Lithuania, Vilnius

BARS

Sky Bar, (Konstitucijos 20).
Head up to the 22nd floor of the Reval for this cherished and slightly surreal Vilnius haunt. The decor is not unlike that of an airport lounge, and after a pina colada or two you may begin to expect to soon be jetted into outer space. The main attraction is of course the sweeping view of Vilnius's Old Town, but this is backed up by tremendously tasty snacks, professional service and cocktails galore. A bit pricey and further out, but many continue to make the trek...



Snekutis, (Polocko 7A).
If you want a glimpse of the Lithuania most foreigners never see, seek ye this homely bar/eatery off the beaten path in Uzupis. Aurimas, the crazy owner, eats and unwinds here each night in his straw hat and bottlecap-laden vest and is always ready for a boozy photo opportunity. His heady home-brew, called "live beer" locally, is an unfiltered, unpasteurized, non EU approved murky swill that comes in five delicious varieties for an unbeatable 3 LT per half-litre! You may not understand the traditional Lithuanian menu, but the food is dirt-cheap and comes in large portions best-shared, featuring pig parts (ears and feet) and fried pea-pods (beer-snacktastic!). Visitors should be careful not to be too much of an overt foreigner here - the national character of the place and cheap food and drink can sometimes attract an unsavory crowd. Still, for anyone seeking a memorable adventure, Snekutis is a must.



The Dubliner, (Dominikonu 6).
This relatively new Irish pub and grub has won a lot of fans since opening. Seems Vilnius was just screaming out for the ubiquity of an Irish establishment in the Old Town. Well hang on, this place isn't exactly typical. Opening post smoking ban, it missed the virtue of years of nicotine darkening the walls and spilled beers staining the floorboards. Contrary to your father's Irish pub, the Dubliner is bright and spacious, pastel and palatable. The food is good and the daily special is a value at 12 litas. As such it stays crammed full of middle-aged foreigners, tourists and businessmen non-stop. Not the place to meet the locals or party late-night, this pub is a comfort many find necessary, though the classiness sometimes borders on snootiness - terribly un-Irish.



Uzupio Kavine, (Uzupio 2).
This riverside spot never fails to draw them in. It's your first port of call after crossing the bridge to barmy Uzupis, the bohemian district that declared its own republic. You'll spot a slinky silver mermaid watching over the jovial goings on from her niche above the lapping waters. She certainly hasn't seen the last drunken musketeer throw himself into the swells. Hungry revellers can also tuck into a range of snacks - and that means more than your standard pigs ears platter.



Absento Fejos, ( Ausros Vartu 11).
They say less is more, but those rules don't really apply to Absento Fejos (The Absinthe Fairies). Sticking two elf-like fingers up at the minimalist brigade, this heady number is a fantastical place to settle down for a late afternoon tea, or perhaps an absinthe or five. And no - there's not a scintilla of truth in the old 'absinthe makes you mad' chestnut. Climbing onto moving cars is perfectly normal behaviour you know. Everyone does it these days. OK, call the men in white coats....



In Vino, ( Ausros Vartu 7).
If 'wine bar' conjures up chaps in red braces on gigantic mobile phones tapping their toes to Sade and disappearing off to the gents to powder their noses, have no fear. It's true that wine bars seemed to disappear with the eighties, alongside Babysham, shoulder pads and Rick Astley. But that doesn't mean that the wine bar can't be reinvented. Indeed, there should be many more such places - it's grossly unfair that Italy has the monopoly. But never fear, as you here you have it, right in the heart of Vilnius. It's neither a stiff shop nor an eighties nightmare. In Vino is the kind of laid back haunt that you could come back to again and again.



Play Club, ( Pamenkalnio 17/3).
Dubbed 'Play' for the bevy of boardgames available behind the bar (yes, drunken Jenga is inevitable), the real sport here is foosball. The headquarters of Vilnius' growing underground foosball scene, Play Club hosts frequent tournaments, and you'll find the most supple-wristed hipsters in town showcasing their talents on the two tables here every night of the week. Hardly a geeky hangout, though, this is one of the most hip, friendly places in Vilnius. While off the beaten path, it's worth the trek: entering this small, alternative bar will make you think you've just arrived at a close friend's house party. On the weekends, DJs play the best in indy rock and have an excellent, expansive selection on-hand - have a request and they're likely to let you take the reins for a half hour while they get their drink on. Sundays and weeknights are a bit more subdued with regulars lounging about watching foreign films in the living room set-up, waiting for another crack at the foos table. No matter when you turn up, you're sure to feel welcome, certifiably cool and right at home. Look for the bright green neon 'play' button over the door...



Allstars Sport Bar, ( Konstitucijos 26).
If you want to avoid terrorizing the locals with the old gorillas birthday party routine, the Allstars may be a handy port of call. The staff here are used to hearing both grunts of jubilation and howls of desolation, and they'd be slightly disturbed if you sat in silence scribbling poetry. So if there's a game on, you know where to go -15 plasma screens and a giant projector ensure that even the very short will get a look in. On especially busy days you may have to book in advance, and their is a 10 litas cover charge on Saturday nights.



Bix Baras, (Etmonu 6).
Apparently owned - or at least created by - members of an old-school Lithuanian rock band, Bix, this three-floor, somewhat divey establishment has the 'school of rock' imprint all over it. Tenanted by sloppy university students and goateed goobers in studded leather jackets, Bix serves decent, cheap food and good beer, and you can expect some heavy drinking to be happening here any day of the week. The upstairs is more of a billiard hall, the ground-floor a bar with a stage for live music on the weekends, and the basement is a smokey, sweaty disco. Always popular, but we're not sure what makes the cover they ask you to pay on the weekends worth it.



Briusly, (Sv Ignoto 12).
Briusly (Bruce Lee) is the name of this funky Old Town baras. Remember that guy in Enter the Dragon? You know, the one who has an array of detachable claws that would make a James Bond villain green with envy. Well, they've employed him as the barman here and he whisks up some wicked cocktails. He also tries his claw in the kitchen, and he's proved himself a competent creator of light oriental dishes. All in all, a groovy spot to drop by and enjoy a bite to eat, or indeed something with a bit more kick.



CLUBS

Woo, (Vilniaus 22).
This sleek, laid-back urban-style lounge/restaurant/club for metrosexuals is a great place to go, whatever your mood. Hungry? An excellent pan-asian menu includes everything from kimchee to chicken feet, squid to samosas. It's all a touch pricey, but undoubtably you'll still be 'wooed' to indulge in a trendy cocktail and mingle at the bar before hitting the dancefloor and swaying to the smooth grooves the DJs are doling out. A great late-night destination as hipsters start heating up the hardwood, the kitchen closes at 11, but they'll still serve you those ubiquitous Lithuanian 'beer-snacks.'



Helios, ( Didzioji 28).
Every city has a club like Helios, and most have several. They’re big and bland and the music policy is, well, there isn’t one. But let's not write off Helios just yet. If you’re the sort of person who knows their Armin Van Buuren from there Armand Van Helden then this might not be the place for you. But, if you’re the sort of person who likes to pursue Lithuanian lovelies around the dancefloor then you’re in for a great time. After all that thirsty work you'll find a long list of cocktails to refresh yourself with at Helios' equally long bar. Our favourite was the fantastically-titled 'Melon Cooler'. Despite the name however, we suggest you resist the temptation to throw it down overheating girls' cleavages...



Pabo Latino, (Traku 3).
A sexy spot to shake it up, Pabo's is Parisian courtesan meets Moroccan rug merchant. You could shoot a spicy pop video here, and you may well find yourself shimmying the night away next to some up and coming starlets. On that front, it's not always the easiest place in the world to get into, especially if you've already nailed twenty-nine and a half beers. But give it a try if you're looking for something with a bit of panache. Besides a funky decor and clientele to match, Pabo has a summertime ace up its sleeve - the garden might have been transplanted straight from Marrakech. A standout.



Gravity, (Jasinskio 16).
If dance music is your thing you'll be delighted to know that Vilnius boasts, not just one of the best nightclubs in the country, but in the whole of the Baltics. Looking through their DJ gallery is like reading a 'Who's Who' of electronica, and X-Press II, Jazzanova, Mr. C and even the legendary Norman Jay have all graced the decks here. And the Stanton Warriors are booked for 2006! Big names not your bag baby? Then you won't complain about the great atmosphere - this is what happens when you squeeze Vilnius's up-for-it party people into an ex-Soviet bomb shelter. Just remember the rules of Gravity. What comes up, must come down...



Prospekto P.U.B., (Gedimino 2).
One of Vilnius' liveliest clubs every night of the week, if you're looking for a night to write the lads back home about, this might be your place. With red carpets, silk walls, and candy-coated girls (customers!) melting all over the poles on the bar, Prospekto balances elegant environs and bawdy behavior. The girls here are used to being groped and ogled, so we can only surmise that's why they're here. If you don't endorse that sort of salacious behavior, you may want to stay away, but the great music and spirited staggering state of the clientele suggest it's all in good fun for everyone. Nights usually start with live music before the real dance-party dusts up. Stripteases (both male and female) shouldn't surprise, nor should the bar bursting into flames... You'll pay to enter, but an easily acquired flyer should cut the cost in half - pretty cheap as far as "Please-Touch" Museums go.