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This tiny but amiable and cosy guest house was dedicated by the Canadian-Lithuanian owner to his young wife Liza. Mano in Lithuanian translates as ‘My’. Romantic devotion aside, the Mano Liza boasts a secluded Old Town location and a café-bar that serves breakfast all day long, so you can get up whenever you want. Few facilities are to hand, but a computer can be provided if you need it. Straight-As for cordiality and a cheap, safe, comfy stay.
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A ruined shell 10 years ago, the transformation of this hotel couldn’t be more dramatic. Tasteful, decorative, elegant, yet efficient and with excellent service, the Artis is a place to get comfortable in. One of Vilnius’ most distinctive and successful Old Town hotels, it enjoys a high proportion of return guests. Personal safety presents no worries, since the Artis is right next door to the Lithuanian defence ministry. The suites have endless sofas and enormous beds. But ask for a room facing the quieter of the streets that run alongside, as the narrow Liejyklos Street jams noisily at rush hour. The bay-window café is a great spot for an informal morning meeting or business lunch.
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When it opened in 2003, the Barbacan Palace beautifully fi lled an empty lot on the quieter eastern side of the Old Town. Some of the rooms have quaint views over the ramshackle roofs of Uzupis. Others look over a small courtyard into other people’s rooms. But generally this is a clean, functional, friendly hotel with non-stop room service and a bowling alley in the basement. While not quite a palace, the Barbacan does include indoor parking and a small but well-equipped fi tness centre.
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The Estonia-based Uniquestay chain run by a couple of Brits places emphasis on ‘endless tea and coffee’ and free Internet access in every room on a fl at-screen computer. All of which makes the Centrum fantastic value for money. However, the gym is tiny and the pool symbolic, really only good for a dip after the sauna. And despite the [name], the Centrum is a 15-minute hike from the Old Town, but for aspiring spies this is the perfect location – it overlooks the Belarusian Embassy next door.
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The brand new Conti is on the cusp of the Old Town in an area inhabited in the 19th century by Jewish merchants. Rooms are decorated with old photographs from a personal collection, and the elegant lobby features a cascading fountain. So after a stressful day, you can close your eyes and imagine you’re paddling in a tumbling stream in a warm Lithuanian meadow. In the guest rooms, the soundproof, double-glazed windows and lightproof blinds keep away the downtown disturbances. The Conti’s hospitable, professional staff are on hand to organise business meetings or seminars in any of the four high-tech meeting rooms, and to provide support services and catering.
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