Expatriates Forums in Lithuania

NIGHTLIFE IN LITHUANIA / LITHUANIA NIGHTLIFE GUIDE

Lithuania Info — Fri May 11, 2007 7:42 am

Author: Lithuania Info

Posted: Fri May 11, 2007 7:42 am

NIGHTLIFE IN LITHUANIA

GENERAL

Cinemas can be found in all towns. Lithuanian theatres, most of which are concentrated in the capital, are also renowned. The Jaunimo teatras (website: www.jaunimoteatras.lt) in Vilnius are famous throughout the country. Opera and ballet are staged in the city at the Vilnius Opera Theater and Kaunas has a Musical Theatre. Puppet shows are staged for children in Vilnius and Kaunas. There are restaurants with live music as well as numerous discos and nightclubs with variety shows in the larger towns.

Having said that, it's hard to tell the difference between a café and a restaurant in Lithuania, especially when you consider that most of them want to be bars and/or nightclubs as well, and, in most cases, at the same time. Of course, it all gets even more confounding once you start drinking.

Nightlife in Vilnius is very safe. Security at most venues is very good and ruffians will be evicted at the slightest sign of trouble. Don't push your luck. Also, don't leave your valuables (handbag, mobile phone, partner) lying around, don't bumble around in dark alleys and courtyards and please, don't pee on the President's palace. He's a nice chap and he's getting sick of it.

PLACES TO UNWIND IN VILNIUS

A Bar
Goštauto 8,
Vilnius
Tel: +370 5 262-6117/ 6 201-0447
Email: aukstaiciaig@takas.lt
Website: www.aukstaiciai.lt

Absento Fėjos
Aušros Vartų 11,
Vilnius
Tel: +370 5 261-9261
Website: www.absentofejos.lt

Briusly
Šv Ignoto 12,
Vilnius
Tel: +370 5 212-1215/ 6 741-1059
Email: info@briusly.lt

Brodvėjus
Mėsinių 4,
Vilnius
Tel: +370 5 210-7208
Fax: +370 5 278-4039
Website: www.brodvejus.lt

Cozy
Dominikonų 10,
Vilnius
Tel: +370 5 261-1137
Email: info@cozy.lt
Website: www.cozy.lt

Dubliner
Dominikonų 6,
Vilnius
Tel: +370 5 262-0239/ 243-0807
Email: dublinervilnius@yahoo.com

Iki Aušros
Aušros Vartų 15,
Vilnius
Tel: +370 6 100-4131
Website: www.kokteiliubaras.lt

Paparazzi
Totorių 3,
Vilnius
Tel: +370 5 212-0135
Website: www.paparazzi.lt

SkyBar
Konstitucijos 20 (inside the Reval Hotel),
Vilnius
Tel: +370 5 272-6272
Website: www.revalhotels.com

Sole Luna
Universiteto 4,
Vilnius
Tel: +370 5 212-0925
Email: solelunabaras@yahoo.com

FOOD & DINING IN LITHUANIA / LITHUANIA DINING GUIDE

Lithuania Info — Fri May 11, 2007 7:23 am

Author: Lithuania Info

Posted: Fri May 11, 2007 7:23 am

FOOD & DINING IN LITHUANIA

GENERAL

Waiter service is the norm in restaurants and cafes, but self-service restaurants, bistros and snack bars are numerous.

If you can’t find decent quality food at fair prices in Vilnius you are not looking. Or not hungry. The city is peppered with restaurants that can cater to all tastes and budgets. If there's one rule of tongue in Vilnius, it’s that you can’t judge culinary appeal by appearance. Wonderful restaurants are melting palates behind humble doors, while miserable slop is being served up behind gleaming facades.

The biggest problem when it comes to eating out in Vilnius, however, is the lack of service. Most restaurant staff wouldn’t know good service if it stood up in their soup. You will be ignored, served by miserable malcontents, expected to drink out of unclean glasses, made to wait until tomorrow, given something you didn’t order, not asked how you would like your steak done, have your wine glass overfilled or allowed to run dry, and so on and so on. Tip well for good service, and not at all for anything less.

National specialties

• Skilandis (smoked meat).

• Salti barsciai (cold soup).

• Cepelinai (made from grated potatoes with a minced meat filling).

• Vedarai (potato sausage) and bulviniai blynai (potato pancakes).

• Smoked eel is a famous Baltic delicacy.

• It is highly recommended to try the mild white curd cheese, best served with honey.

