Stikliai Hotel - Relais & Chateaux
by the TopOfHotel team
Stikliai is sleeping inside a 1500s glassmakers' building in the middle of old Vilnius, with a swimming pool under an ancient arched-brick basement — the only Relais & Chateaux in Lithuania, and one that leans on historic character over contemporary polish.
Stikliai is sleeping inside a 1500s glassmakers' building in the middle of old Vilnius, with a swimming pool under an ancient arched-brick basement — the only Relais & Chateaux in Lithuania, and one that leans on historic character over contemporary polish.
In-Depth Review
Rooms and decor
Picture opening the door to a hotel and finding yourself standing in a building that was once a 16th-century glassmakers' workshop — that's the charm of Stikliai Hotel. The name means "glassmaker" in Lithuanian, after the original trade of the people who lived in this quarter. The building was restored carefully enough to win a Europa Nostra award, and all 45 rooms and suites are laid out so that no two are alike. Some have high ceilings with original oak beams, some open onto a small private brick courtyard in the middle of the building, and some have arched windows looking out over the orange tiled rooftops of the old town. The furniture is real classic-European wood, with velvet curtains and crystal chandeliers, so it feels more like staying in a Baroque nobleman's house than a hotel. If you like modern minimalist luxury it may read as a touch too classic, but if you love old-Europe character, this is heaven.
Food and amenities
If you had to name the single best thing about Stikliai, it wouldn't be the restaurant or the spa — it's the basement swimming pool that nearly every review brings up. Walk down a narrow brick stairway and you reach a room with an ancient Roman-style arched brick ceiling, warm light reflecting off the water, a mood closer to an emperor's spa than a modern hotel. Beside the pool there's a Finnish sauna, a steam room, and a relax zone with armchairs to recline in — a morning soak before the day starts is something many guests say they remember longer than any fancy dinner. Upstairs, the classic restaurant serves contemporary European and Lithuanian food in a room with original stone-and-brick walls and grand chandeliers, and there's a wine cellar a floor below where you can sip privately with friends. Breakfast is served a la carte in a room whose windows look onto the courtyard, and reviews agree the omelets and pastries are made fresh and genuinely good.
Location and getting there
Location is another reason Stikliai stands out at the Relais & Chateaux level — the hotel sits on Gaono Street in the quiet Jewish Quarter of the old town, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Out the door it's under 5 minutes' walk to Vilnius Cathedral and the main square, a little further to the President's Palace and Vilnius University, one of the most beautiful old universities in Eastern Europe. A few more minutes brings you to the Gates of Dawn (Aušros Vartai), an icon of the city, while the Pilies Street pedestrian strip — full of restaurants, cafés, and tasteful souvenir shops — is barely a breath away. The clever part is that the Jewish Quarter, though central, stays very quiet and isn't as busy as the main streets, so you can actually rest. From Vilnius airport (VNO) it's only about a 15-minute drive, and the central train station is roughly the same. If you're visiting Vilnius for the first time and want to step straight into the old town on foot, this location is the answer.
Things to know before booking
Straight talk to help you decide. First, Stikliai is a centuries-old historic building, so some rooms can be small, irregularly shaped, or have uneven floor levels because the original structure has to be respected — if you expect the wide, even rooms of a modern chain, you may feel cramped. Look closely at the floor plans and real photos before booking, or pay a little more to upgrade to a roomier Junior Suite. Second is access — lifts in the historic building are limited and don't reach every floor or wing, and a few rooms mean climbing narrow brick stairs, so it isn't ideal for older travelers, anyone with mobility issues, or anyone hauling several big bags; tell the hotel ahead of time. Third is the style — this is genuinely traditional classic European, with chandeliers, velvet, and carved wood, so if you want modern minimalist design it may feel old for your taste. Last, price: it's good value compared with Relais & Chateaux elsewhere in Western Europe, but still on the high side by general Vilnius hotel standards.
Our take
After our team read through hundreds of real reviews across Agoda, Booking, and Tripadvisor, Stikliai Hotel is a place that proudly sells "the experience of actually staying in a historic building" — not a hotel trying to be the kind of contemporary luxury you can find anywhere, but a boutique distinctive enough that Relais & Chateaux chose it as its single representative in Lithuania. If the trip in your head is wandering the UNESCO old town all day, coming back to soak in the arched-brick basement pool, then sipping wine in an old cellar before bed in a room with ancient wooden beams, this is the perfect fit. But if you need precisely wide rooms, fully modern design, or you're traveling with older relatives, weigh it carefully. Overall we give it 9.1/10 — best for couples and the design-loving who fall for genuine old-Europe character.
Score Breakdown
Assessed by our editorial team from data and real guest reviews
The Honest Verdict — pros & what to know
- It's the only Relais & Chateaux member in Lithuania, which is a guarantee of renowned boutique standards.
- It sits in the Gothic-Baroque building of 16th-century glassmakers, restored well enough to win a Europa Nostra award — walking through the lobby feels like being in a museum.
- All 45 rooms are different, and many have a private courtyard or original wooden beams, giving you genuinely classic character.
- The basement pool sits under an ancient arched brick ceiling, with a sauna and steam room — the mood is closer to a Roman-era spa than a modern one.
- The location is in the heart of the Old Town, in the quiet Jewish Quarter, just 5 minutes' walk from Vilnius Cathedral and the main square.
- Some rooms are fairly small and irregularly shaped because the old structure has to be respected — if you want the wide, even rooms of a modern chain hotel, you may feel boxed in.
- Lifts in the historic building are limited and some areas can't be reached by one; a few rooms mean climbing narrow brick stairs, which isn't ideal for older travelers or anyone with mobility issues.
- The look is traditional classic European — chandeliers, velvet, carved wood — so if you're expecting modern minimalist design from a contemporary luxury hotel, it may feel a touch old for your taste.
Who It’s For
Match Score by travel style
Amenities
Location & Nearby Spots
Things to do near Vilnius
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Insider Tips
- When you book, try asking for a "Junior Suite with private courtyard" — the price difference isn't large, but you get a private courtyard in the middle of a historic building that no other hotel in Vilnius can offer.
- Go down to the basement pool before 9am, when it's very quiet, and you can photograph the beautiful arched brick ceiling without anyone in the way.
- Walk out of the hotel and turn left to reach Stikliu Street, where you can try Cepelinai (meat-stuffed dumplings, Lithuania's national dish) and wander past stylish boutique cafés all afternoon.