinkio 16, tel. 249-7966. Open: Fri., Sat. 22-06. A Dutch-owned dance club. Hip, trendy and the closest thing to London in Vilnius. Foreign DJs play house music. Face control keeps away the thugs. www.gravity.lt
HeliosClub: Didýioji 28, tel. 261-5040. Open: Thu.-Sat. 22-05. Popular nightclub just on the corner of Town Hall square. www.heliosclub.lt
Intro: Maironio 3, tel. 279-1508. Night club, café and an art gallery. www.intro.lt
Jazz&Rock Café: (J-1) Mikalojaus 15, tel. 261-1397. Open:16-24; Fri., Sat. 16-03. Good rock and excellent jazz in a nation known (at least regionally) for its homegrown jazz.
Latin Heat: Pilies 10, tel. 210-2776. Open: Thu.-Sat. 20-05. A mellow though not dull Latin-themed bar/club. Attracts a late 20s crowd.
Ministerija: Gedimino 46, tel. 262-1606. Downstairs in the excellent Prie Parlamento restaurant. This was once the nightlife center for Vilnius expats. No longer.
Muzikinio Angaro Jazz Klubas: Vilniaus 22, on the edge of the old city. Open: Mon.-Thu. 12-24, Fri., Sat. 12-02; Sun. closed. Live music every night. Good jazz. A refreshing change.
Pabo Latino: Traku 3, tel. 262-1045. Open: Thu.-Sat. 20-05. www.pabolatino.lt
Sleptuve: Goøstauto 8, tel. 262-6117. Open: 08-02; Sat., Sun. 09-06. This very popular place is reopened.
Terminalas: (J-2) Vokieàiu 2, tel. 261-1010. A big, modern club with a stage for occasional live performances. Lots of party games and contests that run into the early mornging hours. Open every day at 20:00. See their informative site at www.terminalclub.lt
Wild Lithuanian Club: Gedimino 24, tel. 262-4473. Open:20-06. Non-stop strippers that dance on a small stage in the middle of the bar. Wild on weekends.
Zebro: (A-1) Justiniskiu 64, tel. 270-5135. Some love it, some hate it. Open: Thu. 21-02, Fri.-Sat. 21-05. Some 2000 square meters of three dance floors, each with different music. Go-go dancing and face control. Student dorms nearby, so it’s packed on weekends.
Casinos
Grand Casino World: Vienuolio 4, tel. (700) 55-599; www.grandcasino.lt
Casino Planet: (C-3) J. Basanaviciaus 4, tel. 272-5385.
Olympic Casino:(J-2)Vokieciu 12; Konstitucijos 12; (F-1) Gedimino 21. Open 24h.
Adult Entertainment
Dolls: Konstitucijos 18, tel. 212-1349. Open:21-06. www.dolls.lt
Exclusive: Vingriu 25, tel. 261-7673. Open:21-06; Sun. closed. www.exclusiveclub.lt
Lu-Lu: A. Gostauto 12, tel. 262-0843. Open: Thu.-Sat. from 20:00.
Old Town: Rudninku 14, tel. 212-1349. Strip—in medieval atmosphere. www.oldtown.lt
Sachrazada: Svitrigailos 7/16, tel. 233-0995. Open:21-06; Sun. closed. Higher class strip joint; Arabian theme. www.sachrazada.lt
Waterworld: Didzioji 21, tel. 261-8226. Open:21-05. Striptease a la water. www.waterworld.lt
Gay Clubs
Men’s Factory club, at Zygimantu 1, tel. 231-0687.
There are online Lithuanian gay guides at www.gay.lt and www.gayline.lt
Rave/Alternative
The dance scene in Vilnius has, somewhat undeservedly, had the reputation of lagging behind Riga and Tallinn. But this, at least partly, has to do with a wider range of musical tastes here; there are strong followings for death metal, hardcore punk, reggae, jazz and the like. That can’t be said, say, for Tallinn.
Committed clubbers, however, need not fear: you can get satisfaction in Vilnius. A clearinghouse of information about non-club-based parties is the largest party organizer in Lithuania, Ore; see their up-to-date calendar of events at www.ore.lt; you can also email them at ore@ore.lt. An Ore spokesman said their DJs stress “nu-jazz, nu-funk, breakbeats, deep and spacey house.” Other party organizers include Good Will People (techno and drum ‘n bass) and Metro Crew (techno).
These roaming parties are held in warehouses, printing plants and even at former Soviet bases in and around Vilnius. Landlocked venues also feature dance music, though often of the more commercial variety: one good place is Intro at Maironio 3, tel. 279-1508. The semi-underground Green Club is punk oriented but also dabbles in dance club music. They’re shy about publishing their address, but you can call Ore (above) for their coordinates.
Among the top DJs in Vilnius are Soulus Macoulus, DJ Mamania and DJ Halusin.
Also keep an eye on these web sites for good parties: www.hip-hop.lt and www.techstylism.tk
