VILNIUS - In Your Pocket

38 restaurants
Fun
René C-4, M. Antokolskio 13, tel. (+370) 5 212
68 58. The winner of the 2011 longest wait for food
competition by at least 30 minutes (the total time was
getting dangerously close to an hour and a half), René’s
various attempts at quirkiness through the connection
between its name and a certain Belgian artist are wearing
a bit thin to say the least. Bowler-hatted waitresses and
the opportunity to draw on the tables may have some in
raptures but when it’s all accompanied by a slip in general
standards the whole thing can start to look like a bit of a
joke. The food is good although by no means outstanding
and Belgian beer is now available in several places
around the city. When they get the food right here they
really get it right, but as with so many places in Lithuania
they just can’t seem to get it right all the time. QOpen
11:00 - 23:00, Fri 11:00 - 24:00, Sat 12:00 - 24:00, Sun
12:00 - 21:00. 28Lt. PTAUBSW
Studio 9 B-1, Gedimino 9, tel. (+370) 698 529 99,
hello@studio9.lt. Yes, yes, yes and yes again! Hats off
to the good people of Vilnius who strive to make the city
a better place such as the owners of Studio 9, a marvellous
addition to the capital’s list of places to go out. Reinventing
the bar and grill experience by screwing angle
poise lamps to every available surface and promoting a
superb recorded and live music policy, there’s hamburgers
to be had, beer to be drunk and a friendly crowd of
mostly young, educated and liberally-inclined locals
currently packing the place out. QOpen 10:00 - 01:00,
Thu 10:00 - 03:00, Fri 10:00 - 05:00, Sat 11:00 - 05:00,
Sun 11:00 - 01:00. 20Lt. PJAEBS
Osaka A-2, Vilniaus 19, tel. (+370) 5 261 71 76, www.
osaka.lt. Recommended quality Japanese classic and modern
favourites including nigiri sushi, hoso maki, sashimi, pungent
spicy soups, noodles and more inside a wee little restaurant
between Old Town and Gedimino. Ideal for meals out, Osaka
also deliver and provide good value takeaway lunch sets. Unlike
many others in town, it also manages to keep its standards
high and is very well regarded by many who know a thing or
two about Japanese food. QOpen 11:00 - 23:00, Sat 12:00 -
23:00, Sun 12:00 - 22:00. 30Lt. PTJAVBSW
Shanti A-3, Pylimo 22d, tel. (+370) 5 261 29 51. Reassuringly
pricey in the way only a Slavic-styled Oriental restaurant
can be, this is pure class without the unnecessary ostentatious
overkill. The food is gaining a reputation as being the real
deal, and everything appears to be in perfect working order.
The aforementioned reason for visiting stretches all the Asian
boundaries, with a menu featuring classic dishes from a number
of different regional cuisines as well as some truly outstanding
fushion offerings.QOpen 11:00 - 23:00, Thu, Fri, Sat 11:00 -
24:00, Sun 12:00 - 22:00. 25Lt. TJABSW
Juice bars
Sulčius B-2, Totorių 15, tel. (+370) 603 531 02. Instantly
recognisable if you’ve ever been to Brighton or Berlin, this
handsome-looking little juice bar that bears more than a
passing resemblance to a 1970s hippy’s kitchen also sells
a wealth of other things from biodegradable washing powder
to samosas. The juice in question, which could do with being
a little colder, is concocted by flustered girls with nose rings
to a soundtrack courtesy of Bob Marley. Limited seating is
available if you don’t want to ingest your vitamins on the hoof.
QOpen 08:00 - 19:00, Sat 10:00 - 18:00, Sun 10:00 - 17:00.
PJNSW
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