Not even a year old yet, the new Kempinski Hotel in Vilnius Lithuania opened up this past September, making it their first property in the Baltic states. Kempinski Hotel Cathedral Square offers neoclassical grandeur with a contemporary casual elegance and is centrally located in Vilnius’ Old Town, also considered a UNESCO World Heritage site. Closeby is the Presidential Palace, with a view over Vilnius Cathedral, the Bell tower, and Gediminas tower.
The hotel is housed in a listed building situated on the corner of Universiteto and L. Stuokos-Guceviciaus; a hundred years ago, this was a grand hotel, well-known throughout the Baltics; now, carefully restored, with an impressive lobby in white marble, and panoramic windows, the building is once again set to be at the heart of Vilnius society.
Lithuania once boasted a Grand Duchy that rivalled some of the greatest empires in Europe; now, once again an independent state, the country is experiencing an upswing in business and culture.
During the restoration of the building, the remains of the city’s 16th century defensive wall was uncovered; part of that old wall has been glassed-in, and can be seen at the entrance to the hotel restaurant.
The Kempinski Hotel Cathedral Square offers 96 rooms and suites, each one of which has an individual character, featuring parquet floors, subtle lighting, fine fabrics, and a striking colour palette that both echoes the traditions of Baltic Lithuania. The bathrooms are similarly original, decorated with small mosaic tiles.
All of their deluxe rooms feature direct views of Cathedral Square, have high ceilings, and large bathrooms with separate shower. The suites have been designed in a modern style, retaining many of the building’s original architectural features – some of them with alcove balconies overlooking Cathedral Square.
The restaurant “Telegrafas” takes its name from the Soviet period, when the former hotel building functioned as the Central Telegraph office. Led by the talented Executive Chef, Ciaran Gantly, the menu features superb European food, with signature Lithuanian dishes, and some of Ciaran’s favourite dishes from his native Ireland.
The lobby bar and lounge, Le Salon, is an all-day and happening place, that applauds contemporary furniture yet the atmosphere is old world Lithuanian.
The neoclassical Grand Ballroom is the premiere venue in Vilnius for important receptions and celebratory banquets, capable of holding up to 200 guests at a reception; for classroom style meetings 150 guests can be accommodated; and 120 guests for a banquet. They also have a spa which includes massage, manicure & pedicure, facial treatments; and additionally, there is a fitness area, heated indoor pool, and two saunas – Finnish and steam.
Renee Blodgett is the founder of We Blog the World. The site combines the magic of an online culture and travel magazine with a global blog network and has contributors from every continent in the world. Having lived in 10 countries and explored nearly 80, she is an avid traveler, and a lover, observer and participant in cultural diversity.
She is also the CEO and founder of Magic Sauce Media, a new media services consultancy focused on viral marketing, social media, branding, events and PR. For over 20 years, she has helped companies from 12 countries get traction in the market. Known for her global and organic approach to product and corporate launches, Renee practices what she pitches and as an active user of social media, she helps clients navigate digital waters from around the world. Renee has been blogging for over 16 years and regularly writes on her personal blog Down the Avenue, Huffington Post, BlogHer, We Blog the World and other sites. She was ranked #12 Social Media Influencer by Forbes Magazine and is listed as a new media influencer and game changer on various sites and books on the new media revolution. In 2013, she was listed as the 6th most influential woman in social media by Forbes Magazine on a Top 20 List.
Her passion for art, storytelling and photography led to the launch of Magic Sauce Photography, which is a visual extension of her writing, the result of which has led to producing six photo books: Galapagos Islands, London, South Africa, Rome, Urbanization and Ecuador.
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