National drinks

• Local brands of beer and imported drinks are popular.

• A famous Lithuanian spirit is midus, a mild alcoholic beverage made from honey.

PLACES TO DINE IN VILNIUS

Apvalaus Stalo Klubas
Karaimų 53a,
Vilnius
Tel: +370 5 285-5595
Email: info@asklubas.lt
Website: www.asklubas.lt

Blusyne
Savičiaus 5,
Vilnius
Tel: +370 5 212-2012
Website: www.blusyne.lt

Dvaras
Tilto 3,
Vilnius
Tel: +370 5 210-7370
Website: www.dvaras.lt

FTV Restaurant
Trakų 2,
Vilnius
Tel: +370 5 243-0777
Website: www.ftv.lt

Kalvarijų 1
Kalvarijų 1,
Vilnius
Tel: +370 6 717-8676/ 8762
Email: info@kalvariju1.lt
Website: www.kalvariju1.lt

La Provence
Vokiečių 22,
Vilnius
Tel: +370 5 262-0257
Website: www.laprovence.lt

Medininkai
Aušros Vartų 8,
Vilnius
Tel: +370 5 266-0771/ 6 500-0600
Email: medininkai@hoteleuropa.lt
Website: www.europaroyale.com

Stikliai
Gaono 7 (Stikliai Hotel),
Vilnius
Tel: +370 5 264-9580
Fax: +370 5 212-3870
Website: www.stikliaihotel.lt

Sue's Indian Raja
Odminių 3,
Vilnius
Tel: +370 5 266-1888
Email: suesrestaurants@gmail.com
Website: www.suesindianrestaurants.com

Verkiai
Žaliųjų ežerų 49,
Vilnius
Tel: +370 6 983-9958
Email: info@verkiai.lt
Website: www.verkiai.lt

SHOPPING IN LITHUANIA / LITHUANIA SHOPPING GUIDE

Lithuania Info — Fri May 11, 2007 5:50 am

Author: Lithuania Info

Posted: Fri May 11, 2007 5:50 am

SHOPPING IN LITHUANIA

General

You can’t visit Lithuania and not bring back some gintaras, or amber. This fossilized tree sap has adorned thrones of kings and tombs of pharaohs for thousands of years. You can find amber with insects inside, though this type of amber is relatively rare and more expensive if you do find it. Amber jewellery, from bracelets to watches, are among the most popular souvenirs from Lithuania.

Also wildly popular are Lithuanian wood-carvings. Wood craftsmanship in Lithuania is spectacular. There are assorted favourites, ranging from living figures (serious, humorous or even macabre) to Lithuanian-style crosses. Linen items are an excellent buy too.

A great place to do some comparative shopping is on Pilies street, where artisans, pensioners and others hock their finest works: including woodwork, paintings of Vilnius and Lithuania, hand-crafted knickknacks and, of course, things made with amber that would stretch the imagination. There are some true bargains here, and some poking around and patience can lead to some real gems.

You can also bring home some alcoholic beverages. A few bottles of Utenos or Kalnapilis beer would make things interesting at home, as would a bottle of Kvietino vodka. It’s also hard to beat a good bottle of krupnikas, or honey liqueur. Other liqueurs, like Palanga, Dainava, or Sokoladinis, are also popular and make a nice after-dinner drink.

Shopping hours

Grocery shops open Mon-Fri 0800-2000.

Banking hours

Mon-Fri 0900-1700. Some banks also open Sat 0900-1300.

Currency

Lithuanian Litas (LTL) = 100 centas. Notes are in denominations of LTL500, 200, 100, 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1. Coins are in denominations of LTL5, 2 and 1, and 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1 centas. The Litas is pegged to the Euro.

Currency exchange

Currency can be exchanged at banks and bureaux de change. ATMs are available in most cities. There are 24-hour exchange bureaux at Gelezinkelio 6, near the main railway station and at Lietuvos Taupomasis Bankas, Savanoriu 15A in Vilnius.

Credit & debit cards

Major credit cards are accepted in the main hotels, restaurants, shops and in some petrol stations. Check with your credit and debit card company for details of merchant acceptability and other services which may be available.

Traveller's cheques

These are not accepted by retailers and can only be exchanged at a few outlets. To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travellers are advised to take traveller's cheques in US Dollars.

Currency restrictions

The import of local and foreign currency is unlimited. The export of local currency is limited to LTL5000. The export of foreign currency is unlimited. Any amount exceeding LTL40,000 or equivalent must be declared.