Arriving in Vilnius on a rainy Friday afternoon after an early-morning flight, I was craving comfort food. And I had come to the right place. After checking into my hotel, I headed to the Rotonda in the city centre.
Located at the foot of the city’s iconic Gediminas Castle, this quirky ice-cream parlour-turned-restaurant serves up both traditional Lithuanian fare and modern classics. I ordered cottage cheese doughnuts, a local favourite. Sweeter than expected, these were a delicious snack, and are just one of many local dishes made using Lithuanian curd.
The much-loved cheese is so popular in Lithuania that it was granted a Protected Geographical Indication by the European Commission. After filling up on doughnuts, I made my way to the Vilnius TV Tower, a short drive from the city centre. At 326.
5 metres high, this impressive structure is the tallest building in Lithuania. The tower’s Pauksciu takas restaurant, located on the 19th floor, rotates 360 degrees every 55 minutes and provides glorious views over the city. Enjoy salads, snacks, steaks, and a variety of deserts here.
For those feeling brave, the TV tower is complete with an open-air platform where visitors can take in a panoramic view of Lithuania’s capital city. In the evening, I headed to Augustin restaurant for dinner. Inspired by a nearby Augustine monastery, this restaurant is not only designed to reflect the aesthetic of a church, with large candle chandeliers hanging from a concrete ceiling, but the whol.