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There is something about that Eastern European charm and lifestyle that makes its cities come alive at night. Vilnius is the premier example of exactly that: the best bars in Vilnius would rival some of the best in Europe and the U.S. for vibe, flavors and – unexpectedly, perhaps – design.
Vilnius is a city that has been preparing itself to play in the big leagues without anybody quite realizing, so make sure to carve out some time to experience Lithuanian nightlife while you’re enjoying the best of Vilnius’s restaurant scene, and traditional Lithuanian food and desserts.
Vištidė
Vištidė encapsulates that impossibly cool, modern sophistication that has come to be synonymous with bars in Eastern Europe (and specifically in the Baltic states). This is a solid and reliable bar for wine enthusiasts with a great selection of natural wines and plenty of Italian fare to enjoy with it.
What makes Vištidė one of the best bars in Vilnius is simple and clear: there is a story behind every single bottle of wine they serve, and the staff know the stories and are only too willing to share them. Understanding the provenance and stories behind the wine you’re drinking makes it taste just that bit sweeter (or bitter, if that’s your taste preference), and connecting you to that story is what Vištidė does best.
The best part about Vištidė is you don’t need to confine yourself to just the evening: it’s a great place for a lovely lunch – though ideally your lunch is a later lunch and turns into dinner so you can justify your fourth glass of wine. If it’s a warm night, sit outside in the courtyard with a friend where you’ll be close enough to other tables to spark conversation which is always the best way to make new friends.
Špunka
Don’t let the size of this craft beer bar put you off (it’s tiny): Špunka offers a rotating collection of local and international beers. Combined with its small space and intimate atmosphere, this is the perfect place to interact with locals and get a real taste of the local brewing scene. It’s also located on a hill in Užupis which is one of the coolest neighborhoods (or a different country, if you subscribe to its constituion) to visit in Vilnius.
Even if you don’t drink beer, Špunka is consistently named as one of the best bars in Vilnius for its vibe alone. The décor of the bar lends from its immediate surroundings, with stone-cold Soviet-era features coupled with the super cool artistic flair that makes Užupis so unique.
The team here tries to keep the bar feeling as local as possible, so you might need to blend in if it’s a particularly busy night and you want to get let in. If there’s a bit of hassle, it’s worth it for the chance to try their house beer which is brewed exclusively for the bar.
Distilerija
If you’re looking for the place where cocktail magic happens (specifically sour cocktails) in Vilnius, it’s at the sleek bar counter at Distilerija located right in the heart of Vilnius’s old town. Depending on the night of the week, there’s usually a DJ playing and it gets quite busy.
What we need to say about Distilerija is that it is the modern, fancy-style cocktail bar that you’d expect in London, New York or even in Hong Kong. You’re going to get that elegant, sophisticated vibe with expert mixologists who know their way around an extensive spirit selection. The bonus is that they have a few Lithuanian twists (including some with foraged botanicals) which is why Distilerija is one of the best bars in Vilnius.
Distilerija can be tough to get into after 10 pm on a weekend, so make sure you get there early if you don’t want to risk it.
If you’re the type that likes to couple their plans for later in the evening with their plans for dinner, Distilerija also serves delicious food (and huge portions, I might add) – though Vilnius has so many amazing restaurants that you might want to reserve Distilerija for drinks and a night out after dinner.
Šnekutis
We couldn’t write about the best bars in Vilnius without mentioning Šnekutis which stands in contrast to the refined bars of modern Vilnius. Šnekutis transports you to old Lithuania with its rustic décor, traditional furniture and local Lithuanian brews that can be hard to find elsewhere. Don’t take that to mean that it is a show for tourists’ eyes only; on the contrary, Šnekutis is loved by locals and visitors alike.
Šnekutis is also one of the best places to try traditional Lithuanian food in Vilnius.
The atmosphere is exactly what a traditional Lithuanian bar should feel like (there’s even potato sacks glued to the ceiling), but part and parcel of a traditional Lithuanian pub is less-than-perfect service. Locals will tell you that it’s not because the service is bad, but because the bar staff expect you to break down the hard exterior.
Once you’ve managed to crack a smile from the bar staff, you’re in for a great experience that we have no doubt will be one of your best memories in Vilnius.
Halės Turgavietė
The thing about Halės Turgavietė is that it’s not, in fact, a bar. It’s actually a sprawling clothing and food market where, incidentally, you’ll find some of the best cafes and coffee in Vilnius. Halės Turgavietė is special because the team operating it realized that it might not be enough to just be one of the oldest markets in Vilnius. They answered the call of modern Vilnius and gave the market a second face as a site for bars and a great place to go out at night.
If Halės Turgavietė is a food court during the day, it’s a bar court at night – and we love that as an idea. It’s kind of great that the same place you went to get your Lithuanian cottage cheese pie in the early afternoon is the same place you can go in the evening for great drinks and a dance and it’s a completely different vibe.
There are plenty of cool bars in the market. The local recommendation is Halės Uostas, a true hidden gem in Vilnius and undoubtedly one of the best bars in Vilnius. There’s plenty of bars in close proximity so don’t be afraid to walk around and try a drink from a few different places.
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