Rooms with Views: Kempinski Hotel Cathedral Square, Vilnius
- brittanypanter
- 2015年2月28日
- 讀畢需時 3 分鐘
Photo: The view from the Kempinski Hotel in Vilnius is possibly the best in the city
Rome, Paris, Madrid, London - all of these iconic capitals most likely spring to mind when you think of Europe. But as travelers become more intrepid, the lesser explored destinations are rapidly growing in popularity, including the Baltic states. In this Rooms with Views series we journeyed to the capital of Lithuania to explore all this modernized city has to offer.
With the recent development of the commercial area dubbed the New City Centre, it’s fair to say that Vilnius is rapidly developing, but it has managed to hang on to its old roots in the midst of this upheaval. Historical landmarks are at every turn, waiting to whisk you away to a time of neoclassicism and romanticism, which is why the perfect hotel to stay while visiting is Kempinski Hotel Cathedral Square.
Photo: Cathedral Square is located adjacent from the hotel
As the hotel’s name hints, it is right across the street from Cathedral Square, the main square of Vilnius Old Town. The hotel can claim it is one of the top in Europe after it was included in TripAdvisor’s “Top 25 Luxury Hotels in Europe” this year.
Photo: All the rooms feature an ochre color palette
The building was built in the 1900s and is set among some of the most significant historical landmarks in the city including the Presidential Palace. Opening its doors less than three years ago, the hotel has 83 rooms and 13 suites, all of which are decorated in an ochre color palette with yellows, reds and brown nodding to the neoclassical style of the building itself. The bathrooms in all rooms have heated floors which is a great feature when staying during the chillier months. Book the two-storey deluxe Cupola suite for the ultimate romantic getaway. Featuring a large living room and bathroom on the lower level with a curved wooden staircase that leads up to the bedroom directly under the cupola, the suite also has a second bathroom. The view of Cathedral Square and the medieval tower is arguably the best in the city. Trying to keep a low profile during your trip? The 132-square-meter Presidential Suite can be accessed without stepping foot into the hotel lobby, but seeing as the is just as beautiful as the rest of the hotel, it would be a shame to miss it.
Photo: Don't miss a chance to try the Lithuanian national dish cepelinai at Telegrafas
Telegrafas (named after the building’s previous incarnation as the Central Telegraph of Vilnius) is the elegant restaurant within the hotel. Executive Chef Javier Lopez and his team serve up European cuisine including the classic Lithuanian dish cepelinai. After a long day sightseeing you’ll need a glass or two of wine, which is where “Lithuania’s best sommelier” for two years running, Narimantes Miezys, will come in handy to pair your dish with a perfectly matched old world wine. The restaurant also hosts a breakfast buffet daily with standard breakfast fare. There is also an a la carte menu. Much to our delight the breakfast buffet includes complimentary bubbles, so go ahead, you’re on vacation. If it’s strictly liquid refreshment you’re after, head to Le Salon Bar and Lounge. They also have a lunch menu that has both light snacks and heartier dishes along with a high tea in the afternoon.
Photo: Luxury amenities at the hotel include a heated pool, fitness room, two saunas and a spa
No luxury hotel is complete without a spa and pool. The Spa offers a wide range of treatments, but to start your day off right, try the Vilnius Signature Ritual. This treatment includes a bit of everything: a hand, arm and foot treatment; a body scrub; a full-body hot stone massage; a facial; and a shoulder and neck massage. To earn the bubbly with your breakfast you may want to have a session in the fitness room, which is compact but features everything you need for a quick vacation workout. Afterwards, take a dip in the heated indoor pool or soothe your hard-working muscles in either the Finnish stone sauna or steam room.
Perhaps the best feature of this hotel is the service that is extended to guests well after checkout. We didn’t depart the city until that evening but besides storing our bags we were offered use of the spa facilities so we could shower and freshen up before our long journey ahead with no charge.
For reservations call +370 522 01100
