Exploring pubs in Vilnius

  • 2009-07-08
  • By Laima Vaige

There are some good locations for those who know where to look.

VILNUS - Vilnius may take pride in its cozy wine-bars, but pubs are irreplaceable and necessary centers of attraction in any city, including the capital of Lithuania. Those looking to find the true Lithuanian nature and the driving forces behind local politics can learn quite a lot by accepting Vilnius pub crawl challenge.

And it can be a challenge indeed, for those who don't know where to start. Tourists from various countries can be noticed wondering around the city center and Old Town with one question on their minds "Where should I go?"
Tourist information in various forms is available, but the information changes fast during the economic crisis 's pubs seem to open and close almost on a daily basis.

A newly imposed tax is hitting the smallest pubs and breweries the hardest. Restaurant/brewery "Avilys" on the Gedimino Avenue went bankrupt before the summer season because of unpaid taxes. "Zaldokyne," an inn just outside Vilnius, shared the same fate this year.
"This is either a mistake or an attempt to ruin us completely" said Lina Sileikiene, the head of an Association of Small Breweries.

The association reported that an increase of certain duties (up to 120 percent) from January might have added to the reduction of the number of small breweries in Lithuania 's from 70 to 30 breweries. A change to the tax rate will only be considered in autumn.

One new place good for a beer 's impressed visitors described it as super-pub 's on A. Gostauto Street, "Alaus namai," opened in place of the formerly popular "Ritos sleptuve" in February 2009 with the idea to promote the local producers of "real beer." The pub refuses to sell any wine, offers a great menu of live beers for 4.5 litas (1.30 euros), and hosts live music and various other events. Go soon, because the pub will be closed for summer holidays from July 26 to August 19.
There is also "Snekutis" in Uzupis, Polocko Street, and also "Jovaru Snekutis" on Sv. Stepono Street, a recently opened family business promoting Lithuanian beer makers and bringing a little bit of village style to the city.

The exact opposite is probably "Prospekto Pub" on Gedimino Avenue, which has a well-rounded program, but not everyone finds the idea of a paid entrance to a pub appealing. It holds Erasmus parties for students, Ladies nights with professional men striptease, Tango nights, Lindy hop nights, Pop and R&B nights, and local star DJ Vi2tis plays on Saturdays. The interior of the pub is described as luxurious and palace-like, although some visitors have found it a bit too pretentious and even called it "cheesy."

As the popular and loved pubs slowly fail, new ones emerge. "Pubas prie Universiteto," near Vilnius University on Domininkonu Street closed last year due to "technical problems" and never re-opened. This pub, with a lovely closed yard and cozy atmosphere, was very much loved and crowded by Lithuanians and exiles for over a decade.

"Pubas prie Ministerijos" on Gedimino Avenue 's not far from the parliament 's a twin brother of the "Pubas prie Universiteto" had closed down before that, but has been later replaced by a laid back but less-popular Czech bar named "Pas Rudolfa II."
After long years of waiting, Irish pub "Dubliner" has opened on Domininkonu Street, with a nice yard, a lovely atmosphere, good music and an attractive though pricey menu.

Closer to the Old Town, there are few nice pubs down the Totoriu Street 's such as the pub-brewery "Busi trecias" and Hungarian inn "Transilvania" 's which offer discounts for a large beer down to 4 litas (1.16 euro) and work late into the night. On Pilies Street, restaurant "Aula" has recently opened, offering various beer cocktails and related dishes in Vilnius University medieval premises